It was raining in Portland all weekend and it was lightly sprinkling in S OR. We made camp and set out into the mist:
Fortunately, cloud breaks were occasional.
We climbed up and down the serpentine slopes looking for whatever we could find. At 3000ft looking for Lilium bolanderi... They're right behind me. Why are they only 8 inches tall!? So hard to see!
Up at 4500ft looking for rocks. We found some.
Having found rocks, triumphant.
Anyone really good at IDing Platanthera?
Cool rockery.
Nice view!
Beer and Epipactis: a winning combination. I always worry about plants in this region. Most of the people we see out in the wild are on ATV's careening down the gravel at top speed. They care about as much about the plants they're about to crush as a bowling ball floats.
We saw a new (for us) plant: Calochortus umpquaensis. Obviously dehisced already, but we'll be back in spring!
If anyone knows where I can find Calochortus howellii, please let me know. I know they bloom around July 1 in the Illinois Valley, but it's a big valley and it's 300mi from home!
Last, I have a history of a wild Cyp californicum seedling:
2006: tiny seedling.
2007: bigger seedling.
2008: ? oops.
2009: Bloomed! Flower has fallen off, though. You can see the flower stem at the top between the leaves.
Only a 3 years from tiny 1 inch tall seedling to blooming? Nature is a better grower than most of us!
