Year of Plenty

Mon., May 10, 2010

Spring Wildflowers in Blue

(Craig Goodwin)

The wildflowers are shifting from yellow to blue. Some of them look kind of purple but my wildflower book categorizes them as blue.

The Common camas is the breviflora variety (Camassia breviflora). Upon seeing an abundance of camas flowers on the Lewis and Clark expedition, Clark said;

"... our camp is agreeable Situated in a point of timbered land on the eastern borders of an extensive leavel and butifull prarie which is intersected by Several Small branches near the bank of one of which our Camp is placed. the quawmash is now in blume at a Short distance it resemhles a lake of fine clear water, So complete is this deseption that on first Sight I could have Sworn it was water. ..." [Clark, June 12, 1806, at Weippe Prairie, Idaho]

Posted May 10, 2010, 9:20 p.m.

The Year of Plenty blog was created by Craig Goodwin in the winter of 2008 to chronicle the experiences of his family as they sought to consume everything local, used, homegrown or homemade. That journey was a wonderful introduction to people and movements in the Spokane area who are seeking the welfare of the community through local foods, farmers markets, community gardens, sustainable transportation, and more fulfilling and just patterns of consumption. In 2009 and beyond the blog will continue to report on these relationships and practices, all through the eyes of a family with young children. Craig manages the Millwood Farmers' Market, is a Master Food Preserver and Pastor at Millwood Presbyterian Church. Craig can be reached at goody2230@gmail.com