Summer is nearly here and spring flowers have already been blooming along the desert locations of our region and in a few spots along the Front Range. Please post the kinds of flowers you are seeing in your travels this year here in the report topic. Be sure to tell us location information and, as always, posting pictures is a big plus!
We have a few reports already from members on Bob Falcone's topic here. Many people will be traveling this weekend so I'm sure we'll see many new flowers reports popping up!
I hiked up to the subway on West Fork of Oak Creek near Sedona this morning with Peter Coskun and Rica. The red monkey flowers are close to peak, about half blooming, half mature buds. I did not see any past and withered.
The yellow columbine along the creek are coming along. The seeping wall on the left before the first crossing is not peak yet for columbine. There are columbine though.
The yellow "monkey?" flowers along the creek seem more prevalent than the columbine. Those just downstream from the subway entrance are close.
Saw some purple blooms on the locust.
Lupine amongst the ferns near the beginning are about peak. I did notice some seed pods already.
If you only have weekends, I would say next weekend would be good.
As mentioned, Whispering Pines Park and Castlewood Canyon are getting going now. Probably all of the foothill zone areas along the front range are having some blooms now.
Here is a Salsify shot I also put up in the Flora Gallery.
If you like blue & yellow (penstemon, flax, bluebells, delphiniums for blue, Oregon grape, yellow banner, buttercups, daisy-like, sulfur flowers), east of the Mesa Trail is covered! West of the Mesa Trail much more sparse, but with a few coral root orchids, wild roses, western wallflower, Boulder raspberry, etc). This was taken mid-morning w/my P&S.
Does anyone have a best guess when wildflowers may be best in the San Juans and Crested Butte this year? Typically, for Crested Butte I believe the 3rd week in July has been peak. I also thought the same for the San Juans as well. Really hadn't heard what the snow amounts were this past winter in both places. Knowing that information should help determine germination and subsequent flower timing.
Posted by Monika Chace on June 20, 2013 at 6:20 PM
Avalanche lilies on Arapahoe Pass trail will probably peak in the next few days and carpet the hillsides. Parry primrose starting to bloom. 1 lonely Columbine at the start. Up at the pass, pasque flowers, forget-me-nots, phlox.
Moraine park was looking beautiful last weekend .. perhaps you will still find iris and golden banners there ..
Posted by Bob Falcone on June 23, 2013 at 11:25 AM
In the Colorado Springs area, the prickly pear cactus are in full bloom in Red Rocks Canyon Open Space and also in "Section 16" to the south of it. I don't recall how long they bloom, but they appear to be peaking this weekend.
Posted by Monika Chace on June 23, 2013 at 3:56 PM
Irises in & around RMNP are largely past peak. Mostly golden banner and candytuft. Some paintbrush. Further south, irises are still good.
Ken, I can't say for sure on timing this year. Snow pack was good early to mid-May - average to just above average in most spots by the time the late season storms were done. But it's been consistently warm since then, and to my mind things are going a bit fast. I'm probably going to scout out Shrine Ridge next weekend in preparation for a hike up in July; that will probably be indicative of the rest of the central mountains - I'll post back.
Les, I look forward to hearing about Shrine Pass, too. It's one my favorite places to shoot.
Anyone have an idea how American Basin is looking? Thinking about it for early August...
Montana has had a wet spring and things are blooming nicely.. A shot from the Crazy Mtns.
Posted by Debbie Yarra on June 25, 2013 at 11:21 PM
Crested Butte is popping right now! Lots of purple and yellow lupine and mules ears! I tried to send a photo from my iPhone since I'm still here, but it wouldn't work. Washington gulch rd is beautiful!
Lots of meadows full of Mule's Ears around Steamboat right now. I'm guessing the same for the meadows around Steamboat Lake. Could be a really good season if we get a little rain now and then....
Posted by Todd Caudle on June 27, 2013 at 11:50 PM
Crested Butte area was looking mighty fine last weekend. Not much blooming as you get away from town, but close in it was looking nice.
