Happiness is discovering a "really big" field of camas

While returning from Bandon, OR, I decided to take a different route home, one that went through Florence and then 126 to Eugene before getting back on I5 North. It was a nice drive with some stops along 101 for the wild rhododendrons between Reedsport and Florence. Then the drive on 126 was kind of interesting, more wooded and less developed than our standard Highway 36 route. All of a sudden, on the left was this "hugh" flat field of camas, perhaps the largest field I have seen, at least equalling an equally large field of camas in Montana.Camas, or more correctly, camassia, is a wildflower, native of western US and Canada in great numbers in moist meadows. A perennial plant that emerges early in spring, usually before other wildflowers. It grows from 12 to 50 inches and its flowers are from pale lilac or white to deep purple or blue-violet. Native Americans often used these as a food source, harvesting the roots in the fall. It is said that a boiled root looks and tastes like a sweet potato or when the root dried it could be pounded into flour. Not only did a number of the Northwest American Indian tribes include camas in their diet, but they also contributed to the survival of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.Well the town of  Veneta was not too far away and after visiting City Hall, I was able to find out who owned the property and obtain permission to photograph it. The day was not great, but more typical than not for a spring day in this part of the Oregon coast, a lot of clouds, rain showers and occasional slight sun breaks. Fortunately I had my rain pants and boots on, but the field was very wet and I still got my boots soaked. However, the area was just amazing, one of the largest concentrations of camas I have found.A nice interlude on the long drive home.