April 13th 2024: Lower Thomas Creek Trail / Arrowcreek Openspace. 17 people gathered on a sunny spring morning to observe some spring wildflowers and learn about the geology and land use in this area. Plants seen in bloom include: Ribes velutinum, Lomatium austiniae, Lomatium nevadense, Antennaria dimorpha, Idahoa scapigera, Astragalus purshii, Collinsia parviflora, Microsteris gracilis, Ranunculus glaberrimus, Lithophragma glabrum, Viola becwithii, Draba verna, Holosteum umbellatum and Erodium cicutarium. We also saw the leaves of many other plants that will flower a bit later in the year, including: Calochortus bruneaunis, Lomatium macrocarpum, Perideridia bolanderi, Agoseris sp., Senecio integerrimus, Trifolium macrocephalum, Phacelia heterophylla, Toxicosordion paniculatum and Delphinium andersonii. The Beckwith violets were a highlight of the day with their diversity and density. They made our hearts sing with the joy of spring.