Walden Ponds

Hazy air from fires in MT and elsewhere in the west made it hard to see birds in the distance. So as usual, I photographed the flowers. I found some species in wetlands areas that I’ve never seen before: jewelweed and false floxglove, pictured below. These weren’t in any of my go-to local flower guides.

Jewelweed, Impatiens capensis, Balsaminaceae (Balsam) Walden ponds 09052017

false foxglove, Agalinis sp., Orobanchaceae (broomrape), Walden ponds 09052017

Can’t wait to go back to look for birds again. Here is the snowy egret, a blue heron, an unknown-to-me flicker, and a downy woodpecker. Obviously, I am new to birding. I just got a Nikon Coolpix L340 20.2 MP Compact Digital Camera. Nothing super fancy, but it lets me get a photo of a bird with enough detail to attempt ID.

Here are other flowers found at Walden and Sawhill ponds. Click for slideshow and to see captions.

 

Scenery

painted lady butterfly

Brainard lake wildflowers

Elephant’s head, Pedicularis groenlandica, Scrophulariaceae (Figwort).  The individual spurred flowers in the spike look like elephant heads. Many of the flowers I saw on the Long lake trail were starting to dry up.

Indian paintbrush, Castilleja sp., Probably C. rhexiifolia (Rose Paintbrush), Orobanchaceae (Broomrape), Long lake trail

Globeflower, Trollius albiflorus, Ranunculaceae (Buttercup), Long lake trail. Next to a smaller buttercup.

Parry’s Primrose, Primula parryi, Primulaceae (Primrose), Long lake trail

Monument Plant, Frasera speciosa, Gentianaceae (Gentian), Red Rock lake

Yellow Stonecrop, Sedum lanceolatum, Crassulaceae (Stonecrop), Brainard Lake

Bistort, Bistorta bistortoides, Polygonaceae (buckwheat), Long lake trail. First picture with elephant heads, second picture with shooting stars.

Whipple’s Penstemon, Penstemon whippleanus, Scrophulariaceae (Figwort), Brainard Lake 07072017. Purple and white flowers.

Draba sp., maybe D. crassifolia (Snowbed Draba) Brassicaceae (mustard), Long lake trail. This is a TINY flower next to a full size pocket knife.

female flowers on a willow. Salix sp. Long lake trail

Golden banner, Thermopsis divaricarpa, Fabaceae (Pea), Red rock lake

Goldenrod, Solidago sp., probably S. simplex, Asteraceae (Sunflower) Brainard lake

Jacob’s ladder, Polemonium pulcherrimum, Polemoniaceae (Phlox), Long Lake.

purple aster, Brainard lake

Mountain Parsley, Pseudocymopterus montanus, Apiaceae (Parsley) Brainard lake

Hookedspur Violet, Viola adunca, Violaceae (Violet), Brainard lake

Pussytoes, Antennaria sp., First two photos look like A. rosea or A. marginata, Asteraceae (Sunflower) Brainard lake 07072017

Mountain gooseberry, Ribes montigenum, Grossulariaceae (Gooseberry)

Marsh marigold, Psychrophila leptosepala, Ranunculaceae (Buttercup), Brainard Lake 07072017

Monkshood, Aconitum columbianum, Helleboraceae (Hellebore)

Pygmy Bitterroot, Lewisia pygmaea, Portulacaceae (Purslane)

unknown Ericaceae (Heath) Brainard lake 07072017

butterfly – Fritillary family, Speyeria sp., Brainard lake 07072017

 

Columbines on the Colorado Trail

This is the second year in a row our family stopped in Park county along Hwy 285 where the Colorado trail crosses at the Kenosha campground. This is the only place I’ve seen so may columbines. A short walk revealed many of the vibrant wildflowers and all the butterflies pictured below. I also included photos of flowers found on the trail to Agnes Vaille falls in Chaffe county.

Colorado Columbine, Aquilegia coerulea, Helleboraceae (Hellebore), Colorado trail, 06302017

Beardlip Penstemon, Penstemon barbatus, Scrophulariaceae (Figwort), Agnes Vaille falls trail

Whipple’s Penstemon, Penstemon whippleanus ,Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) colorado trail, 06292017

One-sided Penstemon, Penstemon unilateralis, Scrophulariaceae (Figwort), Chaffe county area 06292017

Yellow Monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus, Phrymaceae (Lopseed), Agnes Vaille Falls, 06292017

Fendler Sandwort, Eremogone fendleri, Caryophyllaceae (Pink), Agnes Vaille falls, 06292017

Waxflower, Jamesia americana, Hydrangeaceae (Hydrangea) Agnes Vaille falls 06292017

Indian paintbrush, Castilleja sp., Orobanchaceae (Broomrape Family) Colorado trail 06302017

glandular phacelia (like Purple Fringe), Phacelia glandulosa, Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf), Agnes Vaille falls 06292017

Both in the rose family: Wild rose, Rosa woodsii, Rosaceae (Rose), Agnes Vaille falls 06292017, Shrubby Cinquefoil, Pentaphylloides floribunda, Rosaceae (Rose), Colorado trail, 06302017

Both in the rose family: Beautiful Cinquefoil, Potentilla pulcherrima, Rosaceae (Rose), Colorado trail 06302017, Boulder Raspberry, Oreobatus deliciosus, Rosaceae (Rose), Agnes Vaille falls 06302017

White Locoweed, Oxytropis sericea, Fabaceae (Pea), Colorado trail 06292017, unidentified Fabaceae family (pea)

yarrow, Achillea lanulosa, Asteraceae (sunflower), Colorado trail 06302017, Fendler’s ragwort, Packera fendleri, Asteraceae (Sunflower), Agnes Vaille falls 06292017

Richardson Geranium, Geranium richardsonii, Geraniaceae (Geranium) family, Colