First, pretty common in the Northwest, Jeffrey's Shooting Star.
Next and people will wonder why I like it, is manzanita. It's very common and this little bush looked good and healthy. Very drought resistant and here's some info from wikipedia:
Native uses of the plant include collecting the berries, drying them, and grinding them up into a coarse meal. Fresh berries and branch tips were also soaked in water and drunk, making a refreshing cider. When the bark curls off, it can be used as a tea for nausea and upset stomach. The younger leaves are sometimes plucked and chewed by hikers to deter thirst. Native Americans used Manzanita leaves as toothbrushes.
Finally a really cool little plant. I am not sure exactly which variety but we call these "Snow Flowers." They lack chlorophyll and are fairly rare. There are several varieties, some are white but I prefer the red ones. You can see the translucent pods containing 2 seeds each.
