Wildflower of the Month: November, 2023

Wildflower of the Month: November, 2023

Gaillardia Blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata) is an exceptionally long-blooming perennial. Gaillardia can be almost any shade of yellow, orange, red, purplish, brown, or white; they are often bicolored.  The example above was spotted in the Native Plant Garden of...
What’s Bloomin’: October 2023

What’s Bloomin’: October 2023

Colchicum The crocus is seen as a harbinger of spring, so why do these flowers appear in the fall? In fact, they are not a type of crocus, but are colchicums. Colchicum is a genus of perennial flowering plants that are varied and widespread, with about 160 species...
Wildflower of the Month: June, 2023

Wildflower of the Month: June, 2023

Checkermallow (Sidalcea species) While there are varieties that make their homes along the coast and on each side of the Cascades, several species of checkermallow occur in the Willamette Valley. All have similar spires of whitish pink to deep pink flowers that appear...
Wildflower of the Month: May, 2023

Wildflower of the Month: May, 2023

Large-leafed avens (Geum macrophyllum) Large-leafed avens is a common native geum of meadows and forest edges, blooming through late spring and early summer. This plant has a vast range, growing from Alaska south to Baja California and east across Canada to the...
Wildflower of the Month: April, 2023

Wildflower of the Month: April, 2023

Yellow Violet Viola glabela The yellow violet shown above is probably a stream violet (Viola glabella). It is abundant in the Native Plant Garden and other moist places in the park, where it spreads to form extensive patches. Several other yellow-flowered violet...