On the Uplands Benchlands
We hiked the Uplands Trails from the end of the junction of McLeod and Uplands Road in Barnhartvale, sticking mostly to the grassland benchland and the open forest. The star of the hike on this day was the flowering saskatoons (Amelanchier ainifolia) in all of the gullies. the sweet scent filled the air, especially in corridors between the shrubs.
Along the way were wildflowers, including large-fruited desert parsley (Lomatium macrocarpum), narrow-leaved desert parsley (Lomatium triternatum), small-flowered woodland star (Lithophragma parvillorum), low pussytoes (Antennaria dimorpha), and . We also stopped to enjoy gnarly sagewood and any insects which stayed still
Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption.
To see the saskatoon corridor, go to this YouTube video.