On a June day, we hiked into the hills above the end of Uplands Drive for exercise, exploration, and to enjoy Nature’s surprises.

We spotted some yellow paintbrush(Castilleja sp.).    This variety is usually red but at times we find orange or yellow variants.

Gaillardia was spotted in sunny, open dry spots on the hillsides.

Fleabane was flowering at various spots in the open Douglas fir forests.

A few Agoseris flowers were spotted on the hillsides too.

And, star-flowered false Solomon’s seal (Smilacena stellata) and choke cherries (Prunus virginiana) were in bloom in the gullies.

On this late May hike were many other emerging plants and pollinators, birds, and the rise of green everywhere.