Just got back from an exploratory Shrine Ridge run. It's Marsh Marigold and Globe Mallow all the way down. They're early up top and in full bloom everywhere. Lots of violets and buttercups, and many little white flowers of several varieties. Along the path, Parry Primrose are out along the stream. Bogginess index is average to slightly below average; snow pack along the ridge is lower than average.
Paintbrush is starting to show along the way, but the bigger DYCs are still running behind. The lower meadow should have lots of Little Pink Elephants next weekend - saw many many flower stalks prepping up. No Death Camas or Bog Orchid in evidence yet - might have missed the young flower stalks on those, but I didn't see them, so I'm giving them a couple of weeks. Only a couple of Rosy Paintbrush - they're usually later anyway... There was one Lupine plant blooming in the pines.
The top is curiously on schedule considering how fast everything down below is popping. Saw a few small lupine up there trying to grow and push up flower stalks at the same time, but only a few. No paintbrush or DYCs up top yet, and no sign they'll be ready for next week. Current blooms up top are the more alpine varieties - little white flowers, lots of buttercup, and some blue - I think penstemon of some sort.
Saw some Old Man of the Mountain and some Alpine Forget-me-not, but didn't really venture up in to the alpine area too far.
Next weekend will be very pretty up there, but I'd say the view from the ridge is still on for a 2nd week in July peak.
Here's a report on Yankee Boy Basin that JoAnn Moon sent to me today.
Thought you'd like a heads' up on YBB, as of yesterday (7/1/13).
Looks like much of the bloom is popping all at once.
Some great bunches of blue columbine, for example.
But overall, nothing like what I'd expect there over past 20 years.
Waterfalls are quite diminished. The soil is very hard, very dry. Lots of dust everywhere.
Ken, she didn't make it to American Basin., but added, "I'm telling everyone to either go quickly or wait hopefully for monsoon, if they're doing San Juans."
As reported, the Snowies have plenty of flowers. Still seems less than previous years, but right now yellow fawn lily and globe flower are everywhere. Actually refreshing to see snow still melting. Considering the Snowies typically get decent summer rains, I would expect the normal progression of flowering of species for the next month or so.
If you're in the El Paso/Teller Cnty area, Rainbow Gulch Trail (from Rampart Range Rd down to the Rampart Res) is really popping right now: Columbine (although they maybe just past peak, but still plenty), wild roses, penstemon, wild geraniums, daisies, sunflowers, etc, etc. Trail is about a mile each way and quite easy. I was up there today, but got a late start and was chased out by rain. I'll be back up there this weekend.
I'm a little late with this post, but it's probably still helpful to anyone thinking about heading to the San Juans. On July 1, I day hiked up to Lower Blue Lake and was rather amazed at all the wildflowers blooming there (at 11,000 ft.). Lots of paintbrush along the trail just before the lake and plenty of columbine, bluebells, sneezeweed, etc. on the west side of the lake (as the pic shows), The sunflowers and lupine I've seen on the north side of the lake (near the outlet) hadn't yet bloomed and from what I could tell, neither had the flowers that sit high above the lake. I'm very curious if anyone else has anything to report on the San Juans in general. I've got options for a return visit on either the 14th (which I'm now leaning towards, given what I saw) or the 25th. Thinking about Porphyry and American Basins for sure along with Clear Lake and maybe a quickie backpack to the Wetterhorn Basin. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Spent yesterday enjoying the wildflowers on the Grand Mesa near the Land's End Road turn off. Not many wildflowers on the Grand Mesa.
Posted by Bob Falcone on July 10, 2013 at 11:13 PM
Just returned from several days in RMNP...it's gorgeous up there right now. Columbines are a little sparse (is it early or late for them? I don't know), but paintbrush, penstemon, lupine, wild roses, wild geraniums and every thing else possible is plentiful.
Mayflower Gulch is full of flowers right now. Just about every variety at that elevation is blooming.
And, I went on a scouting trip to Shrine Ridge. It was my first time up on the ridge. There are a lot of flowers all along the trail. The top is not as profuse as it has been in past years apparently from what hikers told me. Still, great views to be had.
