I had hoped to get much better pictures of them, but they are not having a good year this year for some reason. They are dramatic, especially when they bloom in large numbers. Some of their flower stalks are over 5 feet tall.
I’ve read that bears eat the fleshy leaf bases in the spring and that’s how they got their name. I never believed that until three years ago when I came upon a large area where the plants were all torn up and obviously eaten. I conclude from that that they are aptly named.
Finally… I’ve been waiting all summer for these!! They are all beautiful shots, but the heavy headed family of four kinda speaks to me. Thank you for sharing… I can’t view enough of your bear grass photos!!
I was hoping for much more from the bloom of bear-grass this year, but they have been sparse. I have several treks into the high country planned for the next couple of weeks though and there may be more up there.
It is, and I also like the bushy leaves of the plant. I’ve spent some comfortable nights sleeping on them, and they are tough enough that it doesn’t damage them.
Well, I still have hopes that they will be blooming in the next few weeks. I plan a couple of trips into the high country in the Cube Iron/Silcox roadless area and if there are any more around they will be there.
Next time I see some I’ll try to remember to take a picture of the grass base. Each plant has a very large, thick clump of grass with blades around a foot long and the flower stalk grows right out of the middle of it.
I don’t remember ever seeing Bear-grass… but I must have at one time… lovely images! One of these years I will have to make it out to Montana during Bear-grass blooming season. I expect it will be done by mid-September.
Yes, I think its bloom will be over by then. I just reviewed my photos from the last three Septembers and saw no bear-grass photos. It reminded me though that September is a very good month for sunsets!
The oddest and most intriguing plant! Great shots with such detail. I really like the last photo as the bear grass looks like it is spinning and it was caught in motion. 🙂
Wow, that is a very dramatic flower–like white rockets getting ready to shoot off.
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Comment by kateri — August 20, 2011 @ 9:59 pm
I had hoped to get much better pictures of them, but they are not having a good year this year for some reason. They are dramatic, especially when they bloom in large numbers. Some of their flower stalks are over 5 feet tall.
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:40 pm
They sure are showy wildflowers! Do you know how they come by their name? Excellent photos!
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Comment by farmhouse stories — August 20, 2011 @ 10:07 pm
I’ve read that bears eat the fleshy leaf bases in the spring and that’s how they got their name. I never believed that until three years ago when I came upon a large area where the plants were all torn up and obviously eaten. I conclude from that that they are aptly named.
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:43 pm
Thanks … Where their name came from was the first question this “bear lover” had. A very interesting and unique plant, thanks for the great pictures.
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Comment by bearyweather — August 22, 2011 @ 7:34 am
Their bloom time has been a highlight of my summer for well over 60 years. I remember them from when I was a very young child.
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Comment by Montucky — August 22, 2011 @ 8:30 pm
Those close-ups are gorgeous! They look so sad when they’re wilted.
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Comment by thedailyclick — August 21, 2011 @ 5:02 am
They are interesting to photograph after all of the very small wildflowers all season!
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:46 pm
Those are really lovely. and very elegant.
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Comment by Roberta — August 21, 2011 @ 6:51 am
When they have a good year they completely decorate large areas of the forest, and the word “elegant” really fits them!
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:48 pm
WOW!
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Comment by anniespickns — August 21, 2011 @ 7:41 am
I think they are the largest wildflower in this area, and not at all difficult to spot.
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:49 pm
Finally… I’ve been waiting all summer for these!! They are all beautiful shots, but the heavy headed family of four kinda speaks to me. Thank you for sharing… I can’t view enough of your bear grass photos!!
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Comment by kcjewel — August 21, 2011 @ 8:00 am
I was hoping for much more from the bloom of bear-grass this year, but they have been sparse. I have several treks into the high country planned for the next couple of weeks though and there may be more up there.
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:50 pm
The close-ups really show off their beauty!
