Today’s photos from the Pacific Northwest come from reader Jim Blilie. Jim’s captions and IDs are indented, and you can enlarge his photos by clicking on them.
Spring has sprung in the Pacific Northwest after a long, cool tapering off of winter. We have finally hit the 70°s our area (20+°C), in May. This is a set of spring flowers (mostly). We live in Klickitat County, Washington, at the extreme southern edge of Washington state, just east of the Cascade mountain range. These photos, except the last two, are taken in Klickitat County.
First, two photos from a hike we take on local ranch land (the landowners are kind enough to allow public access to their land, except during calving season). These are Grass Widows (Olsynium douglasii).
Next are two photos of some ornamental flowers that were originally planted but now run wild in our yard in the early spring. Empress Lilies (Fritillaria imperialis), which smell almost exactly like skunk cabbage, which is probably why the deer don’t eat them.
Next are two photos from our local daily exercise walk, down the gravel road we live on. Again, from early Spring: Calypso Orchids (Calypso bulbosa) and Trillium (probably: Trillium ovatum)
Next are three photos of Balsam Root (probably: Balsamorhiza sagittata) and Lupine (probably: Lupinus latifolius) flowers on a local hillside that we like to hike especially during the Spring and winter (it’s much too hot in the summer as it faces south). In the third photo, you can see Mount Hood (highest peak in Oregon) and Mount Jefferson (second highest in Oregon) at the top.
Next are three photos that show the prize view for hiking up this local hillside (aside from the beautiful flowers in the Spring): On this day (5-May-2025), it was as clear as we’ve ever seen on this hike. To get the view to the north (Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, Goat Rocks), you have to ascend 1200 feet (366m) to the top of the ridge.
Mount Adams near and large and Mount Rainier over the northern shoulder of Mount Adams.
Mount Jefferson, second highest in Oregon:
Three Sisters in central Oregon:
These are shot at the 35mm equivalent of only 200mm, so you can see how clear the day was. We could see almost every Cascade volcano from South Sister to Mount Rainier (some were hidden from our viewpoint), a span of about 190 miles (306 km).
Finally are two photos taken yesterday (7-May) in neighboring Skamania County on a hike. Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii), which is in full bloom in our woods now. And finally, Oregon Anemone (Anemonoides oregana):
Wow Jim. I’ll bet that view, upon topping the ridge after a 1200 foot climb, never gets old or dull. What a gorgeous environment you have retired (i think i recall that) to…snow-capped volcanoes, broad valleys, rivers…what a variety for daily hikes and picnics just out your door. Thanks, as always, for sharing with us.
Thanks. Yes, retired and loving living in the Pac NW. 🙂
What a gorgeous place to live. The photos are revitalizing. I feel like I just did a wonderful hike.
Thanks so much.
Reminds me I gotta get outside for sone fresh spring air – beautiful!
Wide open spaces with colorful close detail, and fine to see. What is it about long views that seems to be intrinsically appealing? We don’t get views like that in the Coast Range valleys, but we do get enclosed in every imaginable shade of green.
Most definitely trillium, Ontario’s provincial flower🥰
Very nice! I suppose the Empress Lilies are fly pollinated, like Skunk Cabbages, given their smell. The latter will bloom very early and they generate heat (melting snow around them) in order to carry their scent far and wide.
Gorgeous scenery, beautiful plants. Thanks.
Beautiful photos from Klickitat County! The Empress Lilies are spectacular, and the scene that captured both Mt. Adam’s and Mt. Rainier is amazing. We can see Mt. Baker from our house at the northernmost end of the Cascades.
What a beautiful physical and biotic environment in which to retire. Many thanks for sharing it all with us.
Spectacular! Is that the Columbia in the first photo?
Yes it is. We live just above the Columbia River Gorge at 2000-ft elevation (610m). It’s an amazing landscape. You can also see the towns of Hood River, Oregon (left) and White Salmon, Washington (right) in the background.