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gorgepulse.bsky.social
News, photography, analysis, and commentary on the Columbia Gorge and the environment. Rectal cancer survivor. Voice of marginalized Gorge communities.
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Balsamroot bloom at low elevations in the east Gorge will peak this coming weekend. To avoid crowds, go later midweek. We will have warm sunny weather through the weekend. Next week‘s conditions could be cloudier with some chance of rain, but the bloom should hold up well.

submitted 22 hours ago • 0 comments

Last night’s “pink moon” rises over The Dalles.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

The miracle of spring! A bumblebee pollinating my blueberries. Bushtits chirp in the background.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Yesterday, OHA reported 10 new COVID deaths in Oregon; the total is now 10,793. Hospitalizations are at 1.0 per 100,000 as of 3/22. Contrast that with Tennessee, which has a rate of 2.7 per 100,000 & one of the highest death rates in the nation right now.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

This year's balsamroot peak in the Gorge looks to be delayed due to cooler weather. I estimate peak at low elevations to be around April 19-23. Recent rains will help the bloom; it could be a good year. Photo is from a prior year.

submitted 5 days ago • 1 comment

Henderson's or broadleaf shooting star (Dodecatheon hendersonii) grows in moist areas with partial to full sun in the Gorge. Native Americans (Yuki) roasted leaves & roots for food. Flowers were used ceremonially, ... #Nativeplants

submitted 6 days ago • 2 comments

Miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata, round leaves & white flowers) is a common early spring plant in moist spots with some shade in the Gorge. It’s edible & delicious! Native Americans used the plant as food, applied a poultice of the mashed plants as a remedy for rheumatic ... #Nativeplants

submitted 7 days ago • 2 comments

Shining Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) is starting to bloom in the east Gorge. It's highly useful to Native Americans. The berries are used for food & make great jam. A decoction of the roots was used for stomach problems & to treat hemorrhage. It was also used to treat TB ... #Nativeplants

submitted 9 days ago • 1 comment

Wednesday, OHA reported 1 new COVID death in Oregon; the total is now 10,783. Hospitalizations for the week ending 3/15 are now 1.0 per 100,000.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Ball-head waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum v. thompsonii) is in bloom now in open or partly shaded slopes between Dog Mountain & The Dalles. No Native American uses are noted. The buds are spherical & completely enthralling up close. It's the larval food plant for a ... #Nativeplants

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

For those of you who didn’t vote for the Leopards Eating Faces Party, today is National Schadenfreude Day. www.foxbusiness.com/video/637099...

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

Midget phlox (Microsteris gracilis) blooms in March & April in open, grassy areas of the central & east Gorge. The flowers are 1/4" (6 mm) across. Native Americans applied a poultice of the mashed plant to wounds & bruises, & used a cold infusion of the plant as a ...

submitted 11 days ago • 1 comment

Coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus) blooms in spring in low-elevation wet areas of the central & west Gorge. It's common around waterfalls & springs. Native Americans ate the young leaves & flowering stems raw, cooked, or fermented. An infusion of dried leaves was used for colds & ... #Nativeplants

submitted 12 days ago • 1 comment

Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) is blooming now in the western Gorge. The bark acts as a mild laxative. Native Americans applied a poultice of the chewed, burned plant to relieve pain. A decoction of the bark was used for a TB remedy. The berries are a food source, & can ...

submitted 13 days ago • 3 comments

Good news if you have guilt from social media exercise influencers. A Finnish study of twins showed high levels of exercise conferred no longevity benefit. Only moderate exercise had a positive effect: medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03...

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

Red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) grows in open woods in the Gorge as far east as The Dalles at most elevations. Native Americans ate the berries for food. It also makes an excellent plant for the garden, hosting pollinators & birds. Hummingbirds especially like the ...

submitted 14 days ago • 5 comments

Today at 10 am in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square, Intact Global announced a lawsuit seeking equal protection for boys from genital cutting, AKA routine infant circumcision. Oregon law protects girls from the practice, but not boys. The brief is at cdn.prod.website-files.com/66119b8c4d0c... ...

submitted 14 days ago • 1 comment

A stunning spring day in the Gorge yesterday. Balsamroot are starting & are on track to peak around 4/15. Get your taxes done so you can enjoy the show. Wildflowers will be watered this week with decent rain, they are shaping up to be nice this year.

submitted 15 days ago • 3 comments

Oaks toothwort (Cardamine pulcherrima) is a charming flower starting to bloom in oak savanna grassland in the Columbia Gorge. The name comes from use of the roots as an herbal remedy to treat toothache pain. The globular bud clusters at left are waterleaf, a different plant ...

submitted 17 days ago • 1 comment

Look at this tone-deaf letter from @ordems.bsky.social. All of it anti-MAGA, not one mention of working on issues voters are much more concerned about such as affordable housing, inflation, homelessness, utility bills, public safety, or Oregon's lousy schools. An out-of-touch money machine.

submitted 17 days ago • 1 comment