Gray Butte Hike and Widlflowers

On Mother's Day I went hiking out at Gray Butte, by Smith Rock, and was happily excited at all the gorgeous scenery.  It was perfect wildflower time, there were whites, yellows, blues, pinks, purples, and even green! 

In addition to the wildflowers, the views were spectacular!  We were looking across the agricultural lands of Central Oregon towards the Cascade Range, and we thought we could even see Mt. Hood.

But back to the wildflowers.  Being a flower in Central Oregon is not an easy thing.  Water gets scarce towards summer so a flower has to get real busy while there is still moisture in the spring.  A lot of them are quite to flower and go to seed before the heat of summer kicks in and they need all their energy to stay alive, no more seed making. 
The flowers are also smaller than others you might see in more wet areas (like the Cascade or Coastal Ranges).  That is one thing I have come to appreciate about the desert, you have to look at the world a little differently and see the beauty in the smaller things, the smaller flowers, the curve of that mature Juniper tree, the way the light catches on the grass at dusk.

Our wildflowers may be small but they sure do pack a punch.  I highly recommend hiking Gray Butte right now while the flowers are still in bloom.  Then in a month or so check out Look Out Mountain in the Ochoco's and Iron Mountain off Hwy 20 West towards the Cascades. 

From Top Right: Field of Spreading Phlox and Nine-Leaved or Desert Parley, Unknown blue flower - do you know it?, Indian Paintbrush with Big Headed Clover and Yellow Salsify (or False Dandelion) , Middle Row: Puccoon, View towards the Cascade Range, Big Headed Clover, Bottom Row: Sage and Fescue meadow with view towards the West, Spreading Phlox with Lupine and Salsify, unknown white flowers - do you know it?

So many more out there that I did not capture, you will have to see them for yourself!

Spring Wildflowers

It's that time of year when the snows have melted in the mountains and the wildflowers are coming out. A week ago I took a hike with my family to Outlook Mountain in the Ochoco's to see how those flowers were faring. Turns out we were a little early for the spectacular display this area is know for, but there still were many for us to find.
In another week or two the whole area will be just popping with flowers.

The Mountain Bluebells were all over the trail like this one in the photo above.


As was the Arrowleaf Balsamroot below.

The thing I like most about wildflowers in the
desert is the fact that you have to really look more closely to find them. They are more like hidden little gems than obvious ornamental displays. I feel rewarded when I do find one and they are usually very rewarding with their gentle beauty.
This is one thing living here has taught me, to look for beauty in different ways. I look at the bark of the trees in the wintertime and admire their color and texture since the lushness of their leaves are gone. I appreciate the subtle color tones in the rocks and boulders and the twist and curves of the old juniper tree branches.

My daughter really enjoyed trying to walk around and she learned how to smell (or at least put them to her nose) the flowers. In this site, it may not look like it but I found quite a few different kinds.




I made it to the lookout! Behind me looks West towards where we came. We could just barely make out the Cascade Mountains. It only took us a little over an hour from Bend to get there but it looked so far away.





This is what inspires me about living here in the "High Desert", you can bike or drive to areas within close range that are lush and beautiful and full of beauty. And it usually won't rain on you while you're out enjoying it.