by Rex Trulove

Created on: January 10, 2009

People passing through Klamath Falls, or only coming to the town for an occasional visit, are missing out on a great deal of beauty the area has. The number of wild plants and wildflowers alone is staggering.

Part of the reason for this is that even in developed areas, there are many natural features that remain roughly the same; thin soil and volcanic rock outcroppings. This may sound inhospitable, and it can be, but it also allows some plants to thrive.

This includes plants not usually thought of as wildflowers. For example, in late spring the grasses that cover Hog's Back, bloom. The grass is primarily a species of Red Fescue, so the entire hillside takes on a reddish hue.

Several subspecies of Oregon Blue Lupine, the state flower, also grow wild throughout much of the Klamath Basin. The plant tends to be compact in areas that are exposed to weather, and it produces pale to dark blue flowers that can be stunning when seen on the hillsides.

Growing in the same fairly poor and rocky soil are several species of sunflower. Unlike the better-known sunflower grown for it's seeds, these wild sunflowers present a bushier appearance and seldom grow much over four feet tall. The compound flower heads are usually smaller than with cultivated sunflowers. However, the plant does produce numerous yellow flowers, which compliment the blue of the lupine.

Occasionally, one might also see yellow honeysuckle in the same areas. The flowers are borne off a strong central stalk, and while smaller than those of the sunflowers, they are more brilliantly yellow. They also have a great aroma that is attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and many people.

Throughout the basin, primarily in dry but shaded areas, Indian paintbrush grows. The plant isn't truly a flower; the tops of the plant turn red as they reach maturity much as do a poinsettia, except that the leaves are more compact around the stems. This gives them the name of Indian paintbrush, as from a distance they appear somewhat like paint brushes that have been dipped in red paint.

Red columbine also grows in the area. Brighter red than paintbrush, these also have a slight amount of bright yellow. The plant seldom grows over two feet in height, and the flowers are tubular, in a set of five, around a central flower stem. These are also attractive to hummingbirds and other animals eager to get to the nectar in the flowers.

In moist and shaded areas, there can often be a profusion of mountain larkspur and wild flag. Flag is usually a pastel

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