Yes, I've heard it said that region is the most diverse conifer forest in the world and has many endemic plants and other species. I'm not sure if sheer species counting is the greatest way to describe a wild area's importance, but it sure is eye-catching to have the groves changing from tall firs and pines to stands of massive madrones (arbutus) to grassy glades edged by live and deciduous oaks. It seemed the dogwoods hadn't quite caught up, but were about ready to flower most places along the Umpqua.

How about low growing wildflowers? Seriously, you need to look at the soil, moisture and sun conditions of the ditch, then select plants that will do well in those conditions. Whether you choose wildflowers or a ground cover, if you use seeds, not plants, you will need to weed the area at least once a week for the next year or two or three until the desired plants are large enough and dense enough to compete with weeds. Or you chould mulch with 4 to 6 inches of mulch to stop new weeds from germinating and use nursery grown plants or plugs instead of seeds.

Why different Daucus carota might look different? Growing conditions. Variations due to genetics. The cultivated carrot is a subspecies of Daucus carota and look at all the variation in that. I see a lot of variation in the Daucus carota growing where I live. Some with petite flowers and others have huge umbrellas. Some with only 1-3 flowers and others with a dozen. You did grow Daucus carota, right? Please share a link to a photo of your plant! We can maybe confirm that for you. FataMorgana

giboosi_alttara, My first thought, with the diagonal cuts, was rabbits ... but the height threw me. These lily plants are exceptionally large and the flower stems exceptionally tall -- literally to my shoulder in some cases, and certainly at least 3.5-4 feet in height. Is it possible that rabbits -- which we've never seen, actually, despite having a meadow adjoining the property (though we also have plenty of hawks and coyotes so that might explain the noticeable absence of rabbits?) -- could pull down a stem and snip it off? (Otherwise, they'd need to do more than stand on their hind legs .. they'd need a stepladder!) And I wonder the same thing about rabbits -- why bite these off and then just leave them on the ground? Not a blossom or bud is missing/munched...? I had concluded deer in part because of the height at which these are being "nipped" off ... but deer would eat the flowers, wouldn't they? One morning there were no less than five such 4-6" stems on the ground around one lily clump, looking for all the world as if some crazed gardener and gone through and "deadheaded" them, then strewn them around the base of the plant! Each with buds, faded blooms, and in several cases, partially opened NEW blooms. Why would anything -- including rabbits -- be biting these off if they weren't planning to eat them? (And if they didn't like the taste, wouldn't you think they'd figure that out after the first few?...this has happened for days on end. I have an continuous supply of truncated lily stems in a vase by the sink! (Needless to say, I'd RATHER have the stems still on the plants! ;) I would try more of my homemade habanero pepper spray (I put peppers and some water into a blender, then strain through cheesecloth or coffee filter and fill a hand spray bottle -- worked like a charm early in the season on foliage to keep deer away) but I'm worried about discouraging beneficial butterflies and bees now that things are in bloom...?