Knowing it's heating up soon I dragged myself out to Peralta. Leaving I was thinking what's the point in taking a camera. I've done this hike a dozen times. The last time had to be the best with a strong running creek.

Talk about a pleasant surprise. The canyon is a wildflower explosion. I can honestly tag this as "extreme". Pretty much everything that could bloom was blooming. The quantity of some was phenomenal. The mallow was bush after bush of waving orange. I was under the impression scorpionweed dyed out a month ago. Heck it was just a hint of the super blooms going on in this canyon. The lower canyon is waning due to the heat. Rising up the canyon new varieties come into play. The tender ones play it smart hiding in the shade of huge boulders.

Took a survey and had a great chat with a ranger at the end. Apparently I passed Ranger Lou on the drive-in. The end of the road has been recently graded.

Better get out now or forever sweat like a monkey! The annoying gnats of mid May will probably come early and hardy this year. If you're afraid of bees, best stay home.