Natural History Wanderings

Washington Trails Association has many new hike reports. Here are a few excerpts that mention wildflower bloom:

West Tiger 3 — Apr 28, 2013 — Issaquah Alps — Tiger Mountain
Wildflowers (salmonberry and ground cover plants) are starting to bloom. Cascade oregon grap is sprouting berries. Lots of dogs were on the trail, including our canine companion, Beauty. Pacific banana slugs and European brown/black slugs were out, too–one of the spring attractions of the Issaquah Alps.

Middle Fork Snoqualmie River: Upstream — Apr 27, 2013 — Snoqualmie Pass — North Bend Area
Trillium blooming by the dozen, and great mountain views (Preacher Mtn, Garfield Mtn)

Columbia Hills Natural Area Preserve — Apr 27, 2013 — South Cascades — Columbia Gorge
This is a favorite Spring hike because of the variety and intensity of wildflowers. We saw Upland Lurspur, Big-head Clover, Barestemed Desert Parsley, Yakima Milk Vetch, Whitish Lupine, Phlox Hoodii, Harsh Paintbrush and Bulblet Prarie Star. My favorite flowers today were the Lupine and Arrow-leaf Balsamroot that dominated the hillsides as you weave your way up the winding gravel road. We had lunch behind the first set of towers to get out of the wind, and then headed back down, enjoying the sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge that just happened to include a spectacular and ‘in your face’ view of Mount Hood.

Snow Mountain Ranch — Apr 26, 2013 — Eastern Washington — Yakima
As you hike, if you aren’t hearing the drone of bees pollinating the flowers, you are listening to the Meadowlarks calling. Besides that, we enjoyed seeing the giant headed clover, phlox, sagebrush violets, prairie lupin, desert buckwheat and balsamroot. Meadowlarks, Robins and Western Scrub Jays were all visible in the shrubs and the scrub today.

Thunder Creek — Apr 26, 2013 — North Cascades — North Cascades Highway
Trilliums and some purple flowers on tall, sparse bushes are blooming along the earlier section of the trail.

See all of the recent hike reports at: via Trip Reports — Washington Trails Association.