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.
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.
