Horse Rock Ridge is in bloom!<P>
The predominant flower blooming in the forest is Fairyslipper <I>(Calypso bulbosa)</I>, which begins immediately after the fence. Other forest flowers now blooming include: Miner's Lettuce <I>(Claytonia perfoliata)</I>, Oregon Wood Sorrel <I>(Oxalis oregana)</I>, Woods Strawberry <I>(Fragaria vesca)</I>, Western Starflower <I>(Trientalis latifolia)</I>, a few Spotted Coralroot <I>(Corallorrhiza maculata)</I>, several remaining Western Trillium <I>(Trillium ovatum)</I>, and a single Yellowleaf Iris <I>(Iris chrysophylla)</I> with more on the way.
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The meadows and hillsides are mostly yellow thanks to <B>profuse</B> amounts of Western Buttercup <I>(Ranunculus occidentalis)</I> and Yellow Monkeyflower <I>(Mimulus guttatus)</I>. There are a wide variety of other flowers in bloom, including: Rosy Plectritis <I>(Plectritis congesta)</I>, Oregon Fawn Lily <I>(Erythronium oregonum)</I>, small-flowered blue-eyed Mary <I>(Collinsia parviflora)</I>, Menzies' Larkspur <I>(Delphinium menziesii)</I>, Henderson's Shooting Star <I>(Dodecatheon hendersonii)</I>, Meadow Death Camas <I>(Zigadenus venenosus)</I>, Spring Gold <I>(Lomatium utriculatum)</I>, Harsh Paintbrush <I>(Castilleja hispida)</I>, Nuttall's Saxifrage <I>(Saxifraga nuttallii)</I>, Western Saxifrage <I>(Saxifraga occidentalis)</I>, Annual Agoseris <I>(Agoseris heterophylla)</I>, Blue Flax <I>(Linum lewisii)</I>, Olympic Onion <I>(Allium crenulatum)</I>, Slender Sandwort <I>(Minuartia tenella)</I>, Cut-leaf Daisy <I>(Erigeron compositus)</I>, Western Serviceberry <I>(Amelanchier alnifolia)</I>, large-flowered blue-eyed Mary <I>(Collinsia grandiflora)</I>. Look for some Chocolate Lily <I>(Fritillaria affinis)</I> next to the trail as you descend past the first set of rock outcrops. Also watch for tiny Chickweed Monkeyflower <I>(Mimulus alsinoides)</I> in seeps.
Reports