San Juan Islands Crusies | M/V David B | May 24-28, 2011 | Alaska and Inside Passage Cruises Aboard the M/V David B

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Chocolate Lily

Chocolate Lily or Checker Lily Frittillaria affinis is a favorite spring flower. We found this one on Lopez Island at Iceberg Point. Coast Salish people ate the bulbs of these plants by steaming or boiling.

Oregon Sunshine

Took awhile to ID this plant, but in the end we figured it out to be Oregon Sunshine. Eriophyllum lanatum.

White Flowers on Lopez

I'm not sure the name of these flowers, but I really enjoyed looking at them and i like this photo. Please feel free to send me an email if you know what these guys are. -Christine

Common Camas

Our walk on Lopez Island had lots of wildflowers in bloom. Here's a Common Camas. This plant was a food source for local natives and was semi-cultivated. The bulbs needed to be cooked a long time to be good, and explorers like Lewis and Clark, complained about digestive effects of eating Camas. Naturalist David Douglas wrote that "when I was in the Indian hut I was almost blown out by the strength of wind"

Meadow Death Camas

This beautiful little flower, Meadow Death Camas (Zygadenus venenosus) packs a deadly punch. It's poisionous to people and animals. Many native people ate a different camas that could be easily confused so patches of Common Camas (Camassia quamash) were often weeded to exclude Meadow Death Camas.

Iceburg Point Walk on Lopez Island

An easy walk on Lopez Islands is out to Iceberg Point. No icebergs here, but it's a place we've watched lots of birds, found minke whales and identified many wildflowers.

The David B at Anchor in Garrison Bay

Garrrison Bay at San Juan Island is a favorite place to anchor because of its scenery and history. Garrison Bay is the location of English Camp that was an important part of the Pig War.