[Image]We've had some warmer weather, and I'm amazed how fast the snow has been melting. The snow level is already about 9800 feet, which seems fairly high for mid-May. It means it's easy to go up on the mountain without extra gear. Some of the aspens are just starting to leaf out.
[Image]And if we look closer, we can see a red-naped sapsucker working on a new home.
[Image]The flowers are out in full force, like this mountain butterweed (Senecio integerrimus). It's newly recognized common name is lambstongue ragwort. Sorry, but that's just not a good name for such a pretty flower!
[Image]I like the symmetry of the flowers.
[Image]Hidden down on the ground are mats of leaves with little whitish things hiding amongst them.
[Image]Upon closer inspection I can see some flowers hiding out among the three-leaved clover. This is a native species of clover, hollyleaf clover (Trifolium gymnocarpon). 
[Image]Another good indication that it's warmer is that the creeks are rising fast. The one above is a tributary that usually looks like it has a trickle of water going over that log.
Here's a link to a different creek not too far away that shows how it's gone from 1 cubic foot per second (cfs) to 15 cfs in about a month's time: Lehman Creek gage. It will get even higher before it peaks. 
Summer's coming, ready or not!