Sometimes, rest areas are fruitful avenues of exploration. Take this little rest stop along the I5 near Douglas, Oregon. Lockwood and I stopped there during our May 2013 trip, and I’m pretty sure we didn’t expect to spend so much time out in the weeds. But what wonderful weeds they were! There was a little forest meadowy area filled with delights. These were among the most spectacular:
They were rather tall, with slender stems, and those magnificent floral heads:
Some of them had tipped over and were growing parallel to the ground.
Go home, flower, you’re drunk.
These were simple, yet rather spectacular, blooms. I hope you’re not about to tell me they’re evil invasives. Look at how pretty they are!
These are the kinds of flowers you’d choose if you had to create a fairy-themed garden.
I can imagine Titania weaving these into her hair.
They’re simply fabulous.
Please don’t let them be evil….
They’re a bit like floral fireworks, aren’t they? Even if they turn out to be horrible invasive plants, I love them deeply.
It is! IT IS! It is a variant of hyacinth (LOVE THOSE FLOWERS), you can tell they smell delicious from all the way over here.
Anyway, it is the common camas, also known as the wild hyacinth. And yes, it is native, even useful:
Beautiful.
From the first link, this strikes me as a beautiful image:
Imagine that, the entire meadow like a lake of clear water. Would love to see that!
(What wine?)
My first thought, based on color and the shape of the buds, was some sort of weird gentian, but it appears to be Great Camas, Camassia leichtlinii.
It’s native! And beautiful.
Looks like rq & I were on it at the same time, and yes, it may be the Common Camas – I’m not sure now. Also, I just noticed the bee in the first picture.
There’s a bee…? Oh! There is!
I went with the common camas (quamash) because of the less dense flowers on the stem, but it could be leichtlinii, too. Same colour.
Also,
Flower sez: I AM HOME, NOW GET OFFA MAH LAWN!
No comments about the crab spider hiding in the last shot?
Dem ghostly green legs that snatch and catch.
I was too scared to mention it. :) (Nice catch!)