Drove up the road to Stillwater Reservoir today, lots of flowers mostly below Yampcola right now but conditions look good for a lot of flowers from now through the next three weeks all the way to the FlatTops Wilderness. We jus had a gully-washer here in Steamboat and northwest Colorado has received some welcome rain, unless you're a rancher trying to bale some hay. Here's a hillside just above Yampcola near Bear Lake.
Went for a ride to the Snowy Range today. One of the worst years I've seen in the last 10 or so years. Small patches of flowers here and there. If your going just to photograph wildflowers I wouldn't waste my time. Also the beetle kill has made it to the top.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on July 14, 2013 at 10:06 PM
On the way back to Flagstaff today, I drove through Hart Prairie on FR 151 on the west side of the SF Peaks. The yellow sneezeweed, lupine and locoweed are in bloom.
American Basin- although it was my first trip there, it was quite disappointing. Not much variety or density of flowers. On an optimistic note, there has been afternoon showers that last few days. Maybe with a sip of water the late bloomers will pop?
Posted by Les Barstow on July 16, 2013 at 11:41 AM
Hiked up to Shrine Ridge today; everything's in prime bloom this week, and will hold through the weekend absent a nasty storm. The red paintbrush seem a bit washed out this year, but otherwise everything looks great up there.
Things might even be a bit behind at the top; lots of young looking lupine not yet blooming (but plenty already in bloom), and in general the colors near the trail are not quite at prime compared to other years I've seen them (while a bit lower down on the hill it's looking great...).
DYCs which were not quite out on Sunday are now looking good on the way up the trail, so again another indicator that things might be a bit behind.
I'll probably head up again one more time over the weekend to try and catch a good sunrise - this morning was a bit boring without enough interesting clouds.
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on July 16, 2013 at 10:39 PM
Hey, Les, you beat me to it. I was also up there this morning. Sorry I missed you.
The only thing I would add is, on your way back take the turnoff to Shrine Lodge, at about the halfway point.
The north facing hillsides have beautiful wildflower carpets. The lower Shrine Ridge trail is devoid of flowers, in comparison. Actually, I would suggest taking this route on the way up, but you need to know where to access it. I didn't see any trail signs.
Northwest Colorado is blooming and will be for the next two weeks or so in the Flat Tops and at Dumont Lake on Rabbit Ears Pass. Lots of flower "gardens' around the lake yesterday, as seen here.
Blues lakes in Sneffels Wilderness is fairly good right now. Early bloomers are fading, but with the tremendous rain lately, others later bloomers should pop. iPhone image attached.
Made it part way up the Wheeler Sheep Trail near Hoosier Pass this evening. Looks like things are a little before peak, from what I could see, but certainly well along. Hope to see more tomorrow.
I just got back from a quick trip to the Grand Mesa. Although it is not considered a wildflower hot spot, there were some very nice displays today. The meadow next to Island Lake had some nice color. I hiked in about a half mile on the Crag Crest trail, and quite a bit of fireweed blooming there along with other things. I shot this right across the road from the Mesa Top trailhead. Tons of sneezeweed, small flowered penstemon, white paintbrush, cinquefoil shrubs, aster, a few daisies and even some lupine thrown in.
I made it down Lands End as far as the Flowing Park turnoff. This area normally has nice meadows. There were good spots on both the north and south sides of the road in this area. Sneezeweed, small flowered penstemon, a little lupine (not much), queen anne's lace, lots of scarlet gillia, some sunflowers but they are on the down side. I wish I would have had time to make it further down Lands End; there are usually some nice spots along the way until you get close to the rim, and then the "drier" flowers take over (buckwheat, etc.) as you near the observatory.
Just got back from a few days hiking; Crested Butte/Schofield area and Blue Lakes (Ridgway). Gothic Road is past peak, but the meadows and basins up high are peaking and spectacular, although the flowers are wilting a bit in the sunny spots. Snowmass area should be good for another week or so. Blue Lakes was great too, though not as profuse. Guy S's report gave me the impetus to head there (thanks, Guy!) Again, you have to get up hgih for the best flowers. Mucho pics to process, hope to have at least some of it done in a few days...
Posted by Scott Bideau on July 27, 2013 at 12:34 AM
FYI Flat Tops is toast now. Most all the flowers are wilted. As of Wednesday, Dumont Lake was still fairly decent.
