Josh Morrisey, City of Spokane Parks & Recreation, Marketing Assistant, 509.625.6236
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 4:32 p.m.
The saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” and sure enough, we’re awash with a myriad of wildflowers here in Spokane. If you’ve visited our natural areas consistently, you’ve likely noticed a new kind of wildflower popping up just about every week! Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast looking to sharpen your botanical knowledge, or you’re looking for something fun to get you and/or your kids outside, wildflower spotting is a fantastic way to bring adventure and discovery into your life. Below are some simple ways to get started.
We’ve got a handy map of City of Spokane parks where you can filter which type of park you’re looking at on the sidebar (hint: you’ll want to select conservation areas in this case). Spokane County has some amazing conservation areas as well that you can view on their website. Of course, Riverside State Park is an obvious solid choice also!
There are many great wildflower books out there. A few examples being:
You can find these online, but I’d give your favorite local bookstore a jingle first!
You can also use your phone to wield the power of the internets (if you get reception). There are some great online resources for flower identification and even a few apps. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of websites and apps that may be helpful for your wildflower spotting adventure:
Websites
Apps
Before you leave the house, make sure that you have water, hand sanitizer, sunscreen (if it’s sunny), snacks if you’ll be out for a while, and, of course, your wildflower book or wildflower website/app at the ready on your smartphone. Many natural areas don’t have restrooms so make sure to go before you go. Lastly: pack it in, pack it out — many natural areas don’t have trash cans, so make sure you have the means to take any trash you generate back with you. If you’re feeling altruistic, bring a bag and some gloves with you on your trip and pick up litter if you spot any — it’s good karma!
It’s always advisable to stay on established trails when visiting any natural area. If you can, try and explore sunny areas, shady areas, wetter areas, and dryer areas — this is because these different environments can yield different kinds of wildflowers and you don’t want to miss any!
You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but please don’t pick wildflowers unless you’re on private property where you have owner permission. Remember, every wildflower you pick is one less for someone else to enjoy, so take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints!
