We hiked a 15 km route from Lac du Bois out to the western cliffs on Opax Mountain and back, a fine spring outing.    Along the way we took lots of photos.    Along the shores of Lac du Bois were cottonwoods and aspens in leaf.

A few stick geraniums (g. viscosissimum) were just starting to bloom.

Farther up the hill, common red paintbrush (castilleja miniata) graced the side of the trail.

A few patches of fairyslipper orchids (calypso bulbosa) were spotted.    Hikers are asked to leave them alone since picking them often results in the plant dying.

In damper areas some Hooker’s fairybells (disporum hookeri)were ready to bloom.

On top of the mountain on bare, open rocky soils were a number of Okanogan fameflower (talinum sediforme sp.) were developing  flower buds.   We hope to photograph them in the upcoming week (in a different spot).

There were many more species in bloom – arnica, false solomon’s seal,locoweed, desert parsley, meadow death camas, wild strawberries, Oregon grape, pussytoes, groundsel, and more.   Each hike brings new interactions with the plants we encounter by the trail.