RHH's photos with the keyword: sisyrinchium

These are some of the first wildflowers to bloom in the spring here in Washington and they are just starting to bloom now. We are hoping to get some reasonably dry weather and the opportunity to get out for some photos, but yesterday's attempt was rained out. This photo is from last year and was taken by my wife near the town of Medical Lake in eastern Washington. Once known as Sisyrinchium douglasii these are now Olsynium douglasii, named after the great Scottish explorer of the northwest, David Douglas.

Olsynium douglasii or Sisyrinchium douglasii is one of our earliest spring wildflowers. It seems to like dry rocky areas and this was photographed in just such a place, on Pass Island near Deception Pass.

Have no idea why these are called Grass Widows. Their botanical name is Olsynium (formerly Sisyrinchium) douglasii, and they are named after the famous North American explorer, David Douglas (whose biography I recently read). They are finished in our area but these were in prime condition in eastern Washington when we were there recently. Spring has been just a little later than here.

Yesterday was dry, though mostly overcast, and we decided to take the afternoon off and go see the Grass Widows blooming at Pass Island. Once classified as Sisyrinchium douglasii, the plant, the only one of its genus in North America, is now Olsynium douglasii. It is one of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in our area and is native to the Pacific Northwest. Why it is called "Grass Widow" I do not know. The fairly large Pass Island lies between Canoe Pass and Deception Pass in the waterway between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands. The island connects the two spans of the Deception Pass Bridge and its maze of trails can be reached from the bridge. It is part of Deception Pass State Park, is uninhabited and is a good place to see some of our native wildflowers. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2013/02/pass-island...

Here's one more picture of the wildflower we went to see and photograph Tuesday. It's the Grass Widow, Olsynium douglasii, formerly Sisyrinchium douglasii. This was photographed on Pass Island between Whidbey and Fidalgo Islands. It is one of our earliest wildflowers and is also known as the Satin Flower. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2013/02/pass-island...

I intend to up load more pictures from our recent hike in the Ancient Lakes area of eastern Washington, but thought I'd upload two pictures today that were taken elsewhere in eastern Washington. This is an early-season wildflower, Olsynium douglasii, or Grass Widows, photographed in the Medical Lake area of eastern Washington near Spokane. We found a whole field of them while out for a drive. We not only found the ordinary lavender or pink form but a a few plants with white flowers and one plant with bi-colored flowers, both of which I'll post later when I have more time (was at an orchid show most of the day). ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2013/04/grass-widow...