As the snow recedes in the mountains, a photogenic (and poisonous) plant appears
Young Veratrum californicum appears healthy in the light summer rainfall. Clicking on the photo takes you to its location on the Iris Arts Website. Photo: © Donald J. Rommes
Melting snow but little plant growth as yet
A lot of snow had melted in the two weeks since our last visit to the mountain, but heavy clouds obscured the highest peaks, and a light, chilly mist blew across the valleys. The icebergs I photographed then were now gone, and the small lake was entirely ice-free. Even the larger lakes farther down valley were mostly free of ice.
Tree islands, standing as they were on rocky outcroppings that warm quickly with the sun, held a healthy new growth of bushes. Wildflowers were not yet in bloom though, and the grasses were still matted and recovering from a winter under ice and snow.
Less snow cover than last visit, but rolling over the distant slopes is a heavy mist that will soon become a steady, light, rain. Photo: © Donald J. Rommes
Tree islands on rocky outcroppings are among the first places to be free of snow. Third week of July. Photo: © Donald J. Rommes
Veratrum
The south-facing slopes however, were largely snow-free. Amid the grasses and mosses a sturdy green plant was well-established—veratrum.
Veratrum californicum is a member of the bunchflower family (Melanthiaceae). It is a perennial, flowering, herbaceous plant that resembles corn or the lily, but is neither. It grows in wet places, often at altitude, and appears in marshy areas shortly after the snow melts. It is notable for being poisonous. It's steroidal alkaloids can cause illness or even death—especially in sheep who would graze on it. The plant is known to contain teratogens that affect the developing sheep fetus.
It is an attractive plant though, with its corrugated leaves and upright stem. The plants tend to grow in groups where their overlapping patterns are good subjects for photographers like me.
It is a challenge to find a good composition however, and I found myself sitting or kneeling uncomfortably on the marshy ground and in the rain to get an angle I liked. The photo I show here is nice, but I think I can do better. Perhaps in another couple weeks?
In the bowls below the tree islands, snow is still present but is melting fast from above and below, creating surface scalloping and blue puddles. Photo: © Donald J. Rommes
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