We hiked the sunny, south-facing dry slopes of Swakum Mountain above Merritt, covering a lot of miles over that day.   Balsam root dominated the open areas on the Upper Scenic Trail, but there were a few other wildflowers in the glades, open forests, and slopes along  the way, a few of which are shared here.

Heart-leaved arnica (arnica cardifolia) was popping up in large numbers in the open forest, but only a few were in flower, gracing the pinegrass forests.

Shrubby penstemmon (penstemon frusticosus) was flowering out on open, rocky slopes.   This is another favorite for this time of year,

We spotted some kinnikinnick (bearberry) starting to bloom.

In dry, open spaces, American vetch was in flower.   This plant is often hard to distinguish from purple peavine.   An examination of the leaves must be done to sort it out.

Meadow death camus (zigadenus venenosus) was just starting to flower.

The unusual find of the day was this dog’s vomit slime mold (fuligo septica), on a ponderosa pine log in the pinegrass forest.

We did not include the abundant wildflowers that we have featured in earlier posts, instead focusing on newly emerged mid-May species from this mid-elevation open forest environment.