Erik noel
@eriknoel.bsky.social
Science nerd. Advocate for worker ownership. Photographs wildflowers because they don't run when I get close. Likes pie.
We don't usually see blooming balsam root in mid November, but I caught these young Balsamorhiza careyana blooms nearby, with mushrooms.
December 18, 2025 at 9:18 PM
We don't usually see blooming balsam root in mid November, but I caught these young Balsamorhiza careyana blooms nearby, with mushrooms.
Just before a cloudless sunrise on the back yard— perfectly light with no shadows or glare. Our snow buckwheat, Eriogonum niveum, has produced copious white blossoms on tall stalks this summer.
September 2, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Just before a cloudless sunrise on the back yard— perfectly light with no shadows or glare. Our snow buckwheat, Eriogonum niveum, has produced copious white blossoms on tall stalks this summer.
View to the south of part of Mariposa Vineyard with the Columbia River shored by Crescent Bar and West Bar. Local wildfire smoke has settled into the gorge.
September 2, 2025 at 4:08 AM
View to the south of part of Mariposa Vineyard with the Columbia River shored by Crescent Bar and West Bar. Local wildfire smoke has settled into the gorge.
Lactuca serriola, called prickly lettuce and milk thistle among other names, presents its freshest blossoms to the morning sun.
July 2, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Lactuca serriola, called prickly lettuce and milk thistle among other names, presents its freshest blossoms to the morning sun.
Here is a classic example of Calochortus macrocarpus, mariposa lily, amidst the drying grasses of our shrub-steppe
June 12, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Here is a classic example of Calochortus macrocarpus, mariposa lily, amidst the drying grasses of our shrub-steppe
It's turned out to be a good spring for mariposa lilies, Calochortus macrocarpus, here at the northern edge of Washington's Columbia Basin. Native grasses are well on their way to summer's dormancy. Rabbit brush displays fresh green new growth. A hot sun dominates the land.
June 12, 2025 at 4:34 PM
It's turned out to be a good spring for mariposa lilies, Calochortus macrocarpus, here at the northern edge of Washington's Columbia Basin. Native grasses are well on their way to summer's dormancy. Rabbit brush displays fresh green new growth. A hot sun dominates the land.
Orange globe mallow, Sphaeralcea munroana, a native wildflower of the central Washington shrub steppe, growing in my backyard.
May 30, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Orange globe mallow, Sphaeralcea munroana, a native wildflower of the central Washington shrub steppe, growing in my backyard.
Oregon Grape, Berberis aquifolium, is now blooming in Soap Lake. The resultant fruits are edible, but not very sweet.
April 15, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Oregon Grape, Berberis aquifolium, is now blooming in Soap Lake. The resultant fruits are edible, but not very sweet.
Prairie star flowers, Lithophragma parviflorum, in front of a yellow -bell, Fritillaria pudica, with tiny Draba verna are all early harbingers of spring here near Soap Lake in Washington state.
April 4, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Prairie star flowers, Lithophragma parviflorum, in front of a yellow -bell, Fritillaria pudica, with tiny Draba verna are all early harbingers of spring here near Soap Lake in Washington state.
A desert parsley, Lomatium canbyi, in full bloom here at the north edge of the Columbia Basin. Its young leaves and the shoots are edible now, and so is the small bulb about 6 inches (15 cm) below the surface, with the proper processing. By the end of June only the edible seeds will remain.
March 15, 2025 at 11:35 PM
A desert parsley, Lomatium canbyi, in full bloom here at the north edge of the Columbia Basin. Its young leaves and the shoots are edible now, and so is the small bulb about 6 inches (15 cm) below the surface, with the proper processing. By the end of June only the edible seeds will remain.
This sandhill crane interrupted its autumn flight south to spend some alone time in a local alfalfa field. Feeding? Resting? Waiting for a more congenial group to fly with?
February 19, 2025 at 5:32 AM
This sandhill crane interrupted its autumn flight south to spend some alone time in a local alfalfa field. Feeding? Resting? Waiting for a more congenial group to fly with?
About 75 years ago, after irrigation arrived, sandhill cranes began stopping in the Columbia Basin in central Washington each spring before proceeding north to their summer lands. We can observe their visit each spring at this event: www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org
Festival | Othello Sandhill Crane Festival | United States
Birding festival, tours, lectures, banquet, children activities, exhibitors, food court, WSU Raptor Club live birds, free memento photo booth, OthelloSandhillCraneFestival.org
www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org
February 19, 2025 at 4:57 AM
About 75 years ago, after irrigation arrived, sandhill cranes began stopping in the Columbia Basin in central Washington each spring before proceeding north to their summer lands. We can observe their visit each spring at this event: www.othellosandhillcranefestival.org
Looking north from the south shore of Soap Lake at a small flock of Snow Geese resting on the water. This natural mineral lake has no food for these geese but young shoots of winter wheat are abundant on the steppes on either side of the Grand Coulee.
February 18, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Looking north from the south shore of Soap Lake at a small flock of Snow Geese resting on the water. This natural mineral lake has no food for these geese but young shoots of winter wheat are abundant on the steppes on either side of the Grand Coulee.
In the evening, near the summer solstice, looking north from the south shore of Soap Lake, a rare summer thundershower passes to the east.
February 12, 2025 at 5:53 AM
In the evening, near the summer solstice, looking north from the south shore of Soap Lake, a rare summer thundershower passes to the east.
At 9 in the evening of a late June day looking north from the south shore of Soap Lake at the mouth of the Grand Coulee a splash of color lights up the gathering dusk.
February 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
At 9 in the evening of a late June day looking north from the south shore of Soap Lake at the mouth of the Grand Coulee a splash of color lights up the gathering dusk.
A year ago it was a little colder, as it seems, looking northwest at the ice on Soap Lake's south shore.
February 4, 2025 at 12:08 AM
A year ago it was a little colder, as it seems, looking northwest at the ice on Soap Lake's south shore.
Another view looking north at the south end of Soap Lake, this one in the morning when the cliffs are in sunlight. During parts of the ice ages, the Grand Coulee was the course of the Columbia River thru Central Washington.
February 3, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Another view looking north at the south end of Soap Lake, this one in the morning when the cliffs are in sunlight. During parts of the ice ages, the Grand Coulee was the course of the Columbia River thru Central Washington.
View to the north at Soap Lake's south shore of the mouth of the Grand Coulee on a bright winter day.
January 29, 2025 at 8:31 PM
View to the north at Soap Lake's south shore of the mouth of the Grand Coulee on a bright winter day.
Another Lomatium canbyi bulb sending up leaves and a flowery stalk during the pale sunshine of an early winter day. The several sprouts littering the area may be from last spring's L. canbyi seeds. Also of note are the tiny green leaves of sprouting Draba verna.
January 15, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Another Lomatium canbyi bulb sending up leaves and a flowery stalk during the pale sunshine of an early winter day. The several sprouts littering the area may be from last spring's L. canbyi seeds. Also of note are the tiny green leaves of sprouting Draba verna.
Lomatium canbyi, a desert parsley, blooms on 10 January 2025 in the northern Columbia Basin of eastern Washington. Abundant moisture in the ground and mild, sunny days just above freezing encourage the bulb to send up a few leaves and this cluster of blossoms.
January 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Lomatium canbyi, a desert parsley, blooms on 10 January 2025 in the northern Columbia Basin of eastern Washington. Abundant moisture in the ground and mild, sunny days just above freezing encourage the bulb to send up a few leaves and this cluster of blossoms.