The wildflowers are blooming, but it will take more effort to see them due to road construction. <I>(See caveat below.)</I>
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Blooming in the forest along the <A href="http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Marys_Peak_East_Ridge_Hike" target="_blank">East Ridge Trail</a>: lots of Smith's Fairybell <I>(Disporum smithii)</I> and Vanilla Leaf <I>(Achlys triphylla)</I>, Hooker's Fairybell <I>(Disporum
hookeri)</I>, Redwood Sorrel <I>(Oxalis oregana)</I>, Candyflower <I>(Claytonia sibirica)</I>, Pacific Bleeding Heart <I>(Dicentra formosa)</I>, and Smooth Yellow Violet <I>(Viola glabella)</I>.
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Blooming in the summit meadows: Cliff Larkspur <I>(Delphinium menziesii)</I>, Spring Gold <I>(Lomatium utriculatum)</I>, Roundleaf violet <I>(Viola orbiculata)</I>, Early Blue violet <I>(Viola adunca)</I>, Wild Strawberry <I>(Fragaria virginiana)</I>, Harsh Paintbrush <I>(Castilleja hispida)</I>, Catchfly <I>(Silene douglasii)</I>, Small-Flowered Blue-Eyed Mary <I>(Collinsia parviflora)</I>, and Spreading Phlox <I>(Phlox diffusa)</I>. No lupine or tiger lilies yet... perhaps in a few weeks.
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<B>ROAD CONSTRUCTION CAVEAT:</B> Siuslaw National Forest is reconstructing sections of Marys Peak Road. This will make it impossible to drive all the way to the summit parking lot until mid-July at the earliest. Currently the road is open to Connor's Camp and the <A href="http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Connor%27s_Camp_Trailhead" target="_blank">East Ridge Trailhead</a> but <B>only on weekends</B>!
The only way to hike to the summit on weekdays is via the <a href="http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Marys_Peak_North_Ridge_Hike" target="_blank">North Ridge Trail</a>. For more information and updates, visit the <A href="http://tinyurl.com/6cg6qo7" target="_blank">Siuslaw NF web site</a>.
Reports