By Katie O’Hara Kelly
Lakes Basin Life!
I went up to the Lakes Basin four times this week! It’s so beautiful up there right now, I just can’t seem to stay away! There are a few patches of snow in the shady areas and at the higher elevations, but most of it is gone now. The trails have all opened up and the hiking possibilities are endless! There were wildflowers and blooming shrubs, in every forest, meadow, and rocky slope I visited this week. Here’s a resulting rainbow of blossoms for you to enjoy!
Menyanthes trifoliata – Maianthemum racemosa – Maianthemum stellatum
Castilleja applegatei – Sarcodes sanguinea – Aquilegia formosa
Penstemon newberryi – Penstemon sp. – Phyllodoce breweri
Camassia quamash – Hackelia velutina – Delphinium sp.
Gyromita montana – Caloscypha fulgens – species unknown
I recently came across these three kinds of fungi. The Orange Peel Fungus and the Puffballs are everywhere in the forests, but I only came across three Snow Mushrooms so far. All of these fungi “blossom” soon after the snow melts!
Other than chipmunks and squirrels, I don’t usually see many mammals in the Lakes Basin. I was surprised to see this young buck off a trail last week. In the forest they will eat shrubs, flowers, and even mushrooms!