Camassia Natural Area

Camassia Natural Area is one of the loveliest spots around, and one of our favorite spots for a ramble any time of year.  The Missoula Floods scraped away the topsoil, which has created a moist habitat where water drains slowly.  This is perfect for camas flowers, which bloom here in stunning blue blankets in the early spring.  There are also large boulders known as "glacial erratics" which are foreign to local geology.  They were brought here by the floodwaters, either pushed by the current or floated on ice rafts, from Canada and points in between.  We went there on a cool but sunny January afternoon in search of wonders.

The crows were being obnoxious.

Pacific madrone tree.

An abundance of Oregon white oak grows here, and is ornamented with lichen and moss in a wild array of textures.

Scaling a glacial erratic.

Last summer there was a ground fire at Camassia.  A few
signs are still clear.

Much of the ground is covered with a lush carpet of moss.