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Indian Plum “Oemleria cerasformis” Rose Family (Rosaceae).  Perennial, shrub 3-15′ tall, plants have either male flowers or female flowers, flowers greenish white or white, fragrant but somewhat skunky, male plants have stamens, female plants have flowers with pistils and produce  edible plum colored fruit are enjoyed by the birds but they are not a favorite for humans.  Blooms in early spring along forest edges from the Cascade Mts. to the coast in OR & WA.  Flower photo: Near Rainier, OR 3/13/2010 & Fruit photo:  4/27/2007

Skunk Cabbage “Lysichiton americanus”. Arum Family (Araceae).  Perennial, plant 1-3′ tall, many yellow green flowers on a stalk (spadix) surrounded by a large yellow bracts (spath), leaves 1-2′ long.  Blooms early spring west of the Cascade Mts. Plant contains calcium oxalate crystals which will cause intense burning and irritation of the mouth and throat.  Photo: Near Coos Bay, OR 3/31/2006

Showy Milkweed “Asclepias speciosa”  Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae)  Perennial, Plant 1-4′ tall, flowers pinkish-purple.  Blooms summer in dry open areas throughout Or and Eastern Wa. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on this plant but many varieties enjoy the nectar.  The butterfly is a Pale Swallowtail “Papillio eurymedon”.    Photo:  Near Hog Creek, Grant County, OR  7/14/2006

Golden Eagle “Aqula chrysaetos”  Length 39″, wingspan 80″ and weight 10 lbs.  Found in mountainous areas throughout the Pacific Northwest.   Top Photo:  N.W. Trek near Eatonville, WA just west of Mt Rainier.  11-01-2008.  Bottom Photo:  Near Burns, OR 12/20/2011

Tillamook Bay from Garibaldi, OR.  The Coast Guard on their way out to the bar to keep watch on the flounder fishermen.  Photo:  2/18/2008

Yellow Bells “Fritillaria pudica” Yellow Bells,  Lily Family (Liliaceae). Perennial, Small scaly bulbs, plant 4-10″ tall, bright clear yellow flowers turn orange to dull red as they age, early spring in moist areas that dry up in Summer. Cascade Mts. and eastward in OR & WA and the Siskiyous.  Photo: Catherine Creek near Lyle, WA in the Columbia River Gorge  3/13/2007

Prostrate Ceanothus “Ceanothus prostratus” Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae)  Prostate shrub 2-8′ wide, leaves green, leathery and conspicuously toothed, small blue to white flowers in many clusters.  Blooms early summer in S.E. OR and in the OR Cascades.   Photo:  Near Mt Bachelor, OR 6/06/2011

Green Manzanita “Arctostaphylos patula” Heath Family (Ericaceae) Shrub, 3-7′ tall, leaves leathery and green, flowers pink and urn shaped, berries dark brown to black.  Blooms late spring in the Oregon Cascades.  Photo:  Near Mt Bachelor, OR 6/07/2011

Grass Widow “Olsynium douglasii var douglasii”, Iris Family (Iridaceae). Perennial, plants 6-12″ tall, flowers lavender, occasionally magenta or white,  3/4-1″ diameter, blooms in early spring in moist open areas that dry out in summer.    Widespread in the Pacific Northwest with the exception of N.W. OR. and S.W. WA.   Photo: Catherine Creek near Lyle, WA. 3/13/2007

Carey’s Balsamroot “Balsamorhiza careyana” Sunflower Family (Asteraceae)  Perennial, 8-24″ tall, leaves heart shaped with white venation, 8-13 yellow ray flowers.  Blooms late spring in S.E. WA and N.E. OR.  Photo: Near Stein’s Pillar east of Prineville, OR  6/062011