On a sunny mid-April day we hiked the Barnes Lake horse-and-hiker-trails (9.25 km) through sagebrush grasslands and open douglas fir forest.    This was a group hike so there was little time to stop and examine various wildflowers along the way, but I took some photos and they are shared here.

• Saskatoons (Amelanchier alnifolia) were just starting to bloom at the lower end of the area.
• Woollypod milkvetch (Astralagus purshii) was leafing out and was starting to flower in a few spots.
• Geyer’s Lomatium or large-fruited desert parsley (L. geyeri or L. macrocarpum) was also just starting to flower.   It is hard to tell the difference between the two types in early stages, especially when only taking a quick duck for a photo.
• Shooting stars (Dodecatheon pulchellum sp.) were just emerging too.
• Small-flowered woodland star (Lithophragma parviflorum) were starting to flower, but will be more abundant soon.
• Yellow bells (Fritillaria pudica) were turning red in the lower areas, but were still yellow and robust in the higher open areas.
• Old man’s whiskers (Geum triflorum) were leafing and only one was spotted starting to flower.
• Waxy currant (Ribes cereum) was fully flowered and swarming with bees.

All photos by the author from that day.    Click an image for a lightbox (larger) view and a caption/ID.

woolypod milkvetch

geum triflorum

Geyer's lomatium or big fruited desert parsley

shooting stars

waxy currant

yellow bells

woodland star

saskatoon

Every hike for spring will be a nature hike too.     See you on the trails.