The foreground flowers in this photo are Fringe Cup (Tellima grandiflora) a member of the Saxifrage family. Typically the flowers aren't as colorful as these, which showed a fairly vivid pink tone in many mature blossoms. Fringe cup blooms in the gorge during May. This group was growing along the roadside near Latourell Falls. Fringe Cup likes moist woodland locations. In my Portland garden, Fringe Cup is a reliable, slow spreading, low maintenance perennial.
The lacy foliage surrounding the Fringe Cup is a plant I know as Robert's Geranium, although the learned Paghat calls it Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum). An invasive non-native, it is very widespread in the west Gorge. In fact, sadly, it might be the most common plant in the Gorge.
I can't tell you the name of the small, five-petaled flower in the background.
Ash Creek Images
Photographs of the West by Doug Gorsline
Photo of Fringe Cup Blooming on the Historic Columbia River Highway, Oregon.
