Zion Milkvetch in bloom. Photo: Tom Jones

Went up Angels Landing twice this last week, so I thought I’d report on how spring is coming along in Zion Canyon.

From a bloom point of view, things are getting ready to start. A few plants are currently flowering, but not too many. On the lower switchbacks, I saw a few flowers including:

• Zion Milkvetch (purple pea-type flowers, low to the ground, most prominent flower at the moment)

• Western Wallflower (cluster of yellow, four-petaled flowers, mostly isolated individuals, some in clumps, second-most prominent at the moment)

• Slickrock Paintbrush (red paintbrush, close to the ground. A few here and there)

• Yellow sweet clover (I think. Spreading leaves, small yellow flowers pea-like)

Driving, on the side of the road near the Museum, there was:

• Cliffrose (flowering bush, LOTs of white blooms. Very strong “rose” smell).

Then it snowed on Sunday evening, so…

Tom