Back to Haystack! May 28, 2023

After our remarkably quick success in our quest to find Myosurus species to collect for genetic analysis (please see story, A Mouse Tale), we decided to take a quick run up Haystack Trail as it was on the way home. What a great decision! There was so much in bloom!

Thread-leaved phacelia and Indian paintbrush. D. Burk. — Thread-leaved phacelia, *Phacelia linearis,* and Indian-paintbrush, *Castilleja* sp., are two of several species that can be seen blooming on the flat section of Haystack Trail. Photo taken May 28, 2023, by Don Burk.

This is definitely the time to go, and you’ll see dozens of blooming species even if you don’t hike to the top. The first half mile is relatively flat and offers much to ogle!

Flat part of Haystack Trail and Mt. Shasta. D. Burk. — Lower, flat section of Haystack Trail, in the sagebrush scrub of Siskiyou County, just east of Weed. Mt. Shasta hidden by clouds on the horizon. Photo taken on May 28, 2023, by Don Burk.

We did hike to the top, but almost immediately had to hike down again as a thundershower (complete with very nearby lightning!) slammed into us with gale-force winds and big, fat, stinging drops of rain. Too bad—we could have spent a couple hours poking around on top. We’ll just have to go back next weekend!

Silver bush lupine and storm clouds. D. Burk. — On top of Haystack, with a huge, heavenly scented silver bush lupine, *Lupinus albifrons* var. *collinus,* gracing the trail. Within minutes of taking this photo, those dark clouds were on top of us, and we found ourselves in the middle of quite the storm. Photo taken May 28, 2023, by Don Burk.

For directions and a more detailed description of this really lovely trail, please see the article, Haystack Trail, January 17, 2021. Now is the time to go! To whet your appetite, here is a little slideshow of a very few of the many species that were blooming. All photos by Don Burk. Enjoy! ~Laurie & Don Burk