-Plant: Light purple petals, fused, basal leaves-lance shaped, bell shaped flower,
-Route: From Evergreen State College--Head southwest on McCann Plaza Dr NW 0.2 mi~ At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Evergreen Pkwy NW 1.5 mi ~ Take the ramp to Mud Bay Rd NW 0.2 mi ~ Turn right onto Mud Bay Rd NW 0.1 mi ~ Turn left onto Delphi Rd SW 6.3 mi~ Turn right onto Waddell Creek Rd SW 2.8 mi ~ Turn left to stay on Waddell Creek Rd SW 3.3 mi~Turn right, destination will be on the left 0.4 mi
-Weather: Sunny, cloudless day, around 20 degrees Celsius
-General Vegetation: Flowers mainly blooming on mounds alongside many grasses while multiple grasses and ferns dominated inner mounds
Lavender, bell shaped flowers with thin, drooping stalks. Growing throughout Mima Mounds prairie. Still in bloom in mid-October, so I assume they are late bloomers.
This plant is known as common harebell or bluebells of Scotland. It was found growing abundantly throughout an open prairie in Western Washington. The flowers are purple and bell shaped with 5 fused sepals and 5 tepals. Its leaves alternate on the stem and are oval shaped and skinny. Surrounding species include various prairie grasses, bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), and a ground cover of kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi).
Common Name: Harebell
Description: Slightly toothed long thin leaves on flowering stems. The flowers have five violet, pinkish or white bell shaped petals.
Notes: I found this plant located on many of the mounds and some of the inner mounds all throughout the Natural Area.
I had previously always known this plant to be the Bluebell, which I think is also a common name.