Although it is still at least two weeks before peak bloom for the "hanging meadows" at 2000+ feet elevation, there were nonetheless a lot of wildflowers in bloom, including the following: Upland Larkspur <I>(Delphinium nuttallianum)</I>, Chickweed Monkeyflower <I>(Mimulus alsinoides)</I>, Common Monkeyflower <I>(Mimulus guttatus)</I>, Small-flowered Prairie Star <I>(Lithophragma parviflora)</I>, Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary <I>(Collinsia parviflora)</I>, Merten's Saxifrage <I>(Saxifraga mertensiana)</I> in the wet area, Glacier Lily <I>(Erythronium grandiflorum)</I>, lots of Bigroot <I>(Marah oreganus)</I>, and <B>hundreds</B> of Few-Flowered Shooting Star <I>(Dodecatheon pulchellum)</I> with more to come.
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There were also numerous wildflowers in bloom in the following areas:
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<B>Along the Gorge Trail and lower portion of Ruckel Creek Trail</B>: Western Meadowrue <I>(Thalictrum occidentale)</I>, Fairy Bells <I>(Prosartes hookeri)</I>, Candyflower <I>(Claytonia sibirica)</I>, Fairy Slipper <I>(Calypso bulbosa)</I>, Wood Violet <I>(Viola glabella)</I>, Pacific Bleeding Heart <I>(Dicentra formosa)</I>, Sweet Colt's Foot <I>(Petasites frigidus)</I>, Salmonberry <I>(Rubus spectabilis)</I>, False Solomon's-Seal <I>(Maianthemum racemosum)</I>, Star-Flowered Solomon's-Seal <I>(Maianthemum stellatum)</I>, Western Sweet-Cicely <I>(Osmorhiza occidentalis)</I>, and Wild Strawberry <I>(Fragaria virginiana)</I>.
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<B>Talus slope / vision quest pits</B>: one patch of Harsh Paintbrush <I>(Castilleja hispida)</I>, Rough Wallflower <I>(Erysimum asperum)</I>, and Spring Gold <I>(Lomatium utriculatum)</I>.
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<B>Trail between talus slope and Gorge viewpoint</B>: A never-ending stream of Fairy Slipper <I>(Calypso bulbosa)</I>, Small-flowered Prairie Star <I>(Lithophragma parviflora)</I>, Chocolate Lily <I>(Fritillaria affinis)</I>, Red-flowered Currant <I>(Ribes sanguineum)</I>, Slender Toothwort <I>(Cardamine Pulcherrima)</I>, and Harsh Paintbrush <I>(Castilleja hispida)</I>.
Reports