The arrowleaf balsamroot, perhaps the signature flower of the Methow Valley and known locally as “the sunflowers”, are finally in full bloom up in our part of the valley. Also, last week was the peak of the serviceberry bloom, which is a medium sized shrub that is ubiquitous in the valley – the flowers are white and the masses of blooming shrubs along the roadways and hillsides are quite beautiful.
Our Tuesday hiking group went up some old ranch roads northwest of Pearrygin Lake yesterday. The views were stunning, even from where we parked:
How green is my Valley
There was a heavy snowstorm in the Cascades Sunday night and into Monday, so the mountains had a fresh coat of new snow. The hillsides in the valley are carpeted with new green grasses and flowers. It won’t stay this green forever, but it sure is beautiful now!
It was windy and cold so we had to bundle up:
Sunflowers and vistas in abundance:
Three of us explored up the road past the lunch/turnaround spot, hoping to find a route that led over the hill to another network of roads, but it petered out on us. On the way back down we saw dozens and dozens of mountain bluebirds in the fields around us. I had my binoculars along so I could get a really close look at them. Then I wished I had the big camera with the telephoto lens, instead of my little pocket-sized digital camera!
Twisp of Fate 
Hey Cousin Katie! Your Dad told me to check out your Blog so that’s what I’ve been doing. Great pictures of this hike. How did you like the Cabin paint job? I enjoyed that great old pic of Aunt Betty and you three in the snow. All is well in SoOr – hot but I’m weeding away despite the temp. Gearing up for a backpack trip with Linda Lue in the Tahoe area. Heading out in late Sept to hike slot canyons in Utah – yipee. Cousin Patricia
Hi Patricia! thanks for reading. It has been the best way to keep the folks informed of what we are up to over here in the Methow Valley. I hope we get down to see Cabin 40 again some day. You guys are doing a great job of keeping it up!