As the days get longer, head outside and visit the colorful forests, prairies and woodlands throughout greater Portland. When you’re out on your next adventure, see if you can spot these native wildflowers, butterflies, bees and dragonflies.
Emerging in April
Silvery blue butterfly: Best spotted April and May at Howell Territorial Park, Blue Lake Regional Park and Cooper Mountain, Graham Oaks and Mount Talbert nature parks. Likes lupines.
Pacific bleeding heart: Best viewed in April and May at Oxbow Regional Park, Graham Oaks Nature Park and Gabbert Butte Natural Area.
Camas: Best viewed in April and May at Canemah Bluff, Cooper Mountain and Mount Talbert nature parks. Photo by C. Bruce Forster
Painted lady butterfly: Best spotted April to September at Howell Territorial Park, Blue Lake Regional Park and Cooper Mountain, Graham Oaks and Mount Talbert nature parks. Photo by Krista Lundgren
Cardinal meadowhawk dragonfly: Best spotted April to October at Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area, Blue Lake and Oxbow regional parks.
Emerging in May
Lupine: Best viewed in May at Howell Territorial Park and Cooper Mountain and Mount Talbert nature parks.
Golden paintbrush: Best viewed in May at Howell Territorial Park and Cooper Mountain Nature Park. Photo by Curt Zonick
Yarrow: Best viewed May to July at Howell Territorial Park and Cooper Mountain Nature Park. Photo by Curtis Clark
White-tailed dragonfly: Best spotted May to September at Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area, Blue Lake and Oxbow regional parks. Photo by Kristina Prosser
Metallic green sweat bee: Females emerge in spring; males in summer. Best spotted through September at Howell Territorial Park and Graham Oaks, Canemah Bluff and Cooper Mountain nature parks. Photo by Steven Ellingson
Emerging in June
White rock larkspur: Best viewed in June at Cooper Mountain Nature Park.
Western tiger swallowtail: Best spotted June and July at Howell Territorial Park, Blue Lake Regional Park and Cooper Mountain, Graham Oaks and Mount Talbert nature parks.
Meadow checkermallow: Best viewed June to August at Howell Territorial Park and Graham Oaks, Cooper Mountain and Canemah Bluff nature parks.
Bumblebee with orange pollen basket: Best spotted June to August at Howell Territorial Park and Graham Oaks, Canemah Bluff and Cooper Mountain nature parks.
Lorquin's admiral butterfly: Best spotted June to September at Howell Territorial Park, Blue Lake Regional Park and Cooper Mountain, Graham Oaks and Mount Talbert nature parks. Photo by Calibas CC
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