We hiked into the open meadows and over rocky hills to the northeast, mostly between the Lions Head Hills and Neskonlith Meadows (above Chase) and found lots of desert parsley emerging.    Fern-leaved desert parsley (lomatium dissectum) grows from a woody taproot and hollow stems (looking like rhubarb) grow vertically and branch out with fern-like leaves.

When the perennial blooms in spring, chocolate-purple compound inflorescences stand above the plant, earning the nickname “chocolate tips.”

In this area in early April, the plants stood about 30 – 50 cm high and many were still developing.

Later, seeds will develop, but in early spring the new growth and emerging flowers were a welcome sight in the hills.