Heralds of Spring - March 2013

Trillium ovatum, one of the first flowers to bloom in the Western Gorge

Trillium, pictured above, finally started in bloom in Corbett at the end of the second week of March.  

Another flower from the Flower Frenzy Challenge list (1 point), trilliums are in the Lily family, 
are long-lived, and like shaded, undisturbed forest.

 Yellow Bells (Fritillaria pudica) was found on the Columbia River Historic Highway East of Mosier.
(2 points) Also a lily.


Total so far: 6 flowers, 10 points.

Looking toward Washington from
Mayer State Park - the hills are beginning to green up.

 Deagan - my current hiking partner has just reached his first birthday.  He is not so interested in flowers, but always likes to visit a new place.

 Guidebooks for fans of flowers :

Turner & Gustafson's guide, published in 2006, is excellent and I recommend it to beginners as well as experienced botanizers.  Great photos, range maps and has flowers organized by color and flower shapes.   Sometimes I disagree about what is blue and what is red, but that is a minor thing. 

 I have mentioned Plants of Pacific Northwest Coast before, now in a revised edition (2004), and the best all-around plant book for the West side of the Cascades. (book above is just flowering plants).  I particularly like Pojar's notes on native and medicinal plant use - the book is organized by families.

The classic wildflower book for the Columbia River Gorge written by the late, great Russ Jolley.  Specific to the Gorge and comprehensive, it does require knowledge of flower families to use it as an identification guide.  (My copy lost it's cover to a puppy)

The academic guide to NW plants - Gilkey and Dennis has line drawings, no photos, lots of scientific jargon, but the ultimate source for the true plant geek who wants to key out everything.  Published by Oregon State University, you can find used copies at Powell's Books - the best place to shop for books of all kinds.

Gold Stars - Crocidium multicaule
I found these at Twin Tunnel (the Mosier end) on March 8.  Crocidium is not "crocodile" but Greek for "tufts" referring to hairs in the leaf axils (where it attaches to stem).
I think you would need a hand lens to see it.