Author Archives: Justin Grigg

Give back, get out on Public Lands Day

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Justin Grigg

Saturday, Sept. 24, is National Public Lands Day, and several opportunities to lend a hand or get outside are available in Montana. In Missoula, volunteers are needed for four service projects. Missoula Parks and Recreation is leading a cleanup and … Continue reading →

Posted in Fall, Glacier National Park, Hiking, Missoula, Montana, Mount Sentinel, Rattlesnake | 1 Comment

Wildflower Walk for Aug. 4

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Justin Grigg

Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium Description: Pink flowers about 1 inch wide with four petals clustered near the top of a stem 1 to 7 feet tall with lance-shaped leaves 2 to 6 inches long. Grows in rich soil in moist or … Continue reading →

Posted in Glacier National Park, Hiking, Montana, Summer, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

A few wildflower events for August

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Justin Grigg

Just as wildflowers begin to dwindle in August, so, too, do wildflower events. Here are a few coming up this month: The Montana Natural History Center is offering its “miniNaturalists at the Gardens” preschool program from 10 to 11 a.m. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitterroot Mountains, Hiking, Missoula, Montana, Summer, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Wildflower walk for July 28

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Justin Grigg

Alaska rein orchid Piperia unalascensis Description: Pale green flowers with three sepals about one-eighth of an inch long, two spreading to sides and downward and one joined to upper two petals to form a hood. Third petal is fleshy, lance-shaped … Continue reading →

Posted in Glacier National Park, Hiking, Montana, Summer, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Wildflower Walk for July 21

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Justin Grigg

Alpine Forget-me-not Eritrichium nanum Description: Flowers have five pale to deep blue petals that become white to yellow at the center. Grows from a dense cushion of pale green leaves 4 inches or less tall. Found on open rocky alpine … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitterroot Mountains, Hiking, Montana, Summer, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Crazy Canyon in color

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Justin Grigg

I’ve spent the past few mornings enjoying the summer bloom up in Crazy Canyon, at the Pattee Canyon National Recreation Area on Missoula’s east side. One of my favorite wildflowers is in abundance right now – pinedrops, above. I like … Continue reading →

Posted in Missoula, Montana, Mount Sentinel, Pattee Canyon, Summer, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Explore July’s explosion of colorful flowers

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Justin Grigg

I’m a little late this month, but here are a handful of ways to celebrate the explosion of colorful wildflowers on western Montana’s hillsides in July: On Friday, July 15, through Sunday, July 17, the Montana chapter of the Sierra … Continue reading →

Posted in Bitterroot Mountains, Glacier National Park, Hiking, Montana, Summer, Wildflowers | 1 Comment

Why the big bloom this year?

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Justin Grigg

Missoulian reporter Gwen Florio has a nice write-up about the seemingly abundant wildflowers this spring and summer. Here’s what the experts she checked in with had to say: Morgan Valliant, the city of Missoula’s conservation lands manager, says it’s more … Continue reading →

Posted in Missoula, Montana, Spring, Summer, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Wildflower Walk for July 14

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Justin Grigg

Owl clover Orthocarpus tenuifolius Description: 4- to 16-inch tall spike of yellow flowers interspersed by purple-tipped bracts. Linear or linear-lobed leaves that overlap and become bracts in the flower spike. Usually found in open areas of plains and hills with … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Missoula, Montana, North Hills, Summer, Wildflowers | Leave a comment

Short wildflower season for me

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Justin Grigg

This has been a great year for wildflowers in western Montana, but Wildflower Walks has been on hiatus, as you’ve probably noticed. I’ve been recovering from personal injuries – a bad case of Achilles tendinitis in one leg and then … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Missoula, Montana, Spring, Summer, Wildflowers | Leave a comment