Inside Out Flower

As you can see, this plant is well-named. The tiny white flowers really do look like they are inside out! Vancouveria hexandra is a member of the Barberry family and thrives in shady forested areas west of the Cascades. I have seen these blooming on every woodland trail I've been on in the past month! They remind me of jellyfish swimming around at the bottom of the sea! In southern Oregon and northern California, a yellow version grows. (5/30/2013)

Western Spring Beauty

This tiny white or purple flower is one of the first Oregon wildflowers I remember identifying, as long ago as 1978. It seems to grow everywhere along shady trails where there is just enough sunlight created by the trail clearing. Western Spring Beauty (Claytonica siberica) is also called Siberian Lettuce and prefers damp soil and is prevalent (large colonies) wherever it grows. The Claytonia part of the name is a nod to the American botanist who collected plants in Virginia (1685-1773). This year I have seen these plants in the Gorge, Stub Stewart State Park, and the TH Nature Park. (5/30/2013).

Fender's Waterleaf

A curious common name for this plant. Fender's Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum fendleri) leaves are hairy on the underside and seem to grow in damp areas. These were near the boggy area at the Tualatin Hills Nature Park in Beaverton. They can grow up to the subalpine elevations. The fendleri part of the Latin name is from Augustus Fendler, a German immigrant in 1850, who collect plants for research.

Note the tiny Western Spring Beauty (also called Siberian Lettuce) flowers mingling in the second picture. They are also blooming now, in great quantities! (5/30/2013)

Salal

Salal (Gaulatheria shallon) is another common woodland shrub one can see while hiking around trails in western Oregon. The flowers resemble miniature lanterns. This native evergreen has woody branches and the dark blue fruit was used by early Americans, eaten fresh or dried for later use.

Pacific Ninebark

This is another native, attractive flowering shrub that has a strange common name! Pacific Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) gets its name from the layered bark on its branches. It's a member of the Rose family and grows in moist areas such as stream banks, swales, and near lakes. The flowering clusters are about the size of a tennis ball and are made up of dozens of tiny white blooms. The leaves are maple like, or resemble small Thimbleberry leaves.

We spotted these plants at the Tualatin Hills Nature Park on 5/30/2013.

 

 

Thimbleberry

This well known shrub grows nearly everywhere in the country and was noted by Lewis and Clark in 1806 as they explored the Columbia River. The Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus) is a member of the rose family and this can be seen in the flower. Who has not tried the raspberry-like fruit of this plant!? They grow along our fence line but these photos are taken at the Tualatin Hills Nature Park (5/30/2013).

 

Ripe berries at Jackson Bottom Wetlands, 6/14/2013

 

Red Elderberry

Well I have to admit, I had no personal knowledge of the Red Elderberry plant (Sambucus racemosa) other than driving by the old Elderberry Inn on US 26 on the way to the coast! We did end up stopping there around 2006 on one trip to get coffee and try out the pie. It was actually very tasty!

The plant can grow to 20ft and older ones look more like trees with multiple trunks. The flowers are white and quickly move on to the stunning red berry fruit. This year I spotted berries first at lower elevations in natural areas (Rood Bridge Park, TH Nature Park). The bloom and berry timeline seems to be sooner this year than typical. The white flower bloom below was at Stub Stewart State Park on 6/06/2013).

The USDA website warns that eating the berries without proper preparation can be toxic! Native Americans used the berry for a diuretic and a laxative, so that tells you something!

 

Berries seen at TH Nature Park 5/30/2013

Oxeye Daisy

You know summer is right around the corner in western Oregon when you see the Oxeye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) blooming in fields or vacant lots around town. It's hard to resist snapping a photo of these simple but beautiful flowers. They are native to Europe and Asia and were introduced here originally for garden use. They bloom from late Spring until late summer. (5/26/2013)

This field is located at the corner of SE Davis and SE Brookwood in Hillsboro.

Detail view of daisy in our back field.

Wild Rose

As the 2013 Rose Festival begins, here's a virtual toast to the native roses of Oregon! These here are three samples of Rosa nutkana, which is common in our area and blooming now. Oregon has three other native roses that are similar. One of them (Rosa woodsii) grows east of the Cascades only. Enjoy the festivities! (5/23/2013)

California Poppy

Since we had a couple weeks of California weather recently, I thought it would be fitting to highlight the venerable California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica). It is native to Oregon as well as CA. Usually seen in the golden color, sometimes a white variant may appear. These poppies are growing along Laurelview road, near our house. (5/14/2013)

Creeping Buttercup

The Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens) is not native to Oregon or even the Northwest. Although attractive, it is considered invasive by some. We found these growing on the north side of our house, where it is shady a good part of the day now. (5/11/2013).

