Painted Hills

Every spring I try to visit Oregon's Painted Hills to catch its wildflowers, especially hoping that the golden bee plant (Cleome platycarpa) is blooming. This plant must have continuously moist conditions through the entire winter and early spring if it is to bloom. Well, for the first time in a number of years, those conditions were met this year!

It always amazes me how the hills' colors vary under different lighting and weather conditions – these images were taken over two days, separated by three days and some rain, and the reds differed significantly. According to a park sign, wetter clay produces darker reds.

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