STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

With trails forecast to dry up after a wet, wet week, we can happily get back to the business of searching out wildflowers.

The Wood River Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society is offering an early spring exploration of wildflowers in the Sheep Bridge are southwest of Bellevue on Saturday, April 18.

The field trip will feature short hikes over uneven terrain in a sagebrush steppe.

“We’ll observe at least three different types of sagebrush and their micro habitats plus various spring flowers, including yellow bells, bluebells, early violets and maybe even the beautiful Cusick’s primrose,” said trip leader Jay Dorr, “The area hasn’t been disturbed by fire or grazing, making it an ideal early season location.”

Participants should meet at one of the following carpooling sites:

Hailey Park and Ride, leaving at 10:00 a.m.

Highway 75/20 rest stop at the blinking light, leaving at 10:30 a.m.

Turn to Sheep Bridge off Highway 20 (1 mile west of Stanton Crossing) leaving at 10:45 a.m.

Participants will return to Hailey by about 2 p.m.

 Bring sunscreen, hat, water, lunch and hiking poles, if you use them. Questions? Contact Jay Dorr at cjaydorr@gmail.com or 208-309-0098.

The Idaho Native plant society is a statewide nonprofit organization with more than 600 members. It is dedicated to fostering an understanding and appreciation of Idaho’s native flora and its habitats and preserving those habitats. For more information, visit https://idahonativeplants.org/wood-river/.