A spring hike along the west rim, across the creek, back along the east rim, down into the canyon, and back up to the rim is a favorite hike, especially when the wildflowers are blooming along the way. Rockcress (Boechera … Continue reading →
We hiked the Uplands Trails from the end of the junction of McLeod and Uplands Road in Barnhartvale, sticking mostly to the grassland benchland and the open forest. The star of the hike on this day was the flowering saskatoons … Continue reading →
Showy jacob’s-ladder (Polemonium pulcherrimum) is a perennial in the phlox family that grows from a long taproot. It is a taprooted perennial, growing up to about 30 cm. Several stems each have sticky hairs. Basal leaves are sticky and smelly, … Continue reading →
Daphne mezereon is also called February Daphne, Mezereum, spurge laurel, and spurge olive. It is an introduced plant of the Thymelaeaceae family. The deciduous shrub grows to about 1.5m. Scented pink flowers appear in early spring before the leaves emerge. … Continue reading →
In April every year I venture out to the hills above Neskonlith Lake to witness the wildflowers. The stars of the show are the avalanche lilies (Erythronium grandiflorum) and the sagebrush bluebells (Mertensia oblongifolia). The supporting cast was emerging and … Continue reading →
In early spring we see the first emergence of wildflowers and flowering shrubs on the lower-south-facing slopes, but because the sun reaches an angle of about 45 degrees, any steeper slope that is about 45 degrees will receive more of … Continue reading →
The open slopes of Dewdrop Ridge invite us to hike the 1 km route up the ridge. A few wind-blown trees can be found near the top of the ridge. On the lower slopes were sagebrush buttercups, yellow bells, and … Continue reading →
As the hills dry out, we hike through on trails and across slopes in the lower grasslands. A few early wildflowers can be spotted, especially sagebrush buttercups (Ranunculus glabberrimus) and yellow bells (Fritillaria pudica). These photos were taken in March … Continue reading →
Marsh marigold (Caltha leptosepala) is a perennial in the buttercup family. We encounter it most often in subalpine and alpine wet meadows. The plant has fleshy, thick, fibrous roots. Stems rise above the base and are erect, rising from 5 … Continue reading →
On March 20, the spring equinox, the lower Batchelor Hills were dry for a hike in the sagebrush grasslands. The stars of the day were yellow bells (Fritillaria pudica). Click an image for a lightbox view and caption. The route … Continue reading →
Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) is a perennial that grows over one meter (1-3m) in height. It is often one of the first plants to establish after a forest fire or after a clearcut. Roots grow horizontally and stems grow up from … Continue reading →
Spotted saxifrage (Saxifraga bronchialis sp.) is a mat-forming perennial that grows up to about 12 cm in height. Found on high open rocky slopes. Mat-cushion forming habit. Basal leaves are leathery and overlapping. Spiny tips and hairy edges. Older leaves … Continue reading →
