Natural History Wanderings

There was a very good wildflower report on the Washington Trails Association site for the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park Backcountry for  April 25, 2013 in Eastern Washington in the Yakima region. Here are the highlights.

Now is the time if you want to see wildflowers at their best.

Right from the start you can’t look across the landscape and not see wildflowers, hundreds of them from almost ever vantage point. Buckwheat, Carey’s balsamroot, cushion daisy, lineleaf daisy and upland larkspur dominate much of the landscape. Carey’s balsamroot is well past it’s prime. The yellow bells, and several species of desert parsley are forming seedpods. After reaching the road there are Gairdner’s penstemon, Hooker’s balsamroot, lupine, most of the species that I already mentioned, and past their prime narrowleaf goldenweed. There are a number of flowers that I didn’t mention or can’t identify.

I saw a group of 8-9 bighorn sheep, but none of the elk that leave their sign all over the area. I didn’t see any bluebirds, but hiked past what appeared to be a bluebird next box. This box is visible from a great distance. I saw several crows and a lone turkey vulture. Jut before reaching Recreation Drive near the end of my hike I saw a rattlesnake.

See full report and many more reports at Trip Reports — Washington Trails Association.