Bitterroot and wildflower update by Ellensburg

Just returned from Ellensburg, Wa, photographing bitterroot wildflowers. Thanks Mearle for the recommendation. Always wanted to see those flowers up close. This morning we did find many growing on barren rocky ground in the LT Murray wildlife area. It was quite a sight and well-worth the trip. There were also many other wildflowers growing. Along the Umtanum gravel road, we saw bluebirds by nesting boxes, but every time we stopped, they hid in the bushes. No photos of the bluebirds, but they were beautiful to see. Spent the night at one of the BLM campgrounds along the Yakima River Canyon Road. This morning the light and still conditions cooperated, and we had about 3 hours shooting wildflowers, including the bitterroots, which had just opened. After finishing 1 1/2 rolls of film, it started raining hard, and to top it off, a big hail shower passed through, knocking the flowers down. At the lower elevation, discovered patches of wild irises. Hopefully got a few decent photos, but in any case, had a great time there.
Harald

Thanks for the tidings on irises, you say lower elevation, care to estimate? BTW these bitterroots seem quite early, I'm accustomed to them in June both at, say, 2500 feet in central Oregon and at sea level in the gorge. Seems like an early season so far....especially with the lower elevation trilliums already come & gone.....

Don't know the exact elevation where the wild irises were blooming. My guess-estimate would be 2000 feet elevation. The area was west of the Ellensburg Pass in the L.T. Murray Wildlife area along the gravel Untanum/Wenas Road near the very tiny community of Wenas. Besides the Western blue irises, there were also lupines, balsamroot, and camas mostly along ditches and moist areas. Yesterday the basalm roots were too weather beaten, and I didn't bother taking photos of those.
Harald

Thanks Harald, looks like I'll have to get a little further afield soon.

Glad you did well out there, Harald. On my way back from the Palouse, I stopped up there on the Wenas Road to check it out again this afternoon.There were thousands of Bitterroots blooming! Even some white one tossed in for good measure. I managed to kill a couple hours and a roll and half more Velvia film there. And as a bonus I got a couple of great shots of a horny toad sunning himself on a rock. I saw the masses of blue irises, but was put off by the no trespassing sign.