The blue lupine on the southwest side of the North Hills ridge likely won’t get much better than it is now.

— Justin Grigg (@jjgrigg) May 14, 2012

In Pattee Canyon, there’s a lot of yellow arnica, arrowleaf balsamroot is starting, and if you look closely you’ll find violets and camas.

— Justin Grigg (@jjgrigg) May 14, 2012

Bear Creek, in the Bitterroot, has a few glacier lilies and trilliums, and plenty of fairy slippers, fairy bells and yellow violets.

— Justin Grigg (@jjgrigg) May 14, 2012

Death camas – looks like little beargrass – is out on Sentinel fire road above UM Golf Course, as is bright red paintbrush in Crazy Canyon.

— Justin Grigg (@jjgrigg) May 18, 2012

Also starting to see a lot of lady’s slipper leaves in Crazy Canyon – love these bulbous white orchids when they bloom!

— Justin Grigg (@jjgrigg) May 18, 2012

Features: This is a three-mile round-trip hike with a small amount of elevation gain to a waterfall in the Bitterroot Mountains near Victor.

Flowers: When we were there Sunday, fairy slipper orchids (Calypso bulbosa) were blooming well. These small pinkish-brown flowers are 2 to 6 inches tall with three pointed pink sepals and two similar petals protruding from the top. A third petal forms a larger lip with purple stripes inside and white or yellow hairs on the upper edge. We also saw fairy bells, triliums and glacier lilies.

Description: To reach the Bear Creek trailhead, drive 3.3 miles south of Victor on U.S. Highway 93, then 2.3 miles west on Bear Creek Road, 0.8 miles north on Red Crow Road and 3.2 miles west on Red Crow and Bear Creek roads. The trail sets out west through the trees along the south side of the creek, then quickly crosses a couple of boulder fields. Look for fairy slipper orchids as it returns to the shade of the forest, with the sound of the creek not far away. After 1 1/2 miles, the trail exits the trees at a large open cliff, with the creek running fast past its base. From the cliff, one or two small waterfalls can be seen, depending on the runoff. This is a good place to relax and explore, and the trail continues higher into the drainage and splits. Retrace the route back to the trailhead.

Some of these I have run before, while others I plan to do this year.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all races in western Montana this summer – it is based on date and location with relation to the likelihood of seeing wildflowers, and has events suitable for all abilities.

You don’t have to slow down, but do look around!

• The Evaro Mountain Challenge is this Saturday, May 19. Longtime rancher and runner Bob Hayes organizes this event in Evaro, with 5K and 10K runs, 5K and 10K race walks, and a 5K fun run. Registration is by mail or from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. on the day of the race. The 10K race walk begins at 9:30 a.m., while all other distances start at 10.
• The 11 Miles to Paradise race is this Sunday, May 20. The course for this race is on single-track trail through the Lolo National Forest and along the Clark Fork River near Paradise. Registration is online through May 18, then from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. the day of the race. Race start is 9 a.m. Runners are shuttled to and from the course from Quinn’s Hot Springs, where lunch and a soak are available afterward. See you there!
• The Ninemile Family Fun Run on Saturday, June 2, is actually two events – a 1K and a 2K – on the Discovery Nature Trail at the Grand Menard Picnic Area near the Ninemile Ranger Station. Registration is the day of the runs and both are free! Start time is 9 a.m.
• The Pengelly Double Dip and Single Dip are Saturday, June 9, in Missoula. The Double Dip, a half marathon with 2,700 feet of vertical gain on Mount Sentinel and University Mountain, starts at 9 a.m. The Single Dip, a 10K across the Sentinel fire road, begins at 9:30 a.m. Registration is available online and packet pickup begins at 7 a.m. at the River Bowl East. I ran this race two years ago – and might again this year – and the arrowleaf balsamroot in bloom near the top of the mountain was gorgeous.
• The Herron Half Marathon and 10K are also June 9, at Herron Park in Kalispell. Register online through June 6 or mail a paper registration by June 1; last-minute registration will also be available on race day. Packet pickup begins at 7:30 a.m. with the races getting under way at 10 a.m. The course covers nearly all of the trails in the park.
• The Ten Spoon 10K is Wednesday, June 20, on roads and trails in Missoula’s Rattlesnake Valley. The evening 10K race and kids fun run coincide with the summer solstice. Register online. The fun run begins at 6 p.m. and 10K at 6:30 p.m. at Ten Spoon Vineyard and Winery. It includes a glass of wine, snacks, ice cream for the kids and music afterward. Sounds like an enjoyable time, and if I can get away from work I plan to be there.
• The Celebrate the Swan Race is scheduled for Saturday, June 23, in Condon. There’s a half marathon, 10K, 5K and one-mile fun run on roads in the Flathead National Forest. Registration is available by mail through June 15 or on race day by 8 a.m. The half marathon begins at 9 a.m., with other races at 10 a.m. Judging by the race artwork, you might need to outrun a bear.
• Also June 23, the Waterton Glacier Relay is a 100-mile team race on roads from Cardston, Alberta, to East Glacier. Late registration is online through June 3. Team check-in is 6 to 10 p.m. June 22 or 3:30 to 5:15 a.m. on race day, with runners getting an early start at 4 a.m. The course never actually enters Waterton Lakes or Glacier national parks, but should be scenic nonetheless. Valid passport required.
• Technically in Idaho, the Mountain to Meadow Half Marathon and 5K Fun Run are Saturday, June 30, at Lolo Pass. The courses are on forest roads through the Bitterroot Mountains, and the race is usually around the time of the vibrant blue camas bloom in Packer Meadows. I ran it a few years back when beargrass was also blooming well, and plan to be there this year, too. Registration is online through June 27. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. Pacific – that’s 8:30 a.m. Mountain.

