Fireweed

Wild Flowers:  Fireweed

During the summer of 2008, I had the opportunity to do high elevation trail maintenance in Colorado.  I was enthralled by the wildflowers.  I thought I would highlight some of my favorites, one at a time, so that you could learn a bit about each one.  The information comes from both my experiences and the book “Guide to Colorado Wildflowers” by G.K. Guennel.  I really found this book helpful in unmasking the identities of these beautiful flowers.  I took the pictures; they don’t do the flowers justice.  If you think my picture is good, go out and see them in person, it’s a hundred times better.  Happy Trails!

Fireweed, also known as Willowweed, Willowherb, or Blooming Sally, is a member of the Evening Primrose Family.

Flowers are to 1” or more, with 4 roundish, pink to red (or even purplish) petals and 4 linear sepals.  Seed pods are slender, to 3” long and 4-angled. 

To catch a glimpse of Fireweed, check along roads, in burned areas and forest openings, on cleared land, and at the edges of woods.  They can be found from the foothills to the subalpine, so from 6,000 to 11,500 feet in elevation.  Plan to hike, conditions permitting, sometime from June to September.

Harebell

Wild Flowers:  Harebell

During the summer of 2008, I had the opportunity to do high elevation trail maintenance in Colorado.  I was enthralled by the wildflowers.  I thought I would highlight some of my favorites, one at a time, so that you could learn a bit about each one.  The information comes from both my experiences and the book “Guide to Colorado Wildflowers” by G.K. Guennel.  I really found this book helpful in unmasking the identities of these beautiful flowers.  I took the pictures; they don’t do the flowers justice.  If you think my picture is good, go out and see them in person, it’s a hundred times better.  Happy Trails!

The Harebell, also known as Common Harebell, Scotch Harebell, Bluebell, Bell Flower or Witches Thimble is a member of the Bellflower Family.

The flowers are bell-shaped, nodding, to 1” long, with 5 lavender to purple, fused petals that flare at the tips and 5 short, spreading sepals.

Finding a Harebell can be done at a much lower elevation than most of the other flowers I’ve discussed.  Harebell’s can be found anywhere from foothills to alpine regions, anywhere from 6,000 to 14,000 feet in elevation.  Be sure to check on grassy slopes, in meadows and forest clearings, at the edges of woods and even on grassy tundra. 

Plan to hike anytime from June to October, weather permitting.  Happy Trails!

Photo courtesy of Rob and Donna Mabry

Wild Flowers:  Elephant Heads

During the summer of 2008, I had the opportunity to do high elevation trail maintenance in Colorado.  I was enthralled by the wildflowers.  I thought I would highlight some of my favorites, one at a time, so that you could learn a bit about each one.  The information comes from both my experiences and the book “Guide to Colorado Wildflowers” by G.K. Guennel.  I really found this book helpful in unmasking the identities of these beautiful flowers.  I took the pictures; they don’t do the flowers justice.  If you think my picture is good, go out and see them in person, it’s a hundred times better.  Happy Trails!

Elephant Heads, also known as Little Red Elephant or Elephant Flower, is a member of the Figwort Family. 

The Elephant Heads’ flowers are pink, reddish, or purplish, in dense, long spikes.  Flowers are 2-lipped; the upper lip is long and curing (the “elephant trunk”), and the lower lip had 3 lobes. 

When hiking in Colorado, look for Elephant Heads any where in the Montane to Alpine regions, from 8,000 feet to 14, 400 feet.  Be sure to look in areas of shallow water, wet meadows, bogs, swamps and near streams, ponds and springs. 

The best time to catch these flowers is between June and August.  So check the weather, find a friend, plan a hike and get there and see this unique flower!

Wild Flowers:  Rose Crown

During the summer of 2008, I had the opportunity to do high elevation trail maintenance in Colorado.  I was enthralled by the wildflowers.  I thought I would highlight some of my favorites, one at a time, so that you could learn a bit about each one.  The information comes from both my experiences and the book “Guide to Colorado Wildflowers” by G.K. Guennel.  I really found this book helpful in unmasking the identities of these beautiful flowers.  I took the pictures; they don’t do the flowers justice.  If you think my picture is good, go out and see them in person, it’s a hundred times better.  Happy Trails!

Rose Crown, also known as Queen’s Crown or Red Orpine is a member of the Stonecrop family. 

The flowers of Rose Crown are in elongate, terminal cluster, with pink and white, pointed petals. 

When hiking in the Subalpine and Alpine regions, elevations from 10,000 to 14,400 feet, one has a good chance to encounter Rose Crown.  They like to grow in bogs, seeps, along streams and along pond shores so keep your eyes open in those areas. 

Weather and conditions permitting, plan on heading to the high country from June through August to catch a glimpse of Rose Crown.