Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside - Cave Junction, Oregon
Nicknamed Gobi Desert by many old timers, the area, to me, looks similar to Oregon's high desert area outside of Bend.
Because of the efforts of many, such as the Illinois Valley Garden Club, in 1937 the
Rough & Ready Forest State Park was established on a 90 acre site just five miles southwest of Cave Junction.
The reason for the unusual landscape, and flora and fauna, is that it
sits on an "alluvial fan," which is a geological formation. Because of
the peridotite rocks in the area, when it decomposes, it does not
create a soil that will retain water. With these deep gravel plains,
rain will quickly drain away, and be of no value to sustain plant life
for the long haul.
Also, this area has one of the largest mantle rock exposures in the
country. Mantle rocks as well, contain little or no nutrients to
support plant growth. Combined with nickel and chrome soil content, it
often creates a toxicity which is poisonous to many plants.
You can see in these photos the first hills above this plain are lush
with forests and plants. A hundred and fifty foot tree on the hill may
have a twin brother born on the plain that is only ten feet high; Even
though the rainfall they receive is the same.
The alluvial fan was created by
Rough & Ready
Creek suddenly leaving the constraints of its' canyon, and fanning out
into the plain. That's why there are so many of these peridotite stones
referred to by the locals as "Gobi Stones."
The Illinois Valley airport was expanded for the Smokejumper Base,
and instead of moving it toward the mountains, it reduced the
Rough & Ready Forest State Park to 19 acres, and was renamed the
Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside.
The
Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside is best visited between April and early June when the many rare and unusual flowers are blooming.
This is a photo of a Darlingtonia Californica, also called California
Pitcher, Cobra Lily or Cobra plant. It was thus named as it was first
discovered on the slopes of Mount Shasta in Northern California by
botanist William Brackenridge. It can be found at the
Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside in the early Spring.
The Cobra Lily eats insects! It grows in bogs and mountain seeps
where it can have cold, running water; generally found far into the
wilderness areas. It is designated "uncommon" because of its' "rarity
in the field." It is called "Cobra Lily" because of its' resemblance to a
rearing cobra. It even has a forked leaf that resembles a serpents'
tongue or fangs.
This is a photo of a Hall's Violet. It blooms at the
Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside in April and May. It is considered a "rare and endangered" plant.
These are Purple Mouse Ears. It is also a "rare and endangered" plant that can be found at the
Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside.
Another "rare and endangered" species found at the
Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside is the Two-eyed Violet.
For a complete list of the flowers and bushes you can find blooming at the
Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside, please visit
CaveJunction.com.
Even it was 100 degrees and the middle of July, it was a very
interesting find. Just another of the "wonders" of Josephine County.
