Posted by Derek Sedillo on March 28, 2007 at 11:05 AM
Hello,
I am wondering what the earliest wildflower season has hit in Colorado?
This is only my second wildflower season here. Last Spring was really dry and most lawns and fields were 'brown' until early June. This year however things are starting to 'green' much earlier and there is a lot of rain in the forecast.
With an El Nino year and a lot of precipitation could we begin seeing wildflowers in lets say late May? Or will CB and the San Juans always bloom in about the same timeframe every year (July)?
Just curious,
Derek
Posted by Mel Ladewig on March 28, 2007 at 11:22 AM
I think in the lowlands you might get more variability depending on rainfall and temperature. Around the Springs or Denver or out on the plains. For example at my inlaws' land near Truckton or Rush, the bloom is highly dependent on the rainfall. The blooms come when the rain comes, so it could be May or July and sometimes it just spreads out the bloom. Still, some of the prairie flowers bloom at a certain time regardless (ie sunflowers) so the rain and its timing just affects the quantity of blooms.
In the high country, the flowers are driven primarily by the thaw, sunlight and their own natural clocks. I would suspect that CB will reach peak bloom within a couple weeks from year to year and I think July is a safe bet. The rainfall can affect the intensity of the bloom though, so we could see lots and lots of flowers if the rains are good.
Posted by Chuck Peacock on March 28, 2007 at 11:50 AM
I concurr with Mel that the high country flower seasons are pretty close year to year (peaking around July 4-ish).
Out here in the sage and canyon country it's more variable (dependant on rainfall and temp.) From about the second week in May through Memorial Day is the general peak time around Craig & Hayden. In the canyons to the west probably bump it up (earlier) a couple of weeks - maybe early may.
Posted by Joshua Hardin on March 28, 2007 at 1:11 PM
I also concur with the above. If you are looking into higher elevation areas like Crested Butte and the San Juans, a lot of it has to do with when the snowpack melts. If there is a lot of spring rain in the metro area, that sometimes means there is more snow in the high country which can prolong the season. Don't forget that in many of these places the roads may not be open until at least late June.
I won't say it's always this way but I've found that on average: early July is usually good for RMNP (Trail Ridge), Tenmile/Mosquito and Sawatch Ranges (areas like Shrine Ridge). For CB and the Elk Range the middle of July is the safest bet (CB schedules their wildflower festival out there at this time for a reason). Late July is usually better for the San Juans.
Lower Front Range elevations like Roxborough State Park seem to vary a lot more. If the moisture continues this season look at mid May for when you might start seeing some pasque, paintbrush and wild iris appearing in places around 5-7,000/ft elevations.
This brings me to a question for the Southern Front Range Dwellers. I have seen shots from along the Front Range between Pueblo and Trinidad closer to the Spanish Peaks, that are full of Lupine, and other wonderful flowers and I wonder where the better spots down that way are and when to go there? Any ideas, Todd, anyone??
Posted by Todd Caudle on March 30, 2007 at 8:05 PM
I haven't seen fields of lupines down this way, but they'll hit the lower slopes of the Sneffels Range in late-May if there's been enough moisture. Mules ears' will follow within weeks. A few years ago I found vast fields of some yellow whatchamacallits (Latin: whatchamacallitis whoknowsm) in the broad hillsides and meadows on the eastern side of LaVeta Pass, especially around Mt. Mestas. With the moisture this year, I'm anticipating a repeat performance.
Discussion
5 repliesI am wondering what the earliest wildflower season has hit in Colorado?
This is only my second wildflower season here. Last Spring was really dry and most lawns and fields were 'brown' until early June. This year however things are starting to 'green' much earlier and there is a lot of rain in the forecast.
With an El Nino year and a lot of precipitation could we begin seeing wildflowers in lets say late May? Or will CB and the San Juans always bloom in about the same timeframe every year (July)?
Just curious,
Derek
In the high country, the flowers are driven primarily by the thaw, sunlight and their own natural clocks. I would suspect that CB will reach peak bloom within a couple weeks from year to year and I think July is a safe bet. The rainfall can affect the intensity of the bloom though, so we could see lots and lots of flowers if the rains are good.
Out here in the sage and canyon country it's more variable (dependant on rainfall and temp.) From about the second week in May through Memorial Day is the general peak time around Craig & Hayden. In the canyons to the west probably bump it up (earlier) a couple of weeks - maybe early may.
I won't say it's always this way but I've found that on average: early July is usually good for RMNP (Trail Ridge), Tenmile/Mosquito and Sawatch Ranges (areas like Shrine Ridge). For CB and the Elk Range the middle of July is the safest bet (CB schedules their wildflower festival out there at this time for a reason). Late July is usually better for the San Juans.
Lower Front Range elevations like Roxborough State Park seem to vary a lot more. If the moisture continues this season look at mid May for when you might start seeing some pasque, paintbrush and wild iris appearing in places around 5-7,000/ft elevations.