Salmon River Wildflowers, or how I found GardenStew.

Hi all. At the end of June, I was in wildflower heaven on the Main Salmon River. We brought home lots of photos, and started looking online for their names. My favorite is the Ragged Robin or Clarkia puchella, and searching for this is how I found GardenStew. So that is why I chose the Ragged Robin as my avatar.


( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )

The first flower we could smell even before we saw it, the heaven scent Mock Orange that is the Idaho State flower.


Mockorange, Idaho State Flower. ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )


Mock Orange, Philadelphus lewisii ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )

I have been able to identify the Wood's rose


Wood rose ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )


And the native Mountain Hollyhock,



Mountain Hollyhock Iliamna rivularis ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )

I am positive this is Heal All or Prunella vulgaris, even though this shot is from above.


Prunella vulgaris, or Heal all ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )

Firecracker penstemon.


Firecracker penstemon ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )

Wild sweet pea is introduced, but beautiful


wild sweet peas. ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )


Wild Yarrow with a visitor




Wild Yarrow with visitor ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )



Wild honeysuckle.



Wild Honeysuckle, Bitterroot Mountains, Idaho ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )

The main tree in the river valley is the Ponderosa Pine, whose bark smells like vanilla.






Ponderosa forest and Main Salmon River, Idaho ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )






( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )

Some unidentified plants and flowers are:




Unknown blue wildflower ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )






Unknown blue wildflower ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )






Indian Paintbrush unknown type ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )






Unknown blue wildflower ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )






Indeterminate white wildflower ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )






Invasive species, I forget which one. ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )






Possibly wild sorrell? ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )




And we were shown this shiny leafed plant prior to our raft trip.


Poison Ivy ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )

A few animals and birds were seen.




Wild sheep on the move ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )






Wild sheep ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )






Canadian geese ( photo / image / picture from Karrma's Garden )

 

The "dandelion head" was about 5 inches or 12 cm across.

 

Awesome set of photos of a beautiful place.
I enjoyed the story of your avatar too.

 

Karrma, thanks for the memories. I grew up living along the Salmon, Snake and Clearwater Rivers. My folks boated those rivers and spent hunting seasons and summers either on the river or in the primitive areas. Parents that give an 8 yr. old girl a gun and a fishing pole for her birthday enjoyed the outdoors. Although I didn't catch on to the hunting/fishing part I did develop a strong love for the outdoors.

What part of the river did you visit?

 

I have a whole hedge of Mock Orange and when it blooms, it is heavenly.

 

I had no idea how many types of mock orange and of Indian Paintbrush there were, until I looked them up.

 

We are glad you found GardenStew Karma. The wildflowers are fantastic.

Jerry

 

Lupines are the same way (as in there are lots of different varieties) I tried looking them up and am now on the search for one more "wild variety" for my road strip. I'm just not doing very good at catching them in the seed stage. Maybe this year???