I went on this trip as part of the NPSO annual meeting in Eugene. On a sunny Saturday, no-one else was on the trail besides our group. Directions and trail description can be found <a href="http://emeraldnpso.org/PDFs/Grasshopper_Meadows_Trail.pdf">here</a>, and a full plant list can be found <A href="http://www.emeraldnpso.org/PDFs/Grasshopper_Meadows_Plant_List.pdf">here</a>.
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They burned the meadows last year, and removed many of the encroaching fir trees. Our leader, John Koenig, said it was the best bloom he has ever seen. The lupine is spectacular in the lower meadows right now and will soon be in full bloom on the upper meadows.
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Forest of incense cedar on the way up to the meadows had Viola glabella, Clintonia uniflora, Maithenum dilatum, Ribes binominatum, Ribes viscosissimum, Osmorhiza ociidentalis Adenocaulon bicolor, Dicentra formosa, Hydrpyllum fenlerii, Polemonium carneum, two Galiuma species, Prosartes hookeri, Trillium ovatum, Anemone deltoidia, and large amounts of Maianthemum dilatum. Some Rainera stricta not yet in bloom, was pointed out in the forest.
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In the meadows-huge amount of Lupinus latifolia interspersed with Calochortus subalpinus, Senecio interregerimus and Delphinium menziesii Potentilla, Penstemon procerus, Lilium columbianum, and Aquilegia formosa.
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In the rock gardens on the southern edges of the meadows we saw Phlox diffusa, Phlox gacilis,Castilleja hispida, Eriogonum umbellatum, Plygonum phytolaccifolium, Saxifraga integrifolia, Mimulus guttatus and tiny Mimulus breweri.
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The last of the snowdrifts have just melted off and we saw a few drooping Dicentra uniflora and Erythronium grandiflorum near the top.
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