Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) grows throughout the Gorge and western Washington and Oregon. It also grows east of the Cascades. This flower was photographed at Rowena Crest near Mosier, a small town located midway between The Dalles and Hood River.
The spectacular leaves of this maple can be almost a foot across. Before the trees leaf out in the spring, they are covered with clusters of hanging blossoms as shown here.
Bigleaf Maple Blossoms Hang Below Emerging Leaves, Memaloose Overlook, OR.
