Look How They Shine For You
Sunny Days in the Gorge
Hikers took to the balsamroot fields above Chenowith in Murray’s Edition on property owned by the Columbia Trust on Thursday, April 15.
Balsamroot at the Rowena viewpoint
By Erin Peters
Spring has begun in the Gorge, which can only mean one thing… wildflowers! They are popping up everywhere on hillsides, in town, and on hiking/biking trails. While the weather is getting nicer and we are enjoying all that the Columbia River Gorge has to offer, there are a few things we should be mindful of.
Wildflower Etiquette
You may have noticed some beautiful yellow flowers popping up on hillsides in the Gorge. These are Arrowleaf Balsamroot also known as Balsamorhiza sagittata. People often call this plant the “Oregon sunflower” because of the bright yellow flowers the plant produces in the Spring.
Native Americans have used balsamroot historically in a variety of different ways. The roots and young shoots were baked and steamed. The immature flower stems were peeled and eaten. Balsamroot seeds are oil-rich and a good food source. The plants were also used medicinally. Specifically, the Blackfoot, Gosiute, Kutenai, Paiute, Sanpoil, and Shoshoni used the roots as a compress to treat sores, blisters, insect bites, bruises, and wounds. The Cheyenne and Flathead tribes used root infusions to treat fevers, whooping cough, and tuberculosis. Animals such as deer, elk, and bighorn sheep also enjoy munching on the stems, leaves, and flowers.
Did you know it takes about ten years for one of these plants to produce a blossom, which the plant needs in order to reproduce? Picking these flowers is detrimental to growth for these plants. When you see these beautiful flowers or any other wildflowers, remember to leave them be. Let future generations enjoy them for hundreds of years, rather than picking them and enjoying them for a day or two. Besides, a picture is worth a thousand petals - see below.
As wildflowers abound right now, find your little spot of happiness and drink in the color and the magnificence of your surroundings. This little spot near the water reservoir above Mid-Columbia Medical Center is a gem. For many, it’s five minutes from their front door. Nature does not hold back. You should not either. Minimal effort is bringing maximum payoff right now!
Sunny Happiness
It’s warming up in the Gorge, and the sun is shining down on us! You may have felt a shift in your mood after the gray skies and cold wind this winter. During those cold, dark months, you may have felt some degree of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD - Isn’t that appropriate. This could include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or being more lethargic or depressed. This is what happens when we spend more time indoors with artificial light.
When the sun comes out our brains get a shot of happiness! It affects our mood because of the brain chemical called serotonin. When we have more serotonin, we have better feelings and moods of satisfaction and calmness, and less anxiety or depression. There are many antidepressants that work by boosting serotonin levels in your brain. Serotonin levels drop drastically during the winter months because we don’t have as much access to sunlight in Oregon and Washington. Buying a lightbox is a way to get some artificial sunlight in the cold months. These have been shown to give people an increased level of serotonin. If you have been feeling cooped up in your house for the last few months, now is the time to get outside and soak up the sunshine.
COVID-19 vaccines are becoming more readily available for folks in the Gorge
People in our Community are Getting Vaccinated!
We have had a successful rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations over the last few months, with all Oregonians over the age of 16 being eligible for the vaccine on April 19th. While this is an exciting moment, it is important to remember that the virus is still out there, and there are still people who are at high-risk. Please continue to practice social distancing and mask etiquette on trails (wearing one when you pass others).
