Friday, June 12, 2009
Meadow Vue Ranch Explosion of Flowers
Meadow Vue Ranch with East Centennial Mountains as backdrop and wildflowers.I had neglected the Meadow Vue Ranch next door for a few days. It has been cloudy and rainy and just plain sunless. But today, the sun showed promise of coming forth this morning, so Reggie and I headed out from RedRock RV Park (Island Park, Idaho) next door to the ranch. The cows are still not here so it makes the trek a lot easier. Crawling under the barbed wire fence on the wet ground with 2 cameras was tricky but certainly doable. It was easy for Reggie at least.
The first thing I noticed new was the wholesale blooming of the beautiful and purple Common Camas Lily wildflower (Camassia quamash). These plants bloom in large numbers and from a distance often resemble lakes due to their deep blue color. The are a blubous plant and the Indians collected them as one of their prime food sources. They are common around this area and all throughout Idaho.
About 3 years ago at this very spot I photographed a rare (for this area) white version of the Camas Lily. I've looked the last couple years for the same plant without luck. Maybe someone pulled it up by the roots? Here's a view at a popular Camas blooming area near Fairfield, Idaho in May (Photo by: Kim Pierson.)
White version of Camas Lily I photographed here in 2006. It was only one among the purple.The next new plant popping up among the Camas is the American Bistort (Bistorta bistortoides.) This is a slender plant which contains a head of small white flowers on a spindly single stalk. The leaves are narrow and sparse. They are edible and are favorites of bears who dig up the roots to chomp on. They are attractive at every stage of the unfolding process.
American Bistort photographed this morning in 3 stages of blooming.
American Bistort photographed this morning in 3 stages of blooming.Many of the flowers I saw this morning were blooming in patches of multiple flowers. The Dandelion was probably the most obvious, followed by the Camas Lily, and even the Bistort. Here's a little patch of Bistort:
Field of American Bistort
The next newly blooming flower I encountered was in a large patch of similar flowers and I believe it is the Tall Buttercup (Ranunculus acris). It's a very beautiful yellow flower about 12 to 15" tall at the moment.
Tall Buttercup blooming in Meadow Vue Ranch
Field of American Bistort
Tall Buttercup blooming in Meadow Vue RanchIt was especially attractive blooming with the purple Many-flowered Shooting stars surrounding it. The Shooting stars are concentrated in a specific area of the field here and are still quite attractive.
Shooting Stars and Tall Buttercup together
I encountered a plant I've never seen before, at least at this stage in it's development. I can't identify it yet, but when I do, I'll update this blog. It was not wide-spread. It may be classified as a weed.
Unknown Plant in the ranch meadow.
Yellow owl-clover is out in large numbers.
Shooting Stars and Tall Buttercup together I encountered a plant I've never seen before, at least at this stage in it's development. I can't identify it yet, but when I do, I'll update this blog. It was not wide-spread. It may be classified as a weed.
Unknown Plant in the ranch meadow.Finally (and I am aware this has gone on too long, but it was a productive morning), I encountered the Yellow owl-clover. These tend to grow in open Sagebrush areas, so no surprise. These are similar to the Cusick's paintbrush, but from the descriptions I've read I think this is the owl-clover.
Yellow owl-clover is out in large numbers.The Mule's Ears were also found in this field, both the White and the cream colored varieties. I'll look around some more and continue this discovery process. There were a few more smaller, and harder to identify flowers that I'll research and report on later.
Mule's Ears (White and Pale Yellow varities, and Common Camas)
Finally, on our way out of the Meadow Vue ranch field, this beautiful Lustrous Copper (Lycaena cupreus) butterfly caught my eye to put a great end to a very exciting and enjoyable morning exploring nature. Spring is certainly in full force here at RedRock RV Park in Island Park, Idaho. Come see for yourself.
Lustrous Copper Butterfly
Mule's Ears (White and Pale Yellow varities, and Common Camas)Finally, on our way out of the Meadow Vue ranch field, this beautiful Lustrous Copper (Lycaena cupreus) butterfly caught my eye to put a great end to a very exciting and enjoyable morning exploring nature. Spring is certainly in full force here at RedRock RV Park in Island Park, Idaho. Come see for yourself.
Lustrous Copper Butterfly# posted by RV Guy @ 8:46 AM 
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