Three violets

Hookedspur Violet, Early Blue Violet ~ Viola adunca

Goosefoot Violet ~ Viola purpurea

Small White Violet ~ Viola macloskeyi

Today was the first time that I’ve found these three species in one day, and all were within a half mile besides. It was a surprise also because they are growing within the periphery of the huge forest fire that occurred here last year. (Now if I can figure out why three different colored flowers are all called “violets”.)

A few more

A short hike as a retreat from a hot afternoon revealed a few more wildflowers in bloom, and a few drops of rain helped provide a cool break.

Pointedtip Mariposa Lily ~ Calochortus apiculatus. About the size of a 50 cent piece.

Early Blue Violet ~ Viola adunca

Feathery False Lily of the Valley ~ Maianthemum racemosum. The blossom is about 4 inches tall.

Silvery Lupine ~ Lupinus argenteus. This one is about a foot tall.

Starry False Lily-of-the-valley ~ Maianthemum stellatum. This blossom is about 3 inches tall.

Blue Speedwell ~ Veronica anagallis-aquatica. Quite a name for a blossom only 1/8 inch wide!

Violets along the trail

Violets have appeared along the Spring Creek Trail (USFS trail 370 into the TeePee/Spring Creek roadless area).

Early Blue Violet ~ Viola adunca

Almost missed the violets

These have been blooming for quite some time already, but this one was growing in the deep shade of the Spring Creek canyon. I think I broke all of the usual rules of correct exposure, but it worked and the photo is what I wanted.

And don’t forget the Fairyslippers…

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

Fairyslipper, Calypso Orchid ~ Calypso bulbosa

Fading away

A couple of days ago a friend and I hiked part of an old trail, probably for the last time; the Ashley Creek trail 454. It was created sometime in the 1930s, probably by the Civilian Conservation Corps by the looks of its construction, but apparently hasn’t been tended to for several years and although the Forest Service still shows it on their maps, it is going back to its earlier natural state. I am fearful that it is but one of many that the Forest Service will keep alive only on paper, probably in an attempt to show a larger than actual trail inventory as their department steadily morphs into another hopelessly incompetent and ineffectual bureaucracy. Following are some photos from along the trail.

The old trail sign still exists as it nears the century mark.

Ashley Creek is the water supply for a small Montana town.

It was a very pleasant surprise to see two species of wildflowers in bloom in a sunny spot on the mountainside along the trail, a thousand feet above the trail head. Upon perusing my photo library, I found that this is the earliest bloom for either of them that I’ve encountered by about two weeks. Who’d-a-thunk-it!

Small Bluebells, Long-flowered Lungwort, Trumpet Bluebells ~ Mertensia longiflora

Early blue violet ~ Viola adunca

It’s sad to lose another such treasure from our early days.