Snowbrush, flowering (Ceanothus velutinus). Snowbrush, so called
I suppose because of the beautiful white flowers which appear in late spring,
is also sometimes called Mountain Balm. Every time I bike up out
of the lower canyonlands of Eagle Valley, the wonderfully fragrant
smell of this evergreen shrub greets with a high-country freshness
beyond all compare, and helps me forget about all the hubbub
of the lowlands. Snowbrush inhabits a somewhat narrow
altitude bandwidth of about 1350 to 1700 meters, and is
a sure sign of heavy snowfall and a healthy snowpack.
Eagle Cap Wilderness. . .
On the road in the American Northwest.
