Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Peacocks and Wildflowers

The Blog Header Revealed - Vertical Rows

Row 1: Dames of the Needle, "Primitive Small 3"; Earth Threads, "Peacock Sampler".

Row 2: Handwork Primitives, "The Pocket Peacock";  Ewe & Eye & Friends, "Peacock Bird".

Row 3: The Yankee Stitcher, "An Ostentation of Peacocks"; (right) Dames of the Needle, "Primitive Small 1"; Ewe & Eye & Friends, "Peacock Spot Sampler"; Notforgotten Farm, "Seek Joy"; (right) Primitivebetty's, "Hope".  

It's Wednesday - Let's take a walk.  As April showers brought May flowers, we're off on a Wildflower Walk. 

I think Alpine Shootingstars (Dodecatheon alpinum) are some of the coolest looking wildflowers around.

A neighbor has a wonderful wild patch in her woodland front yard (behind a deer fence).

This year they are mixing and mingling with the last of the cream colored Oregon Fawn Lilies (Erythronium oregonum).

And in a sunny moist meadow, the Camas (Cammassia quamash) beginning 
to bloom.

 
Camas is a Nootka word for 'sweet'.  Many of the Pacific NW Indian tribes used Camas much as Europeans used potatoes or wheat.  It was a staple of their diet.  They baked the bulbs and then pounded them into flour to make flat-cakes. 

The Nez Perce Indians of Northern Idaho fed the starving Lewis and Clark expedition flat-cakes and salmon.

Our sunny meadows are awash with Blue Oregon Iris (Iris tenax).

The Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) is a soft white cloud of blossoms.

The Western Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) is just beginning to come into bloom.

I've decided this is Indian Mustard or Field Mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern).

Here's a close up of a Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum).  The hummingbirds have found ours.

I am enamored of the blossoms of the Western Meadow Rue (Thalictrum occidentale).

I also really like it's airy foliage.

I went back to my Secret Forest to have another look at Lady Slippers (Calypso bulbosa).

Boy are they ever ephemeral!

In just a week's time, more than half the plants had already turned a ghostly white or disappeared completely. 

The Pacific Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa) was still going strong.

Great blossoms and wonderfully lacy foliage.

I didn't ever see Hooker's Fairy Bells (Disporum hookeri) last year.  I am glad to have added it to my Wildflower List!

The sweet little Spring Beauty (Claytonia lanceolata) was dew-covered.

And we'll end the walk with my mystery flower.  I found a book about Pacific NW Wildflowers on line.  Must purchase!

10 comments:

Vickie said...

Peacocks! What a cool theme. They are all great. You know which one I love? Dames of the needle, Primitive Small. :)
I have also heard of shooting stars called Roosterheads. Have you?

Carol said...

What a great new header, Beth--the peacocks all look so regal and proud :)

I can't get over the variety of wildflowers you have nearby--lucky you! It was a really pretty "walk" today!

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Such beautiful flowers, some of them look so delicate.

ollie1976 said...

beautiful walk!
-Jen

Maggee said...

Thanks for the pictures today! All beautiful wildflowers--cannot pick a favorite! And the peacocks header--great idea! I want to track down the Peacock Spot Sampler... like that one muchly! Hugs!

Barb said...

Peacocks and wild flowers! What a wonderful combination! I still can't get over the beauty of that lady slipper!

Chris said...

Yea! A new blog header! I love the peacocks! I love the bleeding hearts too :)

Vanessa said...

I just LOVE all the peacocks in your header! Beautiful! I am working on some peacocks of my own...Maxim and Zoya by Plum Street Samplers. I have been a lurker on your blog for some time now and just love seeing what you have stitched and all the beautiful plants around your area. I have recently started a blog of my own and would love it if you had a chance to stop by. OneXataTime.wordpress.com

Melanie said...

Another great theme!

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