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Written by Jen
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Thursday, 30 July 2009 18:21 |
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“Many mossy emerald bogs, meadows, and gardens in rocky hollows to wade and saunter through – and what fine plants they give me, what joyful streams I have to cross, and how many views are displayed…” – John Muir, 1869 from My First Summer in the Sierra
To John Muir, it seemed every new view held a new secret, something new to explore. That’s just how I feel when I hit the trails of Rocky Mountain National Park. Behind every bend in the trail is a secret new place, just beckoning me. For those of you who still haven't visited Rocky Mountain National Park this summer, July may be gone but there are still plenty of wildflowers yet to be seen! Many species in the Aster family will still be blooming, especially at lower elevations. I always see Harebells (Campanula sp.) blooming through August and even into September. You might try looking on the trail between Bear Lake and Bierstadt Lake. But be sure to look down! These flowers aren't very tall.
Areas above treeline put on an amazing show during the late summer and early fall. Foliage on many plants is starting to turn red. One species I always look for starting about this time is Arctic Gentian (Gentiana algida). Growing in clumps, the flowers sit atop a short stem, surrounded by narrow leaves. The blossoms look like little white cups with vertical stripes of purplish-grey. Many trails above treeline will provide an opportunity to see Gentians, but my favorite place to look is at Rock Cut.
One last species of note at this time of year is Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium). You've probably seen it: tall racemes of pink flowers. Lance-shapeed leaves, to about 6" long, turn red in the fall. This species is a colonizer after a disturbance and is usually seen in large numbers along trails an roads. I'd look along the Wild Basin trail system, especially in areas that were burned by wildfire. Fireweed can also be a predictor of the changing seasons: over time, you'll notice that the flowers bloom from the bottom of the raceme to the top. When the buds at the top open, the summer is coming to an end. Watch and see if I'm right!
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Last Updated on Thursday, 30 July 2009 21:18 |
