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Rose Creek Nature Preserve Background and Photographs
The Rose Creek preserve is one of a few a significant remaining examples
of a quaking aspen-hawthorn/cow parsnip community type in Washington.
Both the Department of Natural Resources Natural Heritage Program and
the National Park Service’s designation of the site as a National
Natural Landmark highlight and emphasize the Preserve's important
ecological attributes. In addition, portions of the Preserve located on
the sloping hillside above Rose Creek have fair to good examples of
native Palouse prairie. Finally, the entire area, with its mix of
trees, shrubs, forbs and grassland support a wide variety of bird
species and other wildlife. Hopefully our photo gallery will inspire
you to take a walk through the Preserve with your own camera or
binoculars. Follow these directions to
visit the Preserve.
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Rose Creek Aspen and Waterleaf
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Rose Creek in early spring 2006.
Photo: T. Brown 2006
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Rose Creek Workday--PCEI staff and Americorps members protect aspen from
deer browse.
Photo: T. Brown 2006 |
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Workday at Rose Creek
Click this link for rose creek volunteer
opportunities. |
Private Drive to Trailhead
The landowner of this private driveway grants Rose Creek visitors access
to reach the trailhead. |
Photo: T. Brown 2006 |
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Photo: T. Brown 2006 |
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Trail at Rose Creek
Rose Creek Nature Preserve trail bordered by Fendler's waterleaf
(Hydrophyllum fendleri) and aspen (Populus tremuloides).
For more information on plants you can see at The Rose Creek Nature
Preserve visit the Rose Creek
Plant List. |
Rose Creek Nature Preserve Scenery
This picture exhibits some of the native vegetation on the Preserve. |
Photo: T. Brown 2006 |
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Photo: T. Brown 2006 |
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The Wet Meadow
This is a distinct area on the preserve where the aspen groves grows.
Becasue the wet meadow is bordered by the road, it is highly
succeptible to weed invasion, thus this area is a focal point to
protect the preserve from unwanted plants. The meadow is also full of
some beautiful and uncommon plants, like purple trillium (Trillium
petiolatum) and camas (Camassia quamash). The volunteers
in the picture are searching for Canada thistle (Cirsium
arvense). |
Rose Creek Trail Markers
When hiking through the Preserve, please observe all trail markers and
walk only on designated paths. Much of the Preserve's flora and fauna
are extremely sensitive to disturbance. Disturbance often contributes
to non-native plant invasions. Thank you for respecting the wonderful
wildness of the Preserve. |
Photo: T. Brown 2006 |
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Photo: T. Brown |
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Rose Creek Nature Preserve Upland
This photo illustrates the vegetative diversity on the Preserve. The
upland and riparian communities are deliniated by their proximity to
Rose Creek. |
Prairie Community
The Preserve's prairie species are located in the upland. There, an
amazing mix of bunchgrasses and native forbs thrive. |
Photo: T. Brown |
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