Flower Frenzy
Our 2013 Flower Frenzy challenge deepens your connection to the Gorge as you learn to identify many of the more than 800 wildflowers that bloom in the region, including 15 species found nowhere else in the world!
Between March 1 and July 31, earn points by finding wildflowers from a list of 25. Members will receive prizes upon completing the challenge. Become a member today and we'll throw in a free Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge book.
Please remember that flowering plants in the wild should never be collected.
How to Participate
- Hike on your own or with us on a guided hike between March 1 and July 31.
- Earn 25 points or find all 25 flowers on the Flower Frenzy Log.
- Submit your Flower Log when you are finished. You can
- Submit online
- scan the log and email
- or may mail your log to Friends of the Columbia Gorge
Maegan Jossy
522 SW 5th Ave
Ste 720
Portland, OR 97204
Flower Frenzy Log
| Common Name | Latin Name | Russ Jolley Flower # | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balsamroot | Balsamorhiza** | 723 & 724 | 1 |
| Bitter Root | Lewisia rediviva | 97 | 3 |
| Buttercup | Ranunculus** | 139 - 149 | 1 |
| Camas | Camassia** | 19 & 20 | 2 |
| Chocolate Lily | Fritillaria lanceolata | 27 | 2 |
| Columbia Desert Parsley | Lomatium columbianum* | 388 | 3 |
| Columbia Kittentails | Synthyris stellata* | 567 | 3 |
| Dutchman's Breeches | Dicentra cucullaria | 161 | 3 |
| Fairy Slipper | Calypson bulbosa | 50 | 3 |
| Glacier Lily | Erythronium grandiflorum | 24 | 1 |
| Grass Widow | Olsynium** | 47 & 48 | 1 |
| Indian Paintbrush | Castilleja** | 520 - 523 | 2 |
| Indian Pipe | Monotropa uniflora | 421 | 3 |
| Larkspur | Delphinium** | 133 - 137 | 1 |
| Lupine | Lupinus** | 297 - 308 | 1 |
| Monkey Flower | Mimulus** | 539 - 544 | 1 |
| Penstemon | Penstemon** | 553 - 563 | 1 |
| Phlox | Phlox** | 464 - 467 | 2 |
| Red Columbine | Aquilegia formosa | 127 | 2 |
| Rosy Plectritis | Plectritis congesta | 595 | 1 |
| Salt and Pepper | Lomatium piperi | 397 | 2 |
| Shooting Star | Dodecatheon** | 434 & 435 | 2 |
| Tiger Lily | Lilium columbianum | 29 | 2 |
| Trillium | Trillium ovatum | 37 | 1 |
| Yellow Bells | Fritillaria pudica | 28 | 2 |
*Endemic to the Gorge.
**There are several species, but you only need to ID one.
Purchase Russ Jolley's Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge book to accompany you on your flower searching.
Point Values
- 1 = Easy to find
- 2 = Moderate
- 3 = Hard to find, or Gorge endemic
Follow us on Facebook 
Stay informed! Get bloom updates, help ID flowers, and join us for Flower Frenzy Fridays!
Starting May 21, join us for Flower Frenzy Madness! Like our Facebook page and vote for your favorite Gorge wildflowers in a specially created tournament bracket.
Finisher Prize & Raffle Drawing
Friends members whom earn 25 points or find all 25 wildflowers will receive a 2-for-1 Gift Certificate for either the Saturday Evening Harvest Buffet or Sunday Brunch at Skamania Lodge. Plus, finishers will be entered into the raffle drawing for the grand prize of a complimentary stay at Skamania Lodge. Prizes will be awarded in August. Remember you must be a Friends of the Columbia Gorge member to receive prizes. To sweeten the deal, we'll throw in a free Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge book. Join today.
Join us on a Guided Flower Outing
Learn more and register for our guided spring & summer outings.
Friends of the Gorge Spring Hiking Schedule
Flower Resources
Flower Selection
The Gorge has a long wildflower season beginning in March and lasting into July. It starts in the east and moves westward. We selected flowers that are characteristic and significant to the Gorge landscape. Learn more.
Columbia Gorge Endemics
The fifteen Columbia Gorge endemics, wildflowers that are found only in the Columbia Gorge area, are in a class by themselves. Read more from page 6 of Jolley's book.
Dutchman's Breeches
photograph courtesy: John D Carr
Flower ID by Color
Thank you to Dennis Stillwell with NW Hiker for creating this.
Book Resources
- Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge (Russ Jolley) Purchase this out-of-print book from Friends.
- Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest (Turner and Gustafson's)
- Pacific Northwest Wildflowers (A Falcon Guide)
- Common Wildflowers of Washington & Oregon (J. Duane Sept)
Website Resources
- Greg Lief's website for current bloom info in a blog format, searchable by fields.
- Paul Slichter's photos and flower info.
- PNWflowers: clear, vibrant photos, dedicated to this region, good info; most complete.
- Dedicated to the state of WA; similar to PNWflowers
- Botanical dictionary: Learn the origin of the flowers name
- Flower anatomy: Name the parts of the flower like a true botanist!
- California plant names: best site for the origin of plant names - you can spend hours looking at it!
Video Resources
- Nancy Russell & Russ Jolley: Wildflowers of the Columbia Gorge
- Oregon Field Guide's: Gorge Wildflowers
The Earth Laughs In Flowers July Photo Gallery Exhibit
Stunning wildflower photos will be on display in July at the Columbia Center of the Arts in Hood River. Friends of the Columbia Gorge is a sponsor of this month-long exhibit titled, The Earth Laughs In Flowers, inspired by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Additional event information forthcoming. Learn more about submitting photographs by the May 27 deadline.
Questions?
Contact Outdoor Programs Coordinator Maegan Jossy:
- email: maegan@gorgefriends.org
- phone: 971-634-2028
