An early Spring

Last weekend was a busy one but the last 10 days have put us right into wildflower season. When I was out a week ago the scent of the chokecherries was already heavy in a few spots.  In the last week we've had all the flowering bushes come out--hawthorns, cherries, and plums are the showiest, but the currant bushes and sumac have blossoms all over them, too.  That'll make for some happy bees!

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

This week the wildflowers have really taken off, too, but that's what a warm week will do. We're a couple weeks ahead of last year--remember all the snows through April--so we may hit our peak before Memorial Day.

I have one spot where the Chiming Bells bloom early, and they were out a week ago.  This week they're all over the mountain, along with a few locoweed.  That adds a lot more color to the yellows of the alyssum and Golden Banner that have been dominating.  There are lots of others to watch for, too--Mouse-ear Chickweed, Easter Daisy, Sand Lilies and some Mountain Ball Cactus that are still blooming.  Lots to see!

Chiming Bells (Mertensia lanceolata)

Locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii)