Morchella (Morel Mushrooms)

Morel mushrooms are prized edible fungi known for their honeycomb-like caps and rich, earthy flavor. Ecologically, they play a vital role in nutrient cycling by breaking down organic matter, particularly in forested areas.

Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster Mushrooms)

Oyster mushrooms are popular edible fungi valued for their mild, savory flavor and delicate texture. Ecologically, they play an important role as decomposers, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients in forest ecosystems. They are often used in soups, stir-fries, and as a meat substitute due to their substantial texture.

Chamaenerion angustifolium (Fireweed)

Fireweed is a tall, perennial herb known for its vibrant pink-purple flowers and its ability to quickly colonize disturbed areas, such as burned or logged forests. Ecologically, fireweed plays a critical role in soil stabilization and succession, preparing the ground for other plants to establish. It thrives in open meadows, forest edges, roadsides, and recently disturbed sites

Balsamorhiza (Balsamroot)

Balsamroot is a hardy, drought-tolerant perennial herb known for its bright yellow, sunflower-like blooms. Ecologically, it helps stabilize soils and provides forage for pollinators, birds, and grazing animals. It is commonly found in dry, open grasslands, sagebrush steppe, and rocky slopes

Camassia (Camas)

Camas is a perennial herbaceous plant prized for its edible bulbs and stunning blue-violet flowers. Ecologically, camas contributes to pollinator support and soil stabilization in wet meadows and grasslands. It is most commonly found in moist prairies, open woodlands, and seasonal wetlands.

Oplopanax horridus (Devil's Club)

Devil's club is a large, spiny shrub native to moist, forested areas of the Pacific Northwest. Ecologically, it provides shelter and food for wildlife while contributing to the stability of riparian zones. It is most commonly found in shady, moist environments such as old-growth forests, streambanks, and wet ravines.

Rubus spectabilis (Salmonberry)

Salmonberry is a deciduous shrub native to the Pacific Northwest, known for its bright, edible berries and early spring blooms. Ecologically, it provides food and habitat for wildlife, including birds and pollinators. Salmonberry prefers damp, shaded environments such as riparian corridors, forest edges, and clearings. It is commonly found in lowland and coastal forests. Flowers appear as early as March, and berries ripen from May to July, offering one of the first berries available for harvest each year.

Fragaria (Wild Strawberries)

Wild strawberries are low-growing perennial plants known for their sweet, flavorful berries. Ecologically, they support pollinators and serve as an important food source for birds and small mammals. They also help stabilize soils with their spreading root systems. They prefer well-drained soils in sunny to partially shaded areas, often growing in open woodlands, grasslands, and disturbed areas. They bloom in late spring, typically from April to June, and their berries ripen between June and August, depending on elevation and climate.

Urtica (Nettles)

Stinging nettle is a nutrient-rich, herbaceous perennial plant valued for its edible and medicinal properties. Ecologically, it improves soil fertility and supports pollinators, while also serving as a host plant for butterflies and other insects. It thrives in damp, shaded areas with rich soils, often near rivers, wetlands, and woodland margins. It emerges in early spring, with young shoots and leaves harvested from March through June before the plant flowers.

Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail Mushroom)

Turkey tail is a colorful, fan-shaped mushroom widely recognized for its medicinal properties and striking appearance. Ecologically, it plays a critical role as a decomposer, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients in forest ecosystems. It thrives in damp, shaded forests and wooded areas, particularly on decaying hardwood and conifer logs.