In the last few days…

Many, many years ago, someone driving along Highway 200 tossed out the core of a pear and the seeds took root. The little tree was too close to the highway and the highway crews cut it down year after year. And each year at least a little part remained on the side furthest from the road. This year there is a branch that has formed what may be a new trunk, far enough from the roadway that it might survive. It has grown to about 8 feet high and is just covered with the most beautiful blossoms.

Pear blossoms

More species of wildflowers have also begun to bloom, some very early, I think, but surely very welcome!

Meadow death-camas ~ Zigadenus venenosus

Field Chickweed ~ Cerastium arvense

Slender Hawksbeard ~ Crepis atrabarba

Peak Saxifrage – Micranthes nidifica

Field Pussytoes ~ Antennaria neglecta

Upland Larkspur ~ Delphinium nuttallianum