As much as I enjoy shooting Balsam when its blooming in mid April, I don't exactly care to undertake a 5 hour drive to get down to the eastern Columbia Gorge to do so. Fortunately they grow all along the east slopes of the Cascades, so a quick jaunt over to the Leavenworth area allows that itch to be scratched rather nicely. This might be the most profuse display I've ever seen too.
