Rainer Update !

I was up there today and let me tell you the wildflowers are far from there peak. Just everywhere I went there were just a few Indian paintbrush, no lupine, and the avalanche liles are still around. I spoke with some of the regulars and they feel it is still three weeks away from peaking. I did the Dead Horse Trail/Paradise area and compared to last year there was nothing around. I found only two patches of paintbrush with views of Rainer and no meadows with flowers to shoot the Paintbrush. I did not check out Van Trump or Spray Park yet but people who have tell me there is also a few weeks as well there. So if you are going you might want to hold on a bit.

It had been cloudy/rainy for a good stretch of time. Now that the sun seems to have reappeared and should appear more consistently henceforth, I'm confident that we're not too far away from prime, but of course we only have educated guesses.

Thanks Kevin. I might have to wait a week.

I guess I'll have to settle for paintbrush and avalanche lilies. I can't put off my trip. oh well, the photography is supposed to be a bonus. Marie reminded me last night that "This is NOT a photography trip!" DOH! So no matter what I come back with, it'll be a bonus

Weather forecast is for another front to come through this weekend so maybe I can get a decent sunrise/sunset image.

Good info Kevin. Maybe we should plan something else for this weekend. There's always the lavender fields, or that large field of dahlias down in Tacoma.

I'll email you.

I was at Van Trump park last tuesday, very green. My geuss was starting next week might be good since we have had so much rain since then and now some sun.

Thanks for the update everyone.
Hey Darien, would like to know where that dahlia field is in Tacoma, if you don't mind sharing the info.
Good shooting all and safe travels.

Hi Catherine,
I've never actually been there, so I don't know what it's like. I found it looking for a field of sunflowers....which I still haven't found. Anyone know where to find sunflowers?

Here's some info.

Connell's - 2nd largest dahlia farm in the nation.
10616 Waller Road E., Tacoma;
253-531-0292

Thanks for the update Kevin! I wasn't sure how long it would take for the flowers to pop out. I asked a couple of the park helpers, and they told me "they are at their peak now" and "by this wekend, they'll be at their peak". I fealt they really didn't know what they were talking about. I'll probably hit it next weekend.

Kevin, thanks for the update on the flowers. How was the mosquito crop this year?