Oregon Fawn Lily

Erika discovered and photographed a lovely lily growing at the edge of a riparian deciduous woodland at the Glacial Heritage Preserve near Olympia on 4 May 2019. The flower looked like a fancy White Trout Lily (which was common in our Minnesota woods). This Oregon Fawn Lily, which grows along the Pacific Coast from southwestern British Columbia to northern California, sports yellowish and pink colors on its white petals. Botanists seem unsure of the origin of the name—either the two leaves look like fawns’ ears or the name alludes to the mottled pattern of the leaves. Probably not a good idea to try eating Oregon Fawn Lilies, as the bulbs are suspected of poisoning poultry and some people develop rashes if they touch this lily (Practical Plants).