I’m late with my roundup of wildflower-related events this month, but there’s still plenty going on:

On Saturday, May 12, Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell will hold events in honor of National Wildflower Week, May 7-13. A hike for the whole family will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by a wildflower craft, and an adult hike will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Call (406) 755-2706.

The Montana Native Plant Society has several events this month:

The Clark Fork Chapter will hold a Dyer’s Woad Pull at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, on Mount Sentinel. The two-hour pull will help control the noxious weeds and restore native grasses. Meet at the Mount Sentinel trailhead at bring rain gear, just in case. Call 544-7189. A second weed pull is planned for Tuesday, May 29, at the same time and location.

Also, a wildflower walk is planned for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, in the Rattlesnake Recreation Area’s Spring Gulch. Annie Garde and Madeline Mazurski will lead the easy hike, which leaves from the main Rattlesnake trailhead. Call 258-5439.

The annual Montana Native Plant Society Plant Sale will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 26, at the Missoula Farmers Market, at the north end of Higgins Avenue. More than 50 species of native plants will be available.

On Tuesdays in May, The Native Plant Society’s Flathead Chapter will hold wildflower walks along Bigfork’s “Wild Mile” corridor. Anne Morley and Neal Brown will lead the two-mile outings along the Old Swan River Road from 10 a.m. to noon. Meet in front of Showthyme. Contact Morley, (406) 886-2242, or Brown, (406) 837-5018.

The Flathead Chapter will give a presentation titled “Beautify Your Yard With Native Plants: Tips, Tricks and Inexpensive Ways to Add Native Plants to Your Landscape” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 16. Laura Law will discuss how she transformed her Columbia Falls yard from lawn to a series of small gardens incorporating native plants. There will be a slideshow and tour of Law’s garden.

On Thursday, May 31, Morley will also lead a two-mile guided naturalist hike on the Sprunger-Whitney Nature Trail starting at 10 a.m. Meet at the trailhead. Drive about seven miles south of the Swan Lake Trading Post in Swan Lake on Montana Highway 83, turning west at the Point Pleasant and Sprunger-Whitney signs one-half mile south of mile marker 64. Follow the signs to the trailhead. Call (406) 886-2242.

The Montana Chapter of the Sierra Club will lead a couple of hikes in May:

A women-only outing is planned for Saturday, May 19, on the trails that loop around Lake Como, south of Hamilton. The hike is 7 1/2 miles with minimal elevation gain and a stop for lunch at the falls. Email Janet Fiero at janetfiero77@gmail.com to sign up.

A loop hike on the Stuart Peak Trail and Wallman Trail in the Rattlesnake Recreation Area will take place Wednesday, May 23. It’s eight miles with 500 feet of elevation gain. Email Mary Owens at mowens320@gmail.com to sign up.

The Montana Natural History Center is offering a “Native Wildflower ID Crash Course” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 24, at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Gardens. There is a $5 suggested donation; MNHC members are free.

And the Swan Ecosystem Center will lead a walk to Holland Falls, above Holland Lake, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 27. It’s part of the Loon and Fish Festival in the Seeley Lake area.

