Yellow Island’s third ‘peak bloom’

Early May saw the rapid disappearance of camas across the island but even as the camas was fading new species were blooming across the meadows and rocky balds.

Oregon sunshine, aka wooly sunflower, (Eriophyllum lanatum) finally came into its own after a couple false starts in mid March and mid April. There are now large patches of what may be the brightest yellow flower Yellow Island has to offer.

Eriophyllum lanatum, wooly sunflower

Broadleaf stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium) is about tied with the Eriophyllum for brightest yellow flower. My absolute favorite place on the island is the rocky area atop Hummingbird Hill that is covered with frilly reindeer lichen that forms a nice bed for the stonecrop. The combination of colors and textures cannot be beat.

Sedum spathulifolium, broadleaf stonecrop

A third bright yellow flower is Puget Sound gumweed. It appears across the meadows and rocky outcrops but is particularly thick on the south side of Hummingbird Hill.

Grindelia integrifolia, Puget Sound gumweed

Three non-yellow species that occur individually or in small groups are California broomrape (Orobanche californica), Hooker’s onion (Allium acuminatum) and harvest Brodiaea (Brodiaea coronaria). These cheery spots of color brighten a  meadow that is rapidly turning to brown (or some would say yellow as seen from a distance).

Orobanche californica, clustered broomrape

Allium acuminatum, Hooker’s onion

Brodiaea coronaria, Harvest Brodiaea

When all these species start fading, there are at least four species that have will bloom in June into July. Can you name them?

(This blog was written May 15 but never posted. Amazingly all species mentioned are still blooming nicely, plus a couple of the last four mentioned above.)