This is a very good time to visit Tom McCall Nature Preserve. The <B>Columbia Gorge Lupine</B> <I>(Lupinus latifolius </I>var. <i>thompsonianii)</i> is blooming profusely. The <B>Northwest Balsamroot</B> <I>(Balsamorhiza deltoidea)</I> is profuse, though well past peak at lower elevations. Also blooming profusely at the lower elevations are Bicolored Cluster Lily <I>(Brodiaea howellii)</I>, Fiddleneck <I>(Amsinckia sp.)</I>, Slender Tarweed <I>(Madia gracilis)</I>, Barestem Desert Parsley <I>(Lomatium nudicaule)</I>. <P> As you climb the trail, you will see the following flowers in bloom: Upland Larkspur <I>(Delphinium nuttallianum)</I>, Gray`s Desert Parsley <I>(Lomatium gray)</I>, Harsh Paintbrush <I>(Castilleja hispida)</I>, Naked Broomrape <I>(Orobanche uniflora)</I>, Rough Wallflower <I>(Erysimum asperum)</I>, Hood River Milkvetch <I>(Astragalus hoodianus)</I>, Miner`s Lettuce <I>(Claytonia perfoliata)</I> and Chocolate Lily <I>(Fritillaria lanceolata)</I> under the trees, Popcorn-Flower <I>(Plagiobothrys sp.)</I>, Western Buttercup <I>(Ranunculus occidentalis)</I>, Small-flowered prairie-star <I>(Lithophragma parviflorum)</I>, American Vetch <I>(Vicia americana)</I>, Slender-fruited Desert Parsley <I>(Lomatium leptocarpum)</I>, Fringepod <I>(Thysanocarpus curvipes)</I>, <Bigroot <I>(Marah oreganus)</I>, Ballhead Waterleaf <I>(Hydrophyllum capitatum </I>var. <I>capitatum)</I>, Small-flowered blue-eyed Mary <I>(Collinsia parviflora)</I>, Sticky blue-eyed Mary <I>(Collinsia rattanii)</I>, and Western Groundsel <I>(Senecio integerrimus)</I>.
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Lupine, paintbrush, and (past peak) balsamroot are blooming profusely at higher elevations. Heartleaf Buckwheat <I>(Eriogonum compositum)</I> should be starting soon. Sticky-Stem Penstemon <I>(Penstemon glandulosus)</I> is just starting to bloom near the Point. Please see Cheryl Hill`s photos at OregonHikers.org.
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As always, watch out for Poison Oak <I>(Toxicodendron diversilobum)</I>, which is lurking at many spots along the trail (especially at lower elevations). If you do not know how to ID it, please visit <a href="http://www.poisonoak-id.com/">this site</a>.
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