Road Warriors

Laurelview Road with Queen Anne's Lace



If you drive around rural Washington County, or ride your bike, or even just walk on any road, you are bound to see most of the plants and wildflowers on this post. You may not want to see these hardy survivors in your yard, but out in the country they have a certain natural beauty! Roads create ideal open spaces for sun loving natives and invaders alike to take root and spread like there is no tomorrow!

For several months in the Spring, I curse the pollen from grasses and trees that make me sneeze and blur my vision with watery eyes. But around the end of May, as those pesty plants give way to colorful blossoms, I perk up and pull out the camera!

Here are a few of my favorite road warriors blooming now (July 1 - 15):



Common Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus)

This non-native roadside plant is easy to spot because it can reach 6 feet in height and somewhat resembles a saguaro cactus in profile! The soft, hairy leaves are large as well and look artificial when they first start growing. The small yellow blossoms appear on long stems. The plant has a long list of herbal uses according to Wikipedia.

 



 





 

  

Sweet Pea (Lathyrus tingitanus)

The striking pink and purple colors of these blossoms are a nice addition to most weedy roads. These Legumes are blooming in our area now (7/12/2013). The Sweet Pea has escaped cultivation and established itself as a regular sight, but is not considered invasive, but can be toxic. This plant has been extensively cultivated and cross bred over the years.

 

Teasel (Dipsacus sylvestris)

You may have seen dried teasel in flower arrangements or seen them growing in huge colonies in marshy areas. The stately, tall stems are very thorny and crowned with a regal looking seed pod. It's a bit of an oddball, biennial. The first year it is your basic leafy weed. The second year produces the single, erect stem that we recognize. I had not see it in bloom for many years, but we caught it this year at Fanno Creek Park (7/12/2013).

 

Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium)

On one of our first hikes near Mt. Hood about 30 years ago (yikes!) we encountered Fireweed and were taken with its color and hardiness. The plant seems to thrive in recently burned forest areas, hence the common name. After the Mt. Saint Helens eruption in 1980, it was one of the first plants to sprout. It can even grow in areas after an oil spill, so it is frequently used to re-establish vegetation.  Parts of the young plant and roots are edible, and have been collected by Native Americans. In the past couple of weeks I have seen Fireweed growing on our gravel road!

Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

If you are wearing shorts and bump into one of these noxious weeds you'll remember it! This plant is loaded with sharp thorns on almost every part; yet it's a proud member of the Sunflower (Asteraceae) family! It's classified as invasive in Oregon. It does have a handsome flower that is loaded with nectar, thereby attracting bees, butterflies, and hummers. When I took the photos below (7/14/2013), there were several dozen bees buzzing around! Later, the seeds are a favorite of our local goldfinches. As you probably know already, the seeds are numerous and drift away easily with wind, spreading their range even more!