<I>This report is for the lower Crawford Oaks) hiking loop. Two additional notes if you are planning to visit next weekend: (1) Saturday 4/22 will be a free parking day (no Discovery Pass needed), and (2) The Dalles Mountain Road leading to the upper trailhead will be CLOSED on the morning of Sunday 4/23.</I>
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The Northwest Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) looks good, though it is still a week or two away from its peak. There is also plenty of Columbia Gorge Lupine (Lupinus latifolius var. thompsonianii) although most of it is still in bud -- that should start blooming over the next several weeks assuming that the weather is warm.
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Beyond those two, the most profuse wildflower by far is the Barestem Desert Parsley (Lomatium nudicaule), which is blooming nearly everywhere. Also blooming are: Nine-Leaf Desert Parsley <Lomatium triternatum var. triternatum), Pungent desert parsley (Lomatium grayi), Ballhead waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum var. thompsonii), Miner`s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata ssp. intermontana), Big-head clover (Trifolium macrocephalum) <I>especially</I> on the southern section of the Vista Loop, small-flowered blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora), Smooth Prairie Star (Lithophragma glabrum), Showy Phlox (Phlox speciosa), and Northwestern Saxifrage (Saxifraga integrifolia). There are still some Gold Star (Crocidium multicaule) in the southern half of the loop, though they are mostly finished for the season.
Reports