When we hike and paddle almost every day, we stop to enjoy flowering plants along the way like.    Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium) had some new basal leaves and yellow bell-like flowers in the Six Mile Hills.

On protected slopes shooting stars (Dodecatheon pulchellum) area easy to spot with their pink-purple flowers and their yellow-red stamen tube.

We spotted numerous woodland stars (Lithophragma parviflorum) in many areas this year.

Upland larkspur (Delphinium nuttiallinum) was just emerging in open areas.   This one was spotted on Dewdrop Ridge.

A common swallowtail (Papilio sp.) landed  on an open spot on Dewdrop Ridge.

And, lasting many years, the gnarled roots of junipers and stunted trees on the rim above rocky cliffs.

The new arrivals in spring bring many surprises each day.