In addition to entrance fees being waived at parks, I’ve noticed several smartphone apps covering national parks are available for free for a limited time. I haven’t used these yet, but plan to check them out:

• Fotopedia National Parks (iOS): This app has 3,000 photographs by QT Luong from all 58 U.S. parks, plus descriptions and travel planning information.
• Chimani national park apps (iOS and Android): Chimani National Parks and apps for individual parks such as Yellowstone are available. The Yellowstone app, for example, has points of interest, trail information, an audio auto tour and more features.
• National Parks by National Geographic (iOS): This brand-new app and the first park guide download are free, but additional guides require in-app purchase. It provides  must-see features, maps and GPS coordinates, and photos that include vintage images from the National Geographic Archives.

To find the agency’s picks for prime wildflower viewing, click a region on the map, or access specific states or national forests through the drop-down menus.

Suggested areas in western Montana include the Clearwater Canoe Trail and Morrell Falls Trail on the Lolo National Forest, Porcupine Saddle and the Willoughby Environmental Education Area on the Bitterroot forest, Lake Mountain on the Flathead forest and Flagstaff Mountain Trail No. 43 on the Kootenai forest.

Each area includes location and description information, photos and wildflower details.

The Celebrating Wildflowers site also includes resources for kids and teachers; native, rare and invasive plant information; and a collection of links to non-agency resources.

Check out the site, then get outside!

If your summer plans include a backpacking trip into Glacier National Park‘s wildflower-filled backcountry, you might want to pay attention to the calendar: The deadline to enter the park’s advanced reservation request lottery for backcountry campsites is Sunday, April 15.

Advanced reservation requests received by April 15 will be assigned a random number then processed in order starting on Monday, April 16. Details, the park’s backcountry camping guide and backcountry applications are available here.

After April 15, advanced reservation requests are processed in the order they are received. Backcountry permits can also be obtained in person at issuing stations in the park.

If you’ve never pitched a tent in Glacier’s backcountry, it’s well worth the purchase of a permit.

Last year, my wife Jen and I hiked over Triple Divide Pass from Cut Bank to St. Mary in three days and two nights, camping at Atlantic Creek and Red Eagle Lake. Along the way, we saw wildflowers, wildlife, creek bottoms and alpine terrain. Find out more about our adventure here, or just see the pictures here, here and here.

Buttercups are beginning to bloom at the Blue Mountain National Recreation Area, which for me is a sign that spring is near!

The start of the season is marked as Tuesday, March 20, on my desk calendar, but a closer look at the U.S. Naval Observatory website indicates a different date for Montana and points west.

Officially, spring arrives at 5:14 a.m. UT or 1:14 a.m. EDT on March 20 – that, of course, is 11:14 p.m. MDT Monday, March 19.

Whichever date you choose to use, enjoy the change of season!

Clark Fork Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society will hear about “Seeds, Seedlings and Gardens – Growing Montana Native Plants in the Blackfoot” from Kathy Settevendemie at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in Room L09 of the University of Montana’s Gallagher Business Building.

On Tuesday March 27, at 7:30 p.m., the chapter holds a Herbarium Night in Room 303 of UM’s Botany Building. Help organize the herbarium.

Over in Helena, the Kelsey Chapter of MNPS will hear from David Schmetterling, who will discuss “Conservation Gardening with Montana Native Plants for Montana Native Wildlife” 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at the Lewis and Clark Library. Schmetterling’s  home garden in Missoula has more than 100 species of native plants and has attracted more than 60 bird species and numerous insects. His blog is at montanawildlifegardener.blogspot.com.

A late addition: The Montana Natural History Center will hold a workshop titled “Starting Your Plants From Seeds” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Fort Missoula Native Plant Garden. Marilyn Marler will offer advice on starting native plant seeds early in the season, as well as hands-on practice. The workshop is free for MNHC members, with a $5 suggested donation for the public.

The Flathead Chapter of MNPS will give a “Name that Plant” slideshow on Wednesday, March 21, at 7 p.m. at the Teakettle Community Hall in Columbia Falls to help you sharpen your plant identification skills.

MNHC will provide advice on identifying native plants in fall and winter, and discuss plant senescence. Floral designers from Bitterroot Flower Shop will give instruction in making fall wreaths from native plants. Participants can then create their own wreaths for holiday decorations or to give as gifts.

The workshop is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, in the Fort Missoula Native Plant Gardens classroom. There is a $5 fee for supplies, and registration is requested.

Information is available here.