In spite of a cold spring and below normal rainfall here in western Montana, the wildflowers are blooming, but about two weeks later than usual. This morning there was fresh snow on the mountainsides a thousand feet above the valley floor.
Western Gromwell, Lemonweed ~ Lithospermum ruderale
Western Serviceberry, Saskatoon ~ Amelanchier alnifolia
Field Pepperweed, Field Peppergrass or Pepperwort, Field Cress ~ Lepidium campestre
It has been dry and rather cold this spring in this region and the regular bloom times for wildflowers seems to be greatly disrupted. Some are scarce and I’m afraid some will not bloom at all this year. There is practically no moisture in the soil. Here are a few that I’ve seen in the past few days and their populations are very low.
~ Small-flowered Blue-Eyed Mary, Collinsia parviflora, figwort family ~
~ Wayside gromwell, Lemonweed, Lithospermum ruderale, borage family ~
~ Western stickseed, Lappula redowskii, borage family ~
~ Narrow-leaved Desert Parsley, Lomatium triternatum, Cous, carrot family ~
~ Mule-ears, Wyethia amplexicaulis, aster family ~
(In a few days, this will look like a medium-size sunflower)
~ Wild strawberry, Fragaria virginiana, rose family ~
