This picture shows a nice, fresh, Balsamroot blossom and a bud that's starting to open. The Balsamroot bloom in the east Gorge peaks in mid-April. To me, Balsamroot is the most dramatic of the Columbia River Gorge wildflowers because of the fairly large flower size and its tendency to grow in large concentrations.
This photo was taken along Washington Highway 14 near the Lyle tunnels. Some Balsamroot grows along the highway, but the best displays are a little above the main road level. One of the best shows is in the meadows along Dalles Mountain Road in Washington's Columbia Hills State Park.
