Flowers on the River

On Tuesday Warren and I got out the raft to float the Middle Fork and escape the heat here in town--we've had several days of 90-95 for a high.  Nothing compared to those of you further south, but pretty warm for us northeners!  We didn't do the whitewater section, but a calmer stretch of river higher up (from Walton bridge to Paola), and I oared while Warren fished.  We had a very relaxing, lazy day and the water was cold enough to chill us to the bone!

We don't usually see many flowers along the river; spring run-off sweeps a lot away and we often don't get close enough to the bank to see all that might be there.  But this day had some wonderful surprises!

First at the put-in, while I waited for Warren to shuttle the truck to the take-out and hitchhike back, I found several familiar lovelies in the woods along the river.

Northern Bedstraw

Indian Paintbrush

Self-heal

Wild Rose

Alpine Pussy-toes

Wood's Pussytoes

Ox-Eye Daisy

Then along a sandbar when Warren needed to scout a rocky place, we found some Alpine Fireweed of all things!  I looked it up and here is what the book says: "Alpine fireweed is one of the first colonizers of newly formed gravel bars, along with yellow mountain avens (dryas).  It differs from common fireweed in its smaller stature....It's also known as broad-leaved willowherb."  Its leaves are different as well.  

And this Bladder-Campion-like flower that I'm not sure of.

When we stopped for a picnic lunch, we were greeted along the shore by a forest of Yellow Mountain Avens seed-heads! What do you know?!  There were still some in bloom as well.

Dueling Dryas!

Across the river from where we were eating there was a little spring and something flowering on top of the seep.  My camera zoom got me pretty close to it, and I would guess that it is White Angelica.

On July 4th, we invited friends to do the white-water section of the Middle-Fork and enjoy a picnic.

Enjoying the sunshine: Warren, Steve, Lori, Randy, Lynn, Bob, Anna

Picnic in style; Warren, Lori, Steve, Randy, Lynn, Bob

4th of July Flowers!

Happy Independence Day!  You know, Red, White and Blue!  These are from my afternoon on Big Mountain.

Paintbrush, Penstemon and Mariposa.

Paintbrush, Lupine and Beargrass

Visit to Big Mountain

On Sunday (30th) after church I went up to Big Mountain, took the chairlift up to the top, and enjoyed wildflowers on the hike back down.  Considering it was 95 degrees in Kalispell, that seemed like a good thing to do!  It was still bright and warm, but I kept reminding myself "it's hotter down there" as I looked at the valley below me.  The flowers were abundant on the open slopes where we skied this winter--kind of weird to think about. The variety ran the gamut from Glacier Lilies and Spring Beauty on top, to Lupine, Paintbrush and Thimbleberry at the bottom.  The Beargrass was in full bloom, and stunning as usual.

Along the little creek on the shady side of the mountain (that almost sounds like a line from a song), I found Globeflower where the snow has just recently receded.

Anemone, Pasqueflower and Globeflower resemble one another and are all in the Buttercup Family.  Location, size and leaves give hints as to which is which.

I found Threadleaf Sandwort and Rock Penstemon on a rock out-cropping near Haskill's Slide:

Thread-leaved Sandwort with a bit of Yellow Parsley.

I've always called this Rock Penstemon, but I believe it is Penstemon ellipticus;
the leaves are elliptical rather than spindly like another variety.

The Valerian was plentiful and in full bloom as well.

Promises of berry-picking this summer were also abundant.  This is the flower-blossom for Huckleberry.  Later it will form a blueberry of ultimate goodness!

Ski-run Garden:  Paintbrush, Balsamroot, Groundsel, Beargrass, Mariposa Lily and Lupine.

More beautiful Lupine:

One More ID from Wheeler

I had to do my own flower research yesterday, since my Expert Consultant was unavailable (off finding flowers somewhere else!), and finally figured out one more.  I knew this had to be some sort of Saxifrage:

So I've been studying all the different varieties in the Saxifrage family to no avail--because, I had closed my mind to one possibility.  Alumroot is in the S. family, but I already know Alumroot and this is not it!  Well.....there is more than one variety of A., DUH!  So...this little plant is Heuchera parviflora, or Little Flowered Alumroot.  Below is a picture of Heuchera cylindrica or Round-Leaved Alumroot, which is what we see more commonly here in Montana.

Egg-shaped flowers for Heuchera cylindrica

The similar leaves should have given it away as Alumroot, but this is Heuchera parviflora.

As my expert consultant would say, it's a good idea to pay attention to the botanical names!

Major Apology and More from Wheeler Peak

I am ashamed to say that I should never have called Lynn my research "assistant."  Rather she should be known as my "expert consultant"!!!  Especially when it comes to mountain flowers of the Southwest--she lived for many years in Colorado.  My official apology to you Lynn!

We saw lots of this yellow flower on our hike up Wheeler Peak, and Lynn identified it for me as Wallflower.

I also did a little digging on this one when I got home, and I'm pretty sure it is Goldflower or Tetraneauris acaulis.

This is an Alpine Clover, either Parry's or Hayden's--you know, those botanists want to put their name on everything!

 whereas this is Brandegee's Clover:

This was another little sweetie from Wheeler Peak, Fairy Primrose:

The chipmunks at the top of the peak were very friendly and practically tame, maybe a little too friendly!  This one thought there might be a snack on my camera!  He was this close--no camera zoom.

Here is a photo of the trail and surrounding mountains.

Snow Willow blooms

More Alpine Clover and baby King's Crown:

I just love the new red cones on the Sub-Alpine Fir.

A garden shot of King's Crown, Spotted Saxifrage, and Cinquefoil.

Another garden shot with Columbine and Clover.

The Colorado Columbine was just stunning in this boulder field--can't get enough of it!

Wilma had a little sign in her flower garden that said,  "The signature of God is written in flowers."  I certainly felt God's presence with us on this hike!