We hiked a longer loop through the hills above Peterson Creek on a sunny day and took a few wildflower and flowering shrub photos along the way.

Near the start, western mountain ash (sorbus sp.) was in bloom in the gullies.

The first instances of salsify (tragopogon sp.) were emerging on open slopes as we hiked below the rim of the canyon.

A few thread-leaf phacelia clung to sandy/gravelly slopes in he canyon.

Death camas (zigadnus venenosus) were in full bloom in open areas, beautiful in a poisonous sort of way.

Small rockcress/dangling suncress (boechera sp.) flowers hung off slender stems.

Down in the creek gully oregon grape (mahonia spp.) was in full bloom.

Various milk vetch (astralagus spp.) perennial lants were flowering or emerging,   A close-up shows the fine hairs of this species.

The jewel of the canyon is shrubby penstemon, now flowering on hillsides in our area.

Fleabane clusters were in flower on open slopes, attracting pollinators.

On the climb out of the canyon we hiked past some barren eroded slopes where smooth sumac (rhus glabra) was developing basal leaves and new stems with reddish-tinted leaves.

There are a number of different ecological areas in Peterson Creek Park and the adjacent hills  that make for an interesting nature hike at various points in the year.