Northwestern Chapter
of the North American Rock Garden Society

After spending some time here, proceed up the road. As you leave Green Point, in the wooded meadow on your left, there are some areas where Fritillaria affinis (Chocolate Lily or checker lily) can be found. Proceeding up the road, you will come to a sharp turn uphill, this is Fidalgo Head. There are some stairs if you want to climb down to the beach. Black oystercatchers frequent this area.

Head back to the road and up the hill and around some curves into a bit of a forest. On the right hand side, wander into the woods and you’ll find a profusion of Calypso bulbosa (Fairy slipper orchid)  and Erythronium oregonum among the trees.  This area is worth some exploration.

You can wander along through the woods or head back to the road where you walk a little farther until you come to the trail to Juniper Point. This trail is a bit more strenuous, you’ll be climbing up a few hundred feet along a dirt (or mud) trail. Along the way, the rocks are covered with gray-green Cladonia sp. (Reindeer lichen). On the trail, you’ll find Cerastium arvense (field chickweed), tiny Collinsia parviflora (blue-eyed Mary), Lomatium utriculatum (Spring gold), Mimulus guttatus (Seep monkeyflower), Lithophragma parviflorum (smallflower woodland star) and Micranthes integrifolia (was Saxifraga). The view is pretty dramatic along the way but watch your footing. I have seen otters in the water down below the cliff.

After about ½ mile along the trail, there will be a sharp climb up, which will bring you to Juniper Point.

This is a great spot for a break, there is a bench out at the point to sit and look at Burrows Island across the water. This is also a logical lunch spot.  You’ll see some interesting trees out here including Juniperus maritima (seaside juniper) and Arbutus menziesii (Pacific madrona). In this area, there will be Camassia quamash (Common Blue Camas) and pale cream Toxicoscordion venenosum (Death Camas) growing together.

After Juniper Point, wander on the trail through the madrona trees and back to the road. There is about 2/3 of a mile walk along the road, which is pleasant but without the botanical variety you have just passed. You’ll come to a lone, gnarled maritime juniper and this area is worth exploring. An interesting fern which is an indicator of serpentine rich soil, Aspidotis densa, grows in this area. Another small, uncommon plant in this area is Orobanche uniflora (Naked Broomrape). After a walk downhill on the road, you’ll be back to your car after a (hopefully) botanically interesting hike. On your way home, consider exploring downtown Anacortes.  I can recommend the Rockfish Grill, a brewpub with pretty good pub grub.

Here is a list of what plants I’ve seen in April trips to Washington Park over the years. Plant that were in flower during an April trip are in bold on this list.