Thank you very much. A search on Puccinia monoica brought up some pictures that look a lot like mine. We do have a couple specious of Rockcress near the area of sagebrush steppe this was found. Is the infection contagious to the other plants? I found a lot of Rockcress last Spring, but only the one like this. In another area I found many that apparently had this fungus though - bper

Smita, if you are removing this plant because you don't like it....fine. But if doing so because of the berries, you need to remember that there are very few plants in our landscaping that are without toxic aspects. It is not native to the Americas, by the way.

Hey, T-Bob! I'm also Western WA (Zone 8a/9a according to the USDA map which makes for some interesting coin flips). We're in an odd little micro-climate here and you may be as well. Your best bet for getting a solid last frost date is probably to email the folks at the WSU extension for San Juan county. Their website link is at the bottom of this. If you go to the 'Master Gardners' page and click on the 'FAQ Page', there's an email link at the very bottom of the FAQ. I'm planning starting some peppers from seeds for the first time this year as well. Here's wishing good luck for us both. Here is a link that might be useful: WSU San Juan County Extension

Nice. Thanks for sharing.