Just got back from a week in AZ...anyone have a current report on Shrine Ridge? Still have a week left on my vacation and thinking of heading up there...
Posted by Bob Falcone on August 2, 2013 at 1:19 PM
Visited Shrine Ridge yesterday. There isn't much to see along the Pass road, but the trail to the ridge itself is incredible! I'd suggest visiting it this weekend, but I believe there is rain in the forecast. The upshot to that is that it will probably be very good next week.
Posted by Monika Chace on August 3, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Silver Creek trail in Lead King Basin was still good a few days ago. Clear Lake in the San Juans was also good.
Posted by Joshua Hardin on September 2, 2013 at 12:57 PM
Thanks for your reports and especially the photos everyone! Hope it was a great summer for wildflower photography for all of you. Since there haven't been any additional posts for a while, I'm taking this off the sticky board in favor of fall color reports. Enjoy, and good luck this autumn season with your photo pursuits.
Discussion
55 repliesThe yellow columbine along the creek are coming along. The seeping wall on the left before the first crossing is not peak yet for columbine. There are columbine though.
The yellow "monkey?" flowers along the creek seem more prevalent than the columbine. Those just downstream from the subway entrance are close.
Saw some purple blooms on the locust.
Lupine amongst the ferns near the beginning are about peak. I did notice some seed pods already.
If you only have weekends, I would say next weekend would be good.
Here is a Salsify shot I also put up in the Flora Gallery.
http://margaretesteinhauer.blogspot.com
Marys Lake area south of Estes has RM iris at peak. Oxytropis are popping, sparse & scraggly in some areas, fat & happy in others
Anyone have an idea how American Basin is looking? Thinking about it for early August...
Paintbrush is starting to show along the way, but the bigger DYCs are still running behind. The lower meadow should have lots of Little Pink Elephants next weekend - saw many many flower stalks prepping up. No Death Camas or Bog Orchid in evidence yet - might have missed the young flower stalks on those, but I didn't see them, so I'm giving them a couple of weeks. Only a couple of Rosy Paintbrush - they're usually later anyway... There was one Lupine plant blooming in the pines.
The top is curiously on schedule considering how fast everything down below is popping. Saw a few small lupine up there trying to grow and push up flower stalks at the same time, but only a few. No paintbrush or DYCs up top yet, and no sign they'll be ready for next week. Current blooms up top are the more alpine varieties - little white flowers, lots of buttercup, and some blue - I think penstemon of some sort.
Saw some Old Man of the Mountain and some Alpine Forget-me-not, but didn't really venture up in to the alpine area too far.
Next weekend will be very pretty up there, but I'd say the view from the ridge is still on for a 2nd week in July peak.
Thought you'd like a heads' up on YBB, as of yesterday (7/1/13).
Looks like much of the bloom is popping all at once.
Some great bunches of blue columbine, for example.
But overall, nothing like what I'd expect there over past 20 years.
Waterfalls are quite diminished. The soil is very hard, very dry. Lots of dust everywhere.
Disappointing report for Yankee Boy. Does this person have any info on American Basin?
And, I went on a scouting trip to Shrine Ridge. It was my first time up on the ridge. There are a lot of flowers all along the trail. The top is not as profuse as it has been in past years apparently from what hikers told me. Still, great views to be had.
Things might even be a bit behind at the top; lots of young looking lupine not yet blooming (but plenty already in bloom), and in general the colors near the trail are not quite at prime compared to other years I've seen them (while a bit lower down on the hill it's looking great...).
DYCs which were not quite out on Sunday are now looking good on the way up the trail, so again another indicator that things might be a bit behind.
I'll probably head up again one more time over the weekend to try and catch a good sunrise - this morning was a bit boring without enough interesting clouds.
The only thing I would add is, on your way back take the turnoff to Shrine Lodge, at about the halfway point.
The north facing hillsides have beautiful wildflower carpets. The lower Shrine Ridge trail is devoid of flowers, in comparison. Actually, I would suggest taking this route on the way up, but you need to know where to access it. I didn't see any trail signs.