Stinky Bob

Stinky Bob (Geranium robertianum) is another one of the many small flowers that grow along our forested hiking trails from late spring though summer. This one was seen at Stub Stewart State Park. I did not detect any foul odor, but the guidebooks say it has "an unpleasant odor." Love the name and it is invasive of course with a name like that! (5/10/2013)

 

 

Columbia Windflower

The Columbia Windflower (Anemone deltoidea)  is common in western Oregon in shady forest areas late spring or early summer. It is also called the Wood Anemone. I see them frequently along hiking trails in the Gorge and Coast Range. These were spotted at Stub Stewart State Park, while playing disc golf. (5/10/2013)

Wild Bleeding Heart

Wild Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa) is one of the most easily recognized native wildflowers in Oregon. I also remember learning about these on some of first hikes in Oregon. These plants also grow in shady forested areas and can be found along trails. The stems produce from four to 15 pinkish flowers that resemble valentines, hence the common name. Hummingbirds pollenate this plant. After the flowers bloom and seeds form, ants come along and carry the seeds away because they crave the seed's oil. This helps spread the range of the plant. These in the photo were seen at Stub Stewart State Park this year. (5/10/2013)

Note the Western Spring Beauty flowers poking their heads up also!

False Solomon's Seal

False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum racemosa): I always wonder about a plant that has the word "false" in its name! Shows how fickle the common names can be I suppose! The boiled roots of this native lily plant were used by Northwest Tribes for rheumatism, back injuries, and kidney problems. Not sure if it helped though - the guide books never say that! Have seen these on just about every woodland trail in the area. This blooming one is at Stub Stewart State Park. (5/10/2013).

Wild Iris

If you've been hiking lately in or walking in local nature parks, you may have seen a "wild iris." This one in the photo is one of several Pacific Coast Wild Iris species; it's a Tough Leaf iris (Iris tenax), or Oregon Iris and is common in our area. We spotted this one yesterday while hiking around Bald Peak State Park. To learn about the other native iris species in OR, CA, and WA, see: http://www.pacificcoastiris.org/framewld.html (5/09/2013)

 

 

Lupine

If you have been out and about in the last month, you've probably seen some blooming Lupines. Whether in the valley or in the mountains, lupines are nearly everywhere. There are several hundred varieties of lupines, with about 8 in Oregon. These native ones growing in our back yard are called Big Leaf Lupine (Lupinis polyphyllus) and are about 36 inches high this year. (5/08/2013)

The Romans frequently ate the beans as the plant is technically a legume. In fact they are widely available in Italy of today. These beans (lupini) must be prepared correctly or they are not good. I could not find any locally, but on the Internet one can order pickled lupini beans from many sources.

Star Flowered Solomon's Seal

This is another common native plant in western Oregon, seen along trail clearings in the forest. Star Flowered Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum stellate) are in the Lily family and have a tiny flower, only 1/4 inch wide. This turns to a small fruit, seen in the photo below. The berries are edible but not tasty.

Top photo at Bald Peak State Park (5/08/2013) on a sunny day, bottom at TH Nature Park on a rainy day (5/30/2013).

Fringecup

These Fringecup (Tellima grandiflora) native plants are blooming throughout western Oregon now. You've probably seen them along most trails in the area that are partially shaded. The flowers turn pink as they mature. Look closely and you may just see a fairy buzzing about. Each stem can grow up to 30 inches! (5/07/2013)

Northwest Balsamroot

This handsome plant is what I call the "pin up" of area wildflowers. You'll see photos of balsamroot (Balzamorhiza deltoidia) on almost every calendar in the west and on nearly every website designed for visitors! It's a spectacularly showy flower and in groups can be stunning. Locally, the Gorge has the most easily seen spreads, typically in late April to mid-May.

Looking east from the Labyrinth Trail near Hood River 5/03/2013.

Hiking on Dog Mountain, 5/14/2010

Hiking on Dog Mountain, 5/14/2010

 

Hyacinth Brodiaea

(Identity not confirmed) Hyacinth Brodiaea (Triteleia hyacinthium)

This native perennial is a member of the Lily family and grows 1 - 2 feet tall. Found in meadows and grasslands at low elevations. We spotted this one on the Labyrinth Trail near Hood River. Also called a Fool's Onion because the bulbs don't smell like an onion. (5/03/2013).

Common Camas

The Common Camas (Camassia quamash) is blooming now in our area. As you can see they thrive in open meadows. The Camas bulbs were a favorite food among Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest -- along with salmon, of course. We spotted these at Champoeg State Park yesterday. (5/01/2013)



These are about a foot high.

Al scopes out the Camas in the off-leash area of the park.