The Wooly-pod Milkvetch (Astragalus purshii Dougl. ex Hook.) is a variable species of the Legume Family (Fabaceae) that ranges throughout much of Western North America with several recognized varieties. Three of the varieties are native…
Like the Sagebrush Buttercup, the Inflated Grass Widow (Olsynium douglasii (A. Dietr.) E.P. Bicknell var. inflatum (Suksd.) Cholewa & Douglass M. Hend.) is a harbinger of spring for nature lovers in Spokane. They were in full…
[caption id="attachment_1398" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sagebrush Buttercup[/caption] The Sagebrush Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus Hook.) is a small buttercup that is found in the interior western North America. It ranges from Central British Columbia and Saskatchewan on the…
Camp Caro brings back a lot of memories for me. I spent a lot of time in the Dishman Hills when I was younger and Camp Caro was the place that I entered the Dishman…
[caption id="attachment_1433" align="alignleft" width="300"] Arrowleaf Balsamroot[/caption] The Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.) is perhaps the showiest spring flower in the short bunchgrass and Ponderosa Pine communities around Spokane. A member of the Aster Family…
[caption id="attachment_1539" align="alignleft" width="300"] Entrance to Arbor Crest[/caption] The first this I did this morning was to drive over to Riblet's Point to check things out. There is a mansion on the point which is…
[caption id="attachment_1411" align="alignleft" width="300"] Bill at Iller Creek Trailhead Entrance[/caption] While driving around the Valley (Spokane Valley) with my son and grandson, I showed my son some places that I used to spend a lot…
[caption id="attachment_1396" align="alignleft" width="300"] Spokane River as seen from Summit Boulevard[/caption] We arrived in Spokane in the late afternoon, and had some time to take a walk above the Spokane River. The path was along…
[caption id="attachment_1661" align="alignleft" width="216"] Slender Phlox[/caption] The tiny-flowered Slender Phlox (Microsteris gracilis (Hook.) Greene) is a spring blooming ephemeral commonly found in Western North America from Mexico to Canada, with outlying populations in Illinois. There…
[caption id="attachment_1706" align="alignleft" width="259"] Rainier Violet[/caption] The Rainier Violet, Three-nerved Violet, or Sagebrush Violet (Viola trinervata (Howell) Howell ex A. Gray) is endemic to Oregon and Washington and thrives in moist sagebrush flats and rocky…
On our way to Spokane from Bellevue, we stopped off at Ryegrass Summit on Interstate 90 to stretch our legs and to check out the local flora. My grandson William was a little helper and…
[caption id="attachment_1611" align="alignleft" width="226"] Maiden Blue-eyed Mary[/caption] The tiny-flowered Maiden Blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora Lindl.) is native to most of western North America and to Michigan, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island.…
[caption id="attachment_1602" align="alignleft" width="237"] Seed head with prickly seeds[/caption] The Curve-seed Butterwort (Ceratocephala testiculata (Crantz) Roth) is a member of the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae) which is native to Eurasia, but has become invasive throughout much…
[caption id="attachment_1592" align="alignleft" width="300"] Cusick’s RockcressBoechera cusickii (S. Watson) Al-Shehbaz[/caption] A member of Brassicaceae (Mustard Family), the Cusick's Rockcress (Boechera cusickii (S. Watson) Al-Shehbaz) is found in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada. It was formerly…
Today along Duvall Bridge Road I spotted a single plant that caught my attention. It was unlike anything I had seen before. At first I let my imagination run wild and guessed it might be…
[caption id="attachment_965" align="alignleft" width="300"] Tree by the side of the road - Skyline Drive[/caption] [caption id="attachment_963" align="alignleft" width="300"] Pine Cone, note that the cone is directly attached to the branch and the prickly cone.[/caption] [caption…
Becky and I spotted this cute little guy on a rock face on our anniversary trip in Shenandoah National Park, VA. Campanula divaricata Michx. [gallery]
[caption id="attachment_945" align="alignleft" width="200"] Spider on web[/caption] This rather industrious Yellow and Black Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia) built one of the most unusual webs I have ever seen. She took the pappus from nearby Yellow…
Becky and I took the tour of Luray Caverns today and it was cool seeing all of the stalactites and stalagmites. Some of them were rather spectacular. On the way out about 200 or 300…
[caption id="attachment_795" align="alignleft" width="300"]Giant Puffball with a Papermate pencil for perspective[/caption] Today at church my son A.J. pointed out a large fungus fruiting body in the flower bed just outside of the chapel. It is…