Once again, I will address the common question <I>("how is the balsamroot?")</I>: It is past peak at all elevations. Nonetheless it is still impressive close to the summit.
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Flowers blooming at lower elevations (primarily in forested areas but also in some open/sunny patches): lots of Fork-Toothed Ookow (<I>Dichelostemma congestum</I>) and Threadleaf Phacelia (<I>Phacelia linearis</I>), Small-Flowered Blue-Eyed Mary (<I>Collinsia parviflora</I>), Nine-leaf Desert Parsley (<I>Lomatium triternatum </I>var. <I>triternatum</I>), White Western Groundsel (<I>Senecio integerrimus </I>var. <I>ochroleucus</I>), Broad-Leaf Star Flower
(<I>Trientalis latifolia</I>), Thimbleberry (<I>Rubus parviflorus</I>), patches of Columbia Gorge Lupine (<I>Lupinus latifolius </I>var.
<I>thompsonianus</I>), Baldhip Rose (<I>Rosa gymnocarpa</I>), Wild Strawberry (<I>Fragaria virginiana</I>), Smooth Woodland Star (<I>Lithophragma glabrum</I>), occasional Western Wallflower (<I>Erysimum capitatum</I>). The beautiful Farewell-To-Spring (<I><a
href='http://www.pnwflowers.com/flower/clarkia-amoena' target='_blank'>Clarkia amoena</a></I>) has started blooming as well.
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Flowers currently blooming in forested areas starting beyond the "More/Less Difficult" trail junction (app 800 feet elevation): Inside-Out Flower (<I>Vancouveria hexandra)</I>), Hooker's Fairybell (<I>Disporum hookeri</I>), Vanilla leaf (<I>Achlys triphylla</I>), Wild Blackberry (<I>Rubus ursinus</I>), Spotted Coral Root (<I>Corallorhiza maculata</I>), Striped Coral Root (<I>Corallorrhiza striata</I>), Star-Flowered Solomon's Seal (<I>Maianthemum stellatum</I>), Miner's Lettuce (<I>Claytonia perfoliata</I>), Candyflower (<I>Claytonia sibirica</I>).
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Flowers currently blooming at the first overlook (app 1600 feet elevation): lots of Meadow Death Camas (<I>Zigadenus venenosus</I>), Northwest Balsamroot (<I>Balsamorhiza deltoidea</I>) past peak, Harsh Paintbrush (<I>Castilleja hispida</I>), Western Buttercup (<I>Ranunculus occidentalis</I>), Upland Larkspur (<I>Delphinium nuttallianum</I>), Bicolored Cluster Lily (<I>Broadeia howellii</I>), Rosy Plectritis (<I>Plectritis congesta</I>), and Western Serviceberry (<I>Amelanchier alnifolia</I>).
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Flowers blooming in the forested areas between the first overlook and Puppy Point (app 2500 feet elevation): more Smooth Woodland Star, Wild Strawberry, Larkspur, Meadow Death Camas, and Fairy Bells, Columbia Windflower (<I>Anemone deltoidea</I>), Sweet Cicely (<I>Osmorhiza berteroi</I>), and Fringecup
(<I>Tellima grandiflora</I>). Columbine (<I>Aquilegia formosa</i>) should be opening soon.
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Flowers currently blooming in the meadows starting at Puppy Point and above (2500-2800 feet elevation): <b>LOTS</b> more balsamroot (albeit past peak), Columbia Gorge Lupine (<I>Lupinus latifolius </I>var. <I>thompsonianus</I>), Spreading Phlox (<I>Phlox diffusa</I>), Douglas' Catchfly (<I>Silene douglasii</I>), Prairie Star (<I>Lithophragma parviflorus</I>), Big-Head Clover (<I>Trifolium macrocephalum</I>), Pennycress (<I>Thlaspi sp.</I>), Penstemon
(<I>Penstemon sp.</I>), as well as more Larkspur, Paintbrush, Collinsia, and Buttercup. Cliff Penstemon (<I>Penstemon rupicola</I>) and several varieties of Stonecrop (<I>Sedum sp.</I>) are blooming on the rocky outcrops just before the junction of the Dog Mountain Trail and the Dog Mountain Summit Trail.
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<FONT COLOR="RED">CAVEAT</FONT>: As always, the poison oak (<I>Toxicodendron diversilobum</I>) lines both the Dog Mountain and Augspurger trails at low elevations (below approximately 1800 feet), especially the latter. Make sure that you know how to <a href="http://www.poisonoak-id.com/"
target="_blank">identify it</a>! I recommend wearing long pants and having Tecnu waiting at the trailhead just in case.
Reports