2011-04-16 Eastern Washington

An early visit to the far east side of the mountains was surprisingly floriferous. Despite the cold wet spring, the native flowers are right on cue ignoring the obvious discomfort of the various tropical invasive species (Homo sapiens) and are expressing their own tolerance and even enjoyment of the natural conditions. This desert receives less than 10in of rain each year, maybe a little more this year, all during the winter and early spring. They have to bloom and set seed fast before the oppressive summer heat hits.

Antennaria dimorpha. I've seen A sufructescens in SW OR, but didn't know there was a species way out here. Pretty cute. Unfortunately, hard to grow from seed, I imagine, if it's anything like its cousin.


The Balsamroot were open.


Up in the boulders on the mountain, I found a little colony of this Lithophragma.


Near the next boulder, I found this little Mertensia longifolia, Sagebrush Bluebell (desert-dwelling relative of the much more famous Virginia Bluebell).


Lithospermum ruderale. One of the very few Stone-nut species native to the west.


But, of course, the real reason you go to the desert is for the Phlox. I think it's all Phlox longifolia, but I could be mistaken. It was remarkably spectacular with all the pink and white. The Western Meadow Lark was singing amongst the phlox, (with a much better song than the Eastern Lark)


A particularly nice patch going right up to the mountain. The only reason it's so visible is because the Sagebrush was burned (this patch by a lightning strike). It takes many years for the Sagebrush to come back.