RHH's photos with the keyword: bitterroot

Our oldest daughter is visiting from Northern Ireland and yesterday we went hiking at Fishtrap Lake in the channeled scablands of eastern Washington. We hiked the prairies on the west side of the lake and just as I had hoped found the Bitterroot blooming. Bitterroot is Lewisia rediviva, a flower that blooms before the leaves and lies right on the ground. They are, in my opinion, one of our most beautiful wildflowers.

This is Bitterroot, Lewisia rediviva, one of our most beautiful wildflowers.

The Bitterroot were just starting to bloom yesterday when we hiked the prairies at Fishtrap Lake in eastern Washington.

Bitterroot, Lewisia rediviva, is one of our most spectacular wildflowers. Blooming in rocky and dry areas its leafless flower stems with their huge blossoms in shades of pink and white seem to appear like magic from the ground. The name "rediviva" meaning "restored to life" refers to this. These were photographed along the Ray Westburg trail on Manastash Ridge in eastern Washington.

This is the flower we were looking for on our recent hike up Manastash Ridge. It flowers with no apparent leaves in rocky soil, the buds and then the flowers lying prostrate on the ground. We found it first in rocky areas along the edge of the ridge and then in abundance near the road at the top of the ridge. The name "rediviva" (restored to life) apparently refers to the fact that it goes dormant after flowering and then reappears like magic in the spring. We found it ranging in color from white to deep pink and spent nearly an hour taking photos of it at the top. More pictures of this beautiful flower and the story of our hike can be found on my blog at: ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2010/06/manastash-r... .

It is one of Washington's most beautiful wildflowers and was photographed on Manastash Ridge.