Natural History Wanderings

Washington Trails Association had the following wildflower reports:

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Backcountry — Apr 06, 2013  Eastern Washington — Yakima

I led a Cascadian hike today to the Ginkgo area. Instead of taking the usual backcountry route out the bench along the Columbia, we walked west up Rocky Coulee. It was pretty sunny when we started, but, as we were walking west and the clouds were moving east, it clouded up within an hour or so and we even got some rain. We walked about 3 miles up the coulee (onto the WDFW property) and then climbed to a bluff above the coulee for lunch. We were right at the edge of the clouds so we had a mix of sun and clouds as we ate. It cleared up about the time we headed back and was sunny all the way back to the cars. We didn’t see any wildlife, but there were lots of nice wildflowers.

Wild Horse — Apr 06, 2013 —Eastern Washington
Took a drive out to the Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility today. Stopped by the Renewable Energy Center (visitor center) for a few minutes (you can fill out a form and get a free 8 month parking pass for the site), then drove back down to a trailhead/parking lot mid-way down the hill. The visitor center has maps of existing trails and abandoned jeep trails, but most of the hiking is cross country. I picked up a game trail dropping into a small valley east of the parking lot. There were about 100 elk on the hillside above me, and another group of 50 or so further east. This little draw has a few nice rock outcrop with Hedgehog Cacti, which had buds, but it will be a few weeks before they start blooming. I continued down the draw until it intersects an old road that takes you back to the Beacon Ridge Rd. The hillsides in this area were absolutely covered with Gold Star. I don’t think I have ever seen so many in one area. The Prairie Lupine, Cushion phlox, Sagebrush Violets, and Hooker’s Balsamroot are also blooming. We also spotted several pairs off Mountain Bluebirds near their nesting boxes.
We crossed over Beacon Ridge Road and headed west over a small rocky knoll which had a full spectrum of colors of cushion phlox.

Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Backcountry — Apr 06, 2013 — Eastern Washington- Yakima
Wildflowers seem to be out early this year. Balsamroots, spreading phloxes, and other wild flowers started blooming.

See all of their hike reports at: Trip Reports — Washington Trails Association.