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Comment by Barbara — August 21, 2011 @ 10:00 am
I think they do too, Barbara. I like the purity of the white.
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:52 pm
Bear grass is beautiful, both from the distance and close up. Very nice photos!
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Comment by Margie — August 21, 2011 @ 10:10 am
It is, and I also like the bushy leaves of the plant. I’ve spent some comfortable nights sleeping on them, and they are tough enough that it doesn’t damage them.
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:54 pm
The flowers are gorgeous. I bet very few people look at them as closely as this.
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Comment by Val — August 21, 2011 @ 11:35 am
Probably not Val, although they grow along the highways on the passes and I’ve seen a lot of tourists photographing them.
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:55 pm
Hi Montucky, I love how well you show the detail of those white blooms! Very pretty grass or plant. Have a super nice Sun. and coming week!
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — August 21, 2011 @ 1:21 pm
Thanks Wildlifewatcher! I hope you have a great week too!
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:56 pm
I’ve been waiting to see these again this summer on your blog! It’s so unusual-looking when you see a bunch of them together.
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Comment by Candace — August 21, 2011 @ 3:17 pm
Well, I still have hopes that they will be blooming in the next few weeks. I plan a couple of trips into the high country in the Cube Iron/Silcox roadless area and if there are any more around they will be there.
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:59 pm
The last one illustrates the other common name of “maiden’s breasts” rather well, don’t you think?
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Comment by Kim — August 21, 2011 @ 3:44 pm
It does at that, Kim!
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 9:59 pm
Never knew the name of these grasses before. What exquisite detail..when viewed up close.
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Comment by Marcie — August 21, 2011 @ 4:42 pm
I sometimes think of each big blossom as a bouquet.
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 10:10 pm
Nature shows us once again that truth is stranger than fiction. What a plant!
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Comment by jomegat — August 21, 2011 @ 6:27 pm
They are some plants! I’ve read that they are extremely difficult to cultivate in a garden, yet in the forests they are very robust and hardy.
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 10:12 pm
Grass? I wonder why they call it that? It reminds me of liatris in the wild.
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Comment by sandy — August 21, 2011 @ 6:32 pm
Next time I see some I’ll try to remember to take a picture of the grass base. Each plant has a very large, thick clump of grass with blades around a foot long and the flower stalk grows right out of the middle of it.
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Comment by Montucky — August 21, 2011 @ 10:14 pm
I don’t remember ever seeing Bear-grass… but I must have at one time… lovely images! One of these years I will have to make it out to Montana during Bear-grass blooming season. I expect it will be done by mid-September.
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Comment by Victoria — August 22, 2011 @ 12:08 pm
Yes, I think its bloom will be over by then. I just reviewed my photos from the last three Septembers and saw no bear-grass photos. It reminded me though that September is a very good month for sunsets!
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Comment by Montucky — August 22, 2011 @ 8:46 pm
The oddest and most intriguing plant! Great shots with such detail. I really like the last photo as the bear grass looks like it is spinning and it was caught in motion. 🙂
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Comment by Anna — August 22, 2011 @ 3:17 pm
They are fun to photograph after all of the tiny wildflowers because these are huge. In their good years, they are spectacular.
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Comment by Montucky — August 22, 2011 @ 8:47 pm
Any fan of Glacier National Park is going to love seeing Beargrass pictures. These are great.
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Comment by knightofswords — August 22, 2011 @ 7:05 pm
Yes, there are usually lots of them there. I haven’t been up that way this year though, so I don’t know if they did well there or not.
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Comment by Montucky — August 22, 2011 @ 8:48 pm
[…] Bear-grass […]
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Pingback by Bear-grass « Montana Outdoors | grass — August 24, 2011 @ 3:10 am
Love these shots!
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Comment by Cedar — August 24, 2011 @ 7:23 am
Thanks Cedar. They are beautiful blossoms, aren’t they!
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Comment by Montucky — August 24, 2011 @ 7:24 pm