Your Guide to Sierra Wildflowers

On a warm, sunny morning on May 31st, 17 participants joined local naturalist Bob Sweatt and local botanist Molly Ferry for a wildflower walk at Washoe Meadows State Park. This walk was in partnership with the Sierra State Parks Foundation, Sierra Club, Tahoe Institute of Natural Sciences (which is hosting a Wildflower Big Year this year), and California State Parks.  

With some spring flowers already post-bloom and many summer flowers getting ready to bloom, the attendees were greeted with an abundance of flowering plants. As Bob guided the group through stands of pine trees, wet meadows, and open meadows, he pointed out a diversity of local fauna, including multiple cinquefoils, monkeyflowers, bistort, paintbrush, and many other alpine flowers. Participants not only learned how to identify these plants, but Bob also offered photography tips and shared knowledge on the anatomy of plants. One of the stars of spring at Washoe Meadows State Park, the Common Starlily, had just finished blooming, but that didn’t dampen the spirits of the attendees.  

With the morning sun heating the temperatures, and the active interest and questions from attendees slowing down the pace, about half of the participants decided to head back to the cars ahead of our Noon original end time for the walk. The other half stayed the course, and they were rewarded with Round-leaved Sundew (a carnivorous plant and one of the most widespread sundew species, though less common in the Tahoe Basin), Alpine Shooting Stars, Scarlet Gilia, and Spotted Coralroot (a native orchid with tiny, beautiful blooms).  

Washoe Meadows State Park is one of Tahoe's best-kept secrets. Established as a state park in 1987, Washoe Meadows plays an important to the water clarity and water quality of Lake Tahoe, which at that time, was severely threatened by significant development. Historically, Washoe Tribe traditionally spent their summers there and is for whom the park is named. Washoe Meadows has some incredible wildflowers, including the Star Lily, a native plant only found in Washoe Meadows.

Overall, attendees were thrilled to see so many blooming plants, and they were delighted to have knowledgeable leaders who shared their insights and passion for plants with the group. Each of the partners (Sierra State Parks Foundation, Sierra Club, Tahoe Institute of Natural Sciences, and California State Parks) has a variety of upcoming nature walks and programs around Tahoe that can be found on their respective websites.   

Peruse the gallery to discover other wildflowers found at Washoe Meadows State Park, and get out there to find these yourself!

We may see a different bloom each year. See our other wildflower identification from a previous year.