Gem Lake Trail in Lumpy Ridge

The recent warm weather combined with moisture from a boatload of snow in the past month has stimulated the growth and blooming of wildflowers in the park.  Seven different wildflowers were spotted in bloom today along the Gem Lake Trail.  All were located on the lower half of the trail.

Cutleaf Daisy (Erigeron compositus) was found on a sunny slope

Cutleaf Daisy (Erigeron compositus)

A very showy clump of Pasqueflowers (Pulsatilla patens)

Tubular pink flowers of the Wax Currant (Ribes cereum) shrub

Wax Currant (Ribes cereum)

Golden Banner (Thermopsis divaricarpa) is a very common plant in the Pea Family (Fabaceae)

The evergreen Kinnikinnik or Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) plant has pink-edged vase-shaped flowers

The Rock Primrose (Androsace occidentalis, probable species) is a very tiny plant often overlooked because of its small size.

The 5-petaled white flowers of Rock Primrose (Androsace occidentalis) are about 1/4 inch wide and are in a loose umbel arrangement 

Lance-shaped leaves of the Rock Primrose (Androsace occidentalis) occur in a tiny rosette

Rock Cress (Arabis sp) flowers are pale pink or white and hang down from a single thin stem.  Positive identification of the species requires a mature seed pod.

Newly emerged fern (possibly Woodsia sp?) on a dry slope

On Prospect Mountain

On a walk up the south side of Prospect Mountain in Estes Park today seven different wildflowers were discovered in bloom.  In addition to those shown below, there was also the ubiquitous yellow Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), the pink Filaree (Erodium cicutarium), and a white Rock Cress (Arabis sp).  The Rock Cress could not be identified to species because that requires examination of the seed pods, which were not yet developed.  These flowers were also seen along the trail:

Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens) blooms emerge from the ground early on a bare stem.
Later they develop whorls of hairy leaves as shown above.

A clump of Pasqueflowers (Pulsatilla patens) pushing out from under the rocks

Mountain Ball Cactus or simply Ball Cactus (Pediocactus simpsonii) is the only species in this genus.  Its beautiful pink flower can be seen in dry regions of the foothills.

Sand Lily (Leucocrinum montanum) is also the only species in its genus and is common in dry grasslands of the foothills

Lance-leaf Chiming Bells (Mertensia lanceolata) are just beginning to open.

The long tubular flowers of Golden Corydalis (Corydalis aurea) are not quite open yet.

At Lake Estes Today

After more than five feet of spring snow since the last post, there has been a setback of the wildflower blooms.  However, two flowers were seen on the path around Lake Estes today:

Redstem Stork's Bill or Filaree (Erodium cicutarium) is an early bloomer in the Geranium Family.

Golden Corydalis (Corydalis aurea) is also called Golden Smoke or Scrambled Eggs

Cub Lake Trail Today

The Fern Lake Fire last fall also left it mark on the Cub Lake Trail.  Blackened areas were visible along the entire trail to the lake.  Despite the charred soil and tree ash, there were signs of life and a few artful effects.

Grasses with singed tips of new growth emerging from the charred soil.

Blackened willow bark contrasts dramatically with the wood underneath.

Though somewhat later than last year, meadows moistened by snowmelt were in bloom with bright yellow Sage Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus), some Spring Beauties (Claytonia lanceolata), and only a couple Pasqueflowers (Pulsatilla patens).

The early blooming tiny Sage Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus)

The Sage Buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus) has five shiny yellow petals and succulent leaves

Newly opened Spring Beauties (Claytonia lanceolata)

These Pasqueflowers (Pulsatilla patens) just emerged from their buds

A solitary Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens) made its way to the surface through a pile of rocks

The flower cluster of the evergreen Holly Grape or Oregon Grape (named for the grape-like fruits) is still far from blooming, but showing its potential

Cub Lake and the snow-covered Continental Divide -- the reward at the end of the trail.  The mountains on the left (completely burned) show where the fire traveled across the ridge from Fern Lake

First Wildflowers of 2013 Along MacGregor Falls Trail in the Lumpy Ridge Area

The first flowers that I spotted in the park this season appeared in the meadows along the MacGregor Falls Trail.  There were many newly emerged Easter Daisies (Townsendia hookeri), a few Pasqueflowers (Pulsatilla patens), a couple Spring Beauties (Claytonia lanceolata), and one Stork's Bill (a geranium also commonly called Filaree, Erodium cicutarium).

Hooker's Easter Daisy (Townsendia hookeri) blooms early in the spring; another similar species, the Showy Easter Daisy (Townsendia grandiflora), appears during the summer.

Hooker's Easter Daisy (Townsendia hookeri); the genus is named for the botanist, David Townsend

 Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens) buds open before any foliage appears.

Spring Beauty (Claytonia lanceolata) can have pink to white flowers.

 Erodium cicutarium has a range of common names, including Redstemmed Stork's Bill, Filaree, Redstemmed Filaree, Heron's Bill, and Pinweed.  Most of the names relate to the elongated seed pod that is shaped like the bill of a stork or heron.  Sorry for the poor quality photograph which I will try to replace later.

Medicine Bow Peak, Snowy Range WY

Snowy Range and Medicine Bow Peak (tallest)

On a recent trip north to Wyoming's Snowy Range, and hike up Medicine Bow Peak, we found that there were still a large number of wildflowers in bloom.  These are just some of the flowers we came across:

All-white Colorado Columbine (Aquilegia coerulea)

Colorado Columbine (Aquilegia coerulea)

Subalpine Larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi)

Subalpine Larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi)

Fireweed (Chamerion danielsii, previously called Epilobium angustifolium)

Fireweed (Chamerion danielsii)

Rocky Mountain Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis thermalis)

Rocky Mountain Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis thermalis)

Rocky Mountain Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis thermalis)

Rose Gentian (Gentianella acuta)

Parry Gentian (Pneumonanthe parryi, previously called Gentiana parryi)

Parry Gentian (Pneumonanthe parryi)

Star Gentian (Swertia perennis)

Mountain Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)

Fringed Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia fimbriata)

Fringed Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia fimbriata)

Fringed Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia fimbriata)

Alpine Phlox (Phlox sibirica)

Rose Crown or Queen's Crown (Clementsia rhodantha)

Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)

Short-Styled Onion (Allium brevistylum)

Subalpine Daisy (Erigeron glacialis)

Subalpine Daisy (Erigeron glacialis)

Reddish tipped bracts of Subalpine Daisy (Erigeron glacialis)

White-Flowered Sulphur Flower (Eriogonum umbellatum)

Northern Paintbrush or Sulphur Paintbrush (Castilleja sulphurea)

Rosy Paintbrush (Castilleja rhexiifolia)

Hybrid of Rosy Paintbrush (C. rhexiifolia) and Northern Paintbrush (C. sulphurea)

Western Dock (Rumex occidentalis)

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Ballhead Sandwort (Eremogone congesta)

Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale)

Mountain Bladderpod (Physaria montana)