I finally decided to get serious in my search for Oregon’s cobra lily, Darlingtonia californica. I have been looking for specimens in local nurseries for several years to no avail. So where to start my search? Well…Facebook of course! I found group of dedicated, talented and generous carnivorous plants lovers and as soon as I […]
Garry Oak Meadow–Autumn
In autumn the shape of the land and the silhouette of the trees become evident since the distraction of summer’s lush greenery is gone. I am chronicling the tremendous variety of botanical riches in this rare and endangered ecosystem near the lower Columbia River in Oregon. Once the Willamette Valley and many places along the […]
Garry Oak Meadow–Late Summer
When I walked through the dry, brown meadow in late summer, it seemed barren. At closer look, I began to see the delicate beauty of the seedpods. Some were obvious to identify, like the monkey flower (Mimulus guttatus) and great camas (Camassia leichtlinii) and others brought questions to explore later. I was delighted to find […]
Garry Oak Meadow–June
In late June, the meadow grasses are flowering and losing the lush greenness of spring. The seed heads wave in the breeze above the buff-colored blades of grass. Although the flowers are more scattered, a few species are making a fine show. Even on the rockiest, driest hillside, farewell-to-spring (Clarkia amoena), heal all (Prunella vulgaris […]
Garry Oak Meadow–May
The meadow has become lush under the clouds and rainy weather of May. Stately great camas, Camassia leichtlinii, has a queenly presence over the smaller wildflowers. I saw a stand of it for the first time when I peeked into an ordinary looking grove of shrubby ash trees, and to my surprise and delight the […]