Early Bloomers

Even before the official “start” of spring (the Vernal Equinox on March 19th), flowers were budding and blooming in Galena Creek Regional Park. Along the Lower Thomas Creek Trail, which is at a lower elevation than the Visitor Center and on a south-facing slope, flowers were spotted at the beginning of March! Flowers pop up here first because lower elevations get warmer and drier quicker than higher elevations, which means conditions are right for plants to bloom earlier in the season. At higher elevations, it is still too cold and there is too much snow for these plants to start growing for the season. In addition, south-facing slopes get more sun because the sun is in the southern part of the sky (because we are in the Northern hemisphere). Even at the same elevation, the plants on south-facing slopes are going to bloom earlier than those on north-facing slopes because it’s warmer and drier earlier. 
The first plants blooming on Lower Thomas Creek Trail were:
Beckwith's Violet (Viola beckwithii)
Sagebrush Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus)
Buscuitroot (Lomatium sp.)
Keep a look out for these plants and other things in bloom on your next hike!