More wildflowers are showing up just about every day now. It’s just a matter of getting out where they are!
Lemonweed ~ Lithospermum ruderale
Wild Strawberry ~ Fragaria virginiana
Heart-leaved Arnica ~ Arnica cordifolia
Early Blue Violet ~ Viola adunca
Montana Outdoors 
Glad you’re getting out with that camera of yours. Great pictures. Hope the knee is holding out.
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Comment by Malcolm R. Campbell — May 4, 2015 @ 10:03 pm
Thanks Malcolm. I plan on getting out much more this summer. The knee is doing very well, thanks. It now has over 2,000 miles on it and it is still getting more comfortable.
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Comment by montucky — May 4, 2015 @ 10:06 pm
More lovely colours and flower designs and so very well photographed by you. Beautiful orchid! I hope you get plenty of opportunity to get out and see them. 🙂
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Comment by Jane — May 4, 2015 @ 10:30 pm
Yes, thanks, there will be plenty of opportunity to get out and enjoy the wildflowers. That tiny orchid flower grows only 2 to 3 inches above the dirt and under other low-growing plants for protection and it is so fragile that simply bending its stem is enough to kill the plant. It’s a challenge to photograph, but that is such a privilege because it is so beautiful.
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Comment by montucky — May 4, 2015 @ 10:37 pm
Miniature treasures.
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — May 4, 2015 @ 10:34 pm
That’s very well phrased, Anneli, and exactly how I consider them.
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Comment by montucky — May 4, 2015 @ 10:43 pm
Little beauties!
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Comment by Mother Hen — May 4, 2015 @ 10:36 pm
They sure are. The Arnica though is large (by wildflower standards) and can really brighten up a shaded hillside along a stream. It can be used to make a liniment that I have found very helpful sometimes for muscle and joint pain.
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Comment by montucky — May 4, 2015 @ 10:46 pm
So neat that you have been able to experience a lifestyle such as yours…
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Comment by Mother Hen — May 4, 2015 @ 10:51 pm
Yes it is. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful thing if people all across American today could get closer to Mother Earth and further away from the cyber-electronics that seem to make everything faster and false and superficial? Guess who would really been the winners?
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Comment by montucky — May 4, 2015 @ 11:12 pm
The Fairy Slipper wins the day!
PS: Wondered what type of macro lens you’re using your pictures are very nice!
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Comment by centralohionature — May 5, 2015 @ 3:58 am
I remember when I first encountered the Calypsos: until then I had no idea that they existed!
That has turned out to be my favorite lens. It’s an AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D. It took a little getting used to, but I really love it. I will also act like a regular 60mm lens too and I have even used it for a few landscape shots.
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Comment by montucky — May 5, 2015 @ 8:07 am
Oh, wow. these photos are stunning. The last one in particular looks so alive, as though it’s an orchid mantis and at any moment will unfurl its legs. Just gorgeous.
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Comment by Teresa Evangeline — May 5, 2015 @ 5:57 am
If I had a single favorite flower, it would probably be the Fairyslipper. They are really gorgeous, and as far as I know they cannot be domesticated, which is fitting and lends to their allure.
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Comment by montucky — May 5, 2015 @ 8:12 am
I’m amazed by the delicacy of the orchid. I’d assume it was more fragile than other flowers, but your mention of the fact that even bending the stem could kill the plant was an astonishment to me. There’s so much to learn — including how to be careful out there in the woods! I think we often assume everything out there is as strong and enduring as the rocks and trees. Clearly, that’s not so!
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Comment by shoreacres — May 5, 2015 @ 6:33 am
Fortunately, most of the flowers don’t grow right on the trail and are protected by some rather heavy brush, especially the Fairyslippers. They are usually very shy, as befits their fragility.
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Comment by montucky — May 5, 2015 @ 8:14 am
Such a beautiful photo series; love the colors and detail you captured, so amazing…
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Comment by Charlie@Seattle Trekker — May 5, 2015 @ 7:36 am
Those are wonderful subjects to photograph. It’s not hard to fall in love with all of the wildflowers!
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Comment by montucky — May 5, 2015 @ 8:15 am
Beautiful! Those orchids are just exquisite. I hope that our own cold wet spell is not wreaking havoc with the wild flowers – but nature has its own way of healing.
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Comment by Jo Woolf — May 5, 2015 @ 7:51 am
Wildflowers have a lot of tolerance for cold weather just built into their beings. Some are extremely fragile in other ways, but they have really adapted to weather changes. Actually, I prefer to photograph them on cold or wet days because the light is softer.
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Comment by montucky — May 5, 2015 @ 8:17 am
Great shots Terry – the orchids are spectacular!
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Comment by iAMsafari.com — May 5, 2015 @ 7:54 am
Thanks. We have about a dozen species of wild orchids here, but I think these are the prettiest… and the earliest to bloom.
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Comment by montucky — May 5, 2015 @ 8:18 am
Looking at these just makes my day happy! 🙂
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Comment by Mama's Empty Nest — May 5, 2015 @ 8:37 am
I’m glad! That’s certainly a big part of their purpose, I’m sure. They are a little like rainbows for me, letting me know that Nature at least, is still under control.
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Comment by montucky — May 5, 2015 @ 8:26 pm
The lemon weed is interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it.
That orchid is such a beautiful flower. It males me anxious to see ours, but I can’t think of any that we have that can compare to that one.
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — May 5, 2015 @ 3:15 pm
This particular species of Lithospermum is native to only the far western states, but I’ve read that there are close relatives all over the U.S. This is the only one with which I’m familiar.
There are 16 species of orchard that are native to this area. I think this is the prettiest, followed closely by the Lady’s Slipper.
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Comment by montucky — May 5, 2015 @ 8:37 pm
Really great photos, they would be brilliant in a flower identification guide
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Comment by Mike Howe — May 6, 2015 @ 1:42 am
Thanks Mike! I’ve thought about that, but so many of the wildflowers are native to such a small area (and one that is very sparsely populated) that it wouldn’t be worthwhile.
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Comment by montucky — May 6, 2015 @ 10:18 am
You could do a flora locale? But I take your point
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Comment by Mike Howe — May 6, 2015 @ 2:55 pm
Beautiful, I guess they will keep you hopping. I always love to see the Fairyslippers.
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Comment by Candace — May 6, 2015 @ 1:25 pm
Every year I tell myself that I’ve taken enough pictures of the wildflowers, but then I simply can’t resist.
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Comment by montucky — May 6, 2015 @ 10:01 pm
i oh so love the fairy slippers~
all your photos and flowers are lovely
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Comment by Tammie — May 7, 2015 @ 2:09 pm
Thanks Tammie! I love those little orchids too. Always wonder how that configuration developed.
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Comment by montucky — May 7, 2015 @ 8:27 pm
Very beautiful flower photos. My favorite is Fairyslipper, Calypso Orchid !
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Comment by Sartenada — May 13, 2015 @ 1:02 am
It’s a favorite of mine too. I’ve been happy to see that they are still flourishing in many out-of-the-way places!
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Comment by montucky — May 13, 2015 @ 8:14 am
🙂
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Comment by 2ndhalfolife — May 13, 2015 @ 12:34 pm