Triteleia Grandiflora

On June 27, 2019June 28, 2019 By Mike and Christy8 Comments

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One of the more unusual wildflowers we see each summer is Triteleia Grandiflora.

The tall slender stalk with only one or two basal leaves spring up out of grassy areas and are capped with a cluster of delicate yet hardy and unusual looking purple-blue flowers.

A native to the pacific northwest east of the cascade mountains from Oregon into Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho. We have see it growing in open Prairies and up into mountain foothills. Usually it seems that each plant is widely spaced from it’s neighbors or many times we see a single plant spring up far from others of its own species.

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It’s always fun to photograph these each spring and this years we have noticed greater numbers of Triteleia Grandiflora blooming than in the previous years.

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Like Clouds

On June 25, 2019June 23, 2019 By Mike and Christy2 Comments

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A Beardstounge Floats like a cloud in a sky of grass.

Headwaters State Park, MT.

Fresh from the fields

On June 20, 2019June 20, 2019 By Mike and Christy9 Comments

While strolling the fields to see who’s there we found a handful of newcomers that will be gone in the blink of an eye.

Some in small patches and some stand alone. Some out in the open while some hide along the forest edge.
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A nice patch of Parry’s Townsend Daisies seem to shine even without the sunlight on a cloudy afternoon.

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This beautiful flower (identified with the help of troutlily57) is a Death Camus. All parts of this wildflower contain toxic chemicals (alkaloids) said to be more potent than strychnine…yikes.

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I think this small beauty is in the Phlox family. Yet the specific species needs further investigation.

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Finally a beautiful Chocolate Lilly. These are always somewhat sparse and this year the flower seem unusually small.

All beautiful finds and fresh from the fields close to home.

Purple

On June 18, 2019June 18, 2019 By Mike and Christy6 Comments

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Today is Purple day. Don’t ask me why…it just is. So on that note a smattering of purple wildflowers seen on various hikes not too far from home.

Above a field of Lupine sparkles on a rainy morning walk.

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A purple Monkey flower added to the bouquet.

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A Purple Pulsitila hanging just right.

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And to top it all off Larkspur is another fine addition to the collection of local wildflowers blooming this time of year.

Many different shades but all of them say purple to a tee.

Keeping Current

On June 17, 2019June 15, 2019 By Mike and Christy4 Comments

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The wild current bushes are in full bloom up on the trail right now, and while their flowers may be small, they pack a big bundle of beauty into those small blooms.

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Ephemeral

On June 1, 2019 By Mike and Christy2 Comments

Desert flowers enjoying the morning dew as we start on a hike in the canyon lands of the Colorado Plateau. These flowers seem to last only a day at the most. Knowing this we enjoy their beauty all the more. A life lesson taught flowers.

Yellow

On May 31, 2019May 27, 2019 By Mike and Christy12 Comments

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Mostly yellow and just a touch of green on a cloudy spring afternoon.

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Yellow bells ringing and although short and sometimes hidden in the grass they make a statement that is always bold.

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Arrow-leaf Balsamroot is just now riding into town and when in full abundance paints the fields with that sunny shade of yellow.

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Now on the wane yet still holding on the Biscuit root is one of those flowers inside a flower inside a flower. Fascinating to look at from macro to micro and back again.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Early Risers

On May 27, 2019May 26, 2019 By Mike and Christy12 Comments

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Spring has come late this year. With a late April round of snow and subfreezing temperatures to a wetter and colder than typical May. By Memorial Day the Glacier Lillies and Shooting Stars have typically given way to other spring wildflowers but not this year. They are still abundant and fresh.

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While the rest of springs basket is starting to burst forth into bloom I am always thankful for these two early risers that signal spring is indeed here and especially this year.

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A promise fulfilled

On March 30, 2019 By Mike and Christy7 Comments

It’s always nice to have something you can count on. Although it may not always occur on your schedule or terms nature always makes good on the promise of spring.

A late winter bouquet

On March 14, 2019March 14, 2019 By Mike and Christy4 Comments

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A midwinter monochrome bouquet picked from a selection of last summers wildflowers. Distant yet still fresh in our minds.

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This years crop will be poking up in the blink of an eye as the sun rises higher in the sky with each passing day and will appear, not in monochrome but full color, and after a long cold winter a little color is a fine thing.

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Enjoy the silence as spring will be hear soon.

nature has no boss

Tag: wildflower