In search of a flower

A flower has been on my mind a lot lately, one that I encountered on a hike in June of 2008 into the mountains along the Clark Fork River here in western Montana. The USDA “Plants” website tells me that it grows only in Washington and California, which might explain why I haven’t encountered it in any of my ramblings since 2008.

At the end of June this year, despite the heat, I again hiked the Donlan Saddle trail (USFS trail 205) up to the area where I first encountered the flower. Trail 205 is an aggressive little trail that seems much longer than its 3 mile length because it starts at an elevation of about 2,600 feet along the river and ends at an elevation of 5,000 feet where it meets the start of the CC Divide trail and also the road that proceeds from there on up to the Patrick’s Knob fire lookout.

The trail is pretty and there are a few good views to be had toward the top, the rest of the trail being in the forest.

Despite the extremely hot and dry conditions this year, there were several species of flower still in bloom:

Grand Collomia, Large-flower Mountain-trumpet ~ Collomia grandiflora

Menzies’ Campion ~ Silene menziesii

Woodland Pinedrops ~ Pterospora andromedea

Giant Mountain Aster ~ Canadanthus modestus

Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum

Though I did reach the area in which I found the flower in 2008 I did not find it in bloom this time, probably because I was a week or so too late and because of the dry conditions, but here is a photo of it taken on June 20, 2008:

Tricolor Monkeyflower ~ Mimulus tricolor

I hope to try again next year, but a little earlier, and it will be worth the hike.

First, the purples

This morning before the temperature climbed too far toward its eventual high in the 90’s I hiked a ways (about two and a half miles) up the Munson Creek trail (USFS trail # 372) toward Big Hole Peak. Almost at the start I noticed that the array of wildflower species there was remarkably different from the ones on the Spring Creek trail on which I hiked just two days ago and which is only about 9 miles to the east. Interesting, and not entirely explainable by a steeper trail and a slightly higher elevation.

Today’s post will feature the purples.

Western Mountain Aster ~ Symphyotrichum spathulatum

As the name “Nodding Onion ~ Allium cernuum” implies, these could be detected by smell before their appearance.

Wild Bergamot ~ Monarda fistulosa, well known for its pleasant smell.

It’s hard to resist a picture of the “Bluebell-of-Scotland, Harebell ~ Campanula rotundifolia” when they pose so nicely.

Pinkfairy, Deerhorn, Ragged Robin ~ Clarkia pulchella

Friday’s wildflowers

Harebells ~ Campanula rotundifolia

Harebells ~ Campanula rotundifolia

Pearly Everlasting ~ Anaphalis margaritacea

Oxeye Daisy ~ Leucanthemum vulgare

Oxeye Daisy ~ Leucanthemum vulgare

Pipsissewa, common prince’s-pine ~ Chimaphila umbellata

Pipsissewa, common prince’s-pine ~ Chimaphila umbellata

Nodding onion ~ Allium cernuum

Nodding onion ~ Allium cernuum

This morning’s wildflowers

With the temperature headed for one hundred today, early morning was the only time for a short hike and yesterday’s post on Jomegat’s Weblog reminded me that the Pipsissewa are starting to bloom, an event I would hate to miss. The wildflowers don’t mind the heat, especially along a wooded canyon trail. There were other flowers in bloom as well.

Bluebell bellflower, Bluebell-of-Scotland, Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia

Pipsissewa, Chimaphila umbellata

Oneleaf foamflower, Sugar scoop, Western foamflower, Tiarella trifoliata

Common selfheal, Prunella vulgaris

Twinflower, Linnaea borealis

Liverleaf wintergreen, Pink pyrola, Pyrola asarifolia

Nodding onion, Allium cernuum

Spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata

Wildflowers of summer (2)

The Pointer and I left for our evening walk a little late tonight, having waited until the coolness of evening set in and chose to go to a section of forest road in a shaded canyon where it would be cool. Just as I was about to park the Jeep, down the road came two absolutely gorgeous Black bears, I would guess a mother and her last summer’s cub. They were jet black and all signs of winter’s rubbing and matting was gone from their coats in which the hairs were very long and thick. As usual I was in awe at the size of their paws as they loped along, kicking up small puffs of dust from the old road.

Now, back to wildflowers…

White Lupines, the first I’ve encountered!

Nodding Onion ~ Allium cernuum

Arnica seed head

Nootka (I think) Rose

Huckleberry

Aesthetic Allium

Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum

It doesn’t seem that these pretty and delicate little blossoms belong to an onion, but with this species they do.