More Tioga Pass Road, Tuolumne Meadows and "Belly Plants"

[Sandy S]

Yesterday I drove over Tioga Pass Road from Lee Vining. The Blazing Star,
Prickly Poppy and Evening Primrose were all in bloom. There was a pullout just
before the construction started (the last part of road before Yosemite on the
east side has one-way escorted traffic) that had many flowers. There were also a
number of flowery pullouts on the right side of the road both before and after
Tuolumne Meadows some with small streams that provided habitat for moisture
loving plants. There continue to be lots of Mt. Pride Penstemon in bloom along
Tioga Pass Road.

Tuolumne Meadows had a lot more flowers in bloom than five days ago but not
large displays. One pullout that was especially good was west of Olmstead Point
before you get to the May Lake Trailhead. I have put a plant list and some
photos on my blog: http://naturalhistorywanderings.com

I also posted photos of some tiny "belly plants" I saw at the Patriarch's Grove
and south of Mono Lake along HIghway 120.

Sandy Steinman
Natural History Wanderings
http://naturalhistorywanderings.com