Wildflower Walks

I recently came across an interesting article on National Geographic’s website about the influence of flowering plants on the planet. In it, author Michael Klesius details how flowers have come to “dominate” the plant world – and even us humans.
(Flowering plants) began changing the way the world looked almost as soon as they appeared on [...]

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As summer comes to a close and students return to school, we are reminded of the time-honored tradition of the “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” paper.
This year, the Missoulian is putting a modern twist on the assignment by bringing it to the popular social networking site Twitter.
We want you, western Montanans, to send a [...]

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Wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Description: Many pink to purplish 1-inch-long flowers consisting of a narrow upper lip and a lobed lower lip with two stamens and one style. Flowers grow from a 1- to 3-inch-wide head that stands atop a stem 1 to 3 feet tall with opposite, lance-shaped leaves. Grows in moist or semi-dry ground in [...]

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Yellow columbine
Aquilegia flavescens
Description: Flowers are made up of five cream to yellow petals that are open in the front and taper to yellow spurs and five yellow sepals. They stand atop stems 8 to 30 inches tall with basal leaves that are divided into three thin leaflets each. Found in moist meadows, along streams and [...]

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The Montana Natural History Center is holding a Midsummer Garden Party and Open House on Thursday at Fort Missoula’s Nature Adventure Teaching Garden.
Socialize, get some native plants and enjoy the garden at its summer peak. The celebration is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and is open to all ages. Refreshments will be provided.
For directions or [...]

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Pink mountain heather
Phyllodoce empetriformis
Description: Bright pink bell-shaped flowers growing in clusters from evergreen shrubs 8 to 20 inches tall. Found in most soil of higher mountains. Blooms late June to August. (”Peterson Field Guides: Rocky Mountain Wildflowers,” by John J. Craighead, Frank C. Craighead Jr. and Ray J. Davis.)
Recently seen: Stateline Trail to Illinois Peak, [...]

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It’s nearly time for my annual summer trip to Glacier National Park. While finding wildflowers there is never difficult, deciding on which trails to hike is more of a chore – albeit one with a great reward. My wife and I are always looking for something new, with lakes, streams, views and some altitude.
This year, [...]

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Nodding onion
Allium cernuum
Description: Cluster of 25 to 40 small white or pink flowers, with stamens longer than petals or sepals, that hangs from a bent stalk 6 to 18 inches tall with grasslike leaves growing from the base. Found in dry to moist valleys, open hills and ridges. Blooms mid-June to early August. (“Peterson Field [...]

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Why are flowers here? Are they for us to see and smell? For bees to make honey?
I recently listened to a discussion of this topic by Robert Krulwich, one of the hosts of WNYC’s “Radio Lab” program, and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. The program is about a year old, but is still an interesting listen.
Listen [...]

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The Glacier Institute has a couple of courses coming this month up related to wildflowers:
“Photography in Glacier Country” will be held July 21 to 23. Learn to photograph subjects big and small, from panoramic vistas to closeups of flowers. Cost is $400.
“Wildflower Wanderings at Logan Pass” will be July 24. Check out the wildflowers along [...]

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