Stephanie, I didn't know either so posted for an ID - Erythronium is the answer I received, also called "dog toothed violet"
(I think this one is Erythronium oregonum)
It is really pretty!
Cheers

Isn't it fun to learn what these plants are! For years I've walked around "wanting" to know, yet not having any ready way to do this! I love ATP!

I just picked up a chunk of something-or-other from my aunt. She didn't know what it was and neither do I, but it has beautiful variegated foliage and apparently gets very tall spiky flowers. I'll be posting a pic on the ID forum as soon as I get around to it.

Yes please, and here too, so we'll see it!!

Here's my mystery plant. Plucked it from the north side of my aunt's house, so assume it's shade tolerant. She reports tall flower spikes rise above the foliage but she couldn't remember what color or type of flower they are or even when it bloomed (her son does most of her garden planning and she hires a gardener for maintenance). In the far right photo is a spent flower stalk. I love the foliage and look forward to seeing what it brings in the way of a flower. Looking forward to an 'aha' moment from one of you PNWers. Leaves are about 5-6" x 2-3" thin and crinkly, with a sharp smell to them.

Deb it looks so familiar but brain is just not clicking! At first I was going to say some type of larkspur, but not with a smell...can't wait to see what someone IDs this as!

Deb,
I think it is this http://www.greatplantpicks.org... I have one as well. Very easy to propagate too.

Nice one Spring!

Thanks SC -- that looks exactly right. And with the common name of water figwort, perhaps I'll try to dunk a chunk in my baby pond to see if it's OK as a marginal plant.

I've also found that anything with 'wort' in its name is usually a pretty hardy plant.

It's well behaved too. Just increases slowly and I have not found seedlings.

That will look very cool in/along the pond!!

I sure do wish I could grow that scrophularia...rats! There are those key words again...moist soil....sigh.

I visited the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden today in Portland. I did a photo tour of it for you under in the Public Gardens Photo Tours forum. Check it out. Very pretty day.

I looked Stephanie, lucky you. That was a beautiful tour. Thanks

Think I might have a place for Scrophularia auriculata 'Variegata'. very good looking find.

wcgypsy said:I sure do wish I could grow that scrophularia...rats! There are those key words again...moist soil....sigh.

But you can grow other cool plants. Funny how we lust after things that don't make sense in our zone.

This was looking good yesterday while I was out in the yard.
sweet tea blue poppy
J. maples leaving out. I think I like the spring flush better then the fall color.
My first iris of the season. new last fall.
my gentian, sun was to low so the bloom was closed. Fantastic blue


Bought these down at the Snohomish garden center. They are the new wave pansy.

Yeah...I'm hooked on variegated stuff all of a sudden.....maybe I could grow it in a half barrel and just soak it...lol..

Isn't it odd how you find yourself drawn to specific but different things every year. One year might be purple foliage, another orange flowers. Or just one type of plant keeps turning your head. I've learned to just roll with it and let everything even out over time.