Arrow-leaved Balsamroot

Arrow-leaved Balsamroot ~ Balsamorhiza sagittata

These have begun to bloom in the last few days. Soon they will decorate the hillsides low on the mountains with large splashes of color. They are the largest wildflower blossoms in this area and grow in clumps resembling a large bouquet.

Yellow hills and purple flowers

While capturing the scenes of the yellow hills I discovered that the Larkspur were also in bloom. It was a nice reward from Mother Nature for climbing the hill to photograph the sunflowers.

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Arrow-leaved Balsamroot

In just the last few days the Arrow-leaved Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) have begun to bloom.

Recent wildflower blooms

Despite the foibles of spring weather, our wildflowers are bound to begin their spring and summer cycle. Here are some of the newest:

Shooting Star ~ Dodecatheon pulchellum

Arrow-leaved Balsamroot ~ Balsamorhiza sagittata

Pear blossom

Nineleaf Biscuitroot ~ Lomatium triternatum

Serviceberry, Saskatoon ~ Amelanchier ainifolia

Kinnikinnik ~ Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Oregon Grape ~ Mahonia aquifolium ~ Berberis aqufolium

May wildflowers

After the late arrival of warm weather, the wildflowers in this part of Western Montana have been hurrying to catch up with spring. Here are more that have started blooming in May:

Miner’s Lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata

Unknown

Western Blue Clematis, Clematis occidentalis

Heart-leaf Arnica , Arnica cordifolia

Fairy Slipper, Calypso Orchid , Calypso bulbosa

Falsebox, Mountain Boxwood, Oregon Boxwood, Paxistma myrsinites

Blue-eyed Mary, Collinsia parviflora

Yellow Wood Violet, Viola glabella

Arrow-leaved Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza sagittata

Arrow-leaved Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza sagittata

Serviceberry, Saskatoon, Amelanchier alnifolia

Antelope Bitterbrush, Antelope-brush, Purshia tridentata

Antelope Bitterbrush, Antelope-brush, Purshia tridentata

Sticky Purple Geranium, Sticky Geranium, Geranium viscosissimum

Woolly Groundsel, Packera cana

Ground Ivy, Glechoma hederacea

Largeflower Triteleia, Triteleia grandiflora

Meadow Death Camas, Common Death Camas, Zigadenus venenosus

Small-flowered Woodland-star, Small-flowered Prairie-star, Lithophragma parviflorum

Holly-leaf Oregon-grape, Shining Oregongrape, Tall Oregongrape, Berberis aquifolium

Unknown shrub

Common Hawkweed, Hieracium lachenalii

Two-lobe Larkspur, Upland Larkspur, Delphinium nuttallianum

April flowers

Our western Montana wildflowers are now well into their spring routine and although I had hoped to show them as they bloom and spotlight each one, alas, I have fallen behind and must try to catch up in the next several posts by showing several at a time. This time of year, each hike uncovers several new blooms. It’s a wonderful time of year!

Arrow-leaved Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza sagittata

Spring Draba, Spring Whitlow Grass, Whitlow Grass, Draba Verna

Spring Draba, Spring Whitlow Grass, Whitlow Grass, Draba Verna

Desert Parsley, Suksdorf’s desert-parsley, Lomatium suksdorfii

Glacier Lily, Avalanche Lily, Dogtoothed Violet, Erythronium grandiflorum

Glacier Lily, Avalanche Lily, Dogtoothed Violet, Erythronium grandiflorum

Glacier Lily, Avalanche Lily, Dogtoothed Violet, Erythronium grandiflorum

Glacier Lily, Avalanche Lily, Dogtoothed Violet, Erythronium grandiflorum