A day after hiking the upper Mt. Embleton Trails, I hiked some of the lower trails just above Heffley Lake and photographed some of the plants along the way.

Rattlesnake plantain (goodyera oblongifolia) was abundant both lower and higher on the hillside.   Last year’s flower dried stalks were still upright on the upper slopes.

Fairybells were growing and starting to flower in wet gullies.

There were many polypores on standing and fallen trees.

I was pleased to spot some fairyslippers (calypso bulbosa) in bloom.    They are sometimes called calypso orchids.

The first arnica flowers were starting to emerge.

Bearberry had a few of last year’s berries and some of this year’s new flowers.    We usually refer to it as kinnikinnik,

Indian paintbrush (castilleja sp) was appearing in open areas along the trails.

contA clump of fairyslippers were all flowering at the bottom of the trail, just above the road.

The upper trails were on a later schedule, but will soon catch-up with spring wildflowers.