All photos taken during the week I was camping from July 1st to the 6th, 2009
Eastern Washington State has a variety of habitats, mountainous, desert, farmland, and sage brush. Even up in the hills you have alpine meadows, deep forest, and grassy meadows. You'll find different flowers gowning near the creek than those growing on a steep slope. Alpine flowers tend to grow close to the earth while the lower elevation meadows flowers then to grow much taller.
We were camped at about a three thousand feet elevation. So not really so alpine.
One of my favorite Summer time wildflowers is the Indian Paintbrush, it can be a bright red, orange and even pink. Hummingbirds love these.

Although a common roadside weed I find the Woolly Mullein very interesting. I have seen these bloom in October in lower elevations.

It's leaf is what gives it it's name.

I have no idea what this pretty little flower is. It is smaller than my thumbnail and thrives in the shade.
Another even smaller shade lover.

This one is common Yarrow.

These dainty little blue flowers are also shade lovers.

Prairie Star is a small but stricking flower.

Arnica tends to grow where it gets some daily bright sunlight.

I think this may be a Geum.

A Penstemon possibly Davidson's.

Common Cats Ear in bloom.

And going to seed.

I have no clue on this one but it is pretty.

Tiny white flowers these where growing near a rotting log.

Fringe Cups are tiny, fragile looking flowers growing on a single slems only a few inches tall.

Forget Me Not ?

All photos taken with Olympus C2500L in macro
June 2009
Kittitas County, Washington State
By Me


Comments: 36
Those are so beautiful, Vivian. I bet you had a great time.
I did and thanks Bob
Those shots are awsome!
Thanks Leah
Very informative article and wonderful macros, Vivian. I know so little about the wildflowers. I will come back and study these again...
Thanks Alison
You could publish a photo book of birds and flowers.
You are so sweet Terry !
The cats ears is very interesting looking, I like it.
I've never seen arnica...or known it if I had. I use Arnica for bruises & swelling...very well!
this is Heart leaf Arnica I wondered if it was the same .
Thanks Priscilla
Love woodland gardens, it never ceases to amaze me what can grow just about anywhere.
so beautiful, these wild flowers. It does look like forget me nots. In Utah, we have a lot of Sego Lily. I used a wildflower bouquet for my wedding.
Thanks Katherine
These are beautiful photos. I would love to have a field full of forget me nots
Thanks Kay
Quite an array of flowers. Nicley captured.
Thanks David
wow, all are beautiful
Thanks Angela
Those are really pretty wild flowers. Very lovely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Azure
nice pics
Thanks Ed
I just love wild flowers, I think it's the daintiness of them that attracts me. My favorite from this group is the common cats ear going to seed. The common yarrow is really pretty too.
Thanks so much for sharing with my group.
Thanks Nana
Very cool wildflower shots... I keep thinking I should take pictures along the trail I walk every day ...but my camera is such a power suck it's a pain any more
you should I would love to see your pictures
Thanks flit
Vivian , an outstanding wildflower photo essay . Loved all your shots ,very pretty. Liked the mullein and the unknown white miniature by the rotting log.
Thanks Phil
Beautiful photo essay! Some of these wildflowers I have never seen before, thank you!
Thanks Katherine
So beautiful - wonderful essay, Vivian. If that yellow daisy looking flower is Arnika (the herb?) then that is what I have growing in my herb garden.
I buy a couple of different herbs every year at the plant fair and I couldn't remember what I had gotten. It actually comes back every year now and it is getting bigger and stronger.
Beautiful Photo Essay
These are beautiful pictures of all those flwers.....see this is one reason why I love Gather so much. I get to see and visit parts of the world and see things I probably never will on my own.
Oh, excellent photos! The only ones I have ever seen around here are the yarrow and geum
Curious how they get their names ... what the heck is common about that cat's ear?
Loooove the little bitty blue flower. Still want to see a photo of you crouching over these bits of nature with your camera.