Red-dead nettle and oaks toothwort are odd names for early-blooming wildflowers. It makes one believe that neither had good marketing agents.

Nonetheless, the two small flowers are always fun to spot in late winter.

On the first day of March I did the nine-mile round-trip hike along the Willamette River from Champoeg (Cham-poo-e’)  Park to the Butteville Store. Besides the beautiful scenery, it’s always an interesting trip through history.

Champoeg Park is the location where in 1843 the settlers of the area voted to have Oregon became a provisional territory of the United States. And, the Butteville Store originally opened in 1863.

For those of you that follow the migration of birds, I saw my first turkey vultures of the year. It surely is almost spring.

California Ground Squirrel

Red-dead Nettle

Vireo “hiding” from me

I wasn’t the only one enjoying the day

Cherry blossoms

Dark-eyed Junco

Wetlands near Butteville

Oaks Toothwort