One of the great hikes for wildflower viewing is in my own backyard, on the east side of the Olympic peninsula, part of Olympic National Forest. The Big Quilcene River Trail climbs 3,500 ft in a little over 5 miles, past old growth forest of hemlock and Western red cedar, yellow cedar and subalpine fir. The scenery changes from dense, old-growth forest, alpine meadows and scree-littered hillsides as you ascend to tree-less Marmot Pass where spectacular views of the Hood Canal, Puget Sound and the Cascades will be the reward. While the hike is supremely worthwhile for these alone, it’s when the wildflowers bloom in July after snowmelt that the hike takes on a more splendid character. But, be forewarned that the trail at this time of year is muddy for much of the way and negotiating the exposed tree roots and slick soil will be a challenge. You’ll expend more energy just trying to stay on drier ground. We were glad we took along hiking poles.
Those who enjoy photographing flowers (like I do) will find many subjects. There seems to be a convergence of late spring and early summer flowers because of the delayed thaw. It was an all-day hike. We started at around 10:30am and didn’t get back to the parking lot until 7:30pm. By then, we had probably hyperextended our out-of-condition muscles. But, what a unforgettable time we had.
Bunchberry (dwarf dogwood)
Queen’s cup
Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
Sitka valerian (Valeriana sitchensis)
Naked broomrape (Orobanche uniflora)
Davidson’s penstemon
Tiger lily (Lilium columbianum)
Harsh paintbrush (Castilleja hispida)
Woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
Western wallflower (Erysimum capitatum)
Longleaf arnica (Arnica longifolia)
Spreading stonecrop (sedum divergens) is ready to flower
Olympic delphinium (Delphinium glareosum)
Western serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)
Arnica and larkspur
Olympic delphinium (Delphinium glareosum)
Hillside of delphiniums (larkspurs)
Slender paintbrush (Castilleja miniata)
Red columbine
Spreading phlox
Red columbine (aquilegia formosa)
The stamens of the western meadowrue flutter in the wind like tassels
A field of phlox
Spreading phlox (Phlox diffusa)
Field of serviceberry and paintbrush
Early blue violet (viola adunca)
Chocolate lily (Fritillaria camschatcensis)
Field of paintbrush and larkspur
Western pasque flower (Anemone occidentalis)
Pink mountain-heather (phyllodoce empetriformis)
Glacier lily (erythronium grandiflorum)
Glacier lily (erythronium grandiflorum)
Sitka valerian (Valeriana sitchensis)
Fendler’s waterleaf (hydrophyllum fendleri)
Oregon fawn lily (erythronium oregonum)
Wavyleaf thistle (cirsium undulatum)
Arctic lupine (lupinus latifolius)
Spreading dogbane (apocynum androsaemifolium)
Olympic onion (allium crenulatum)

Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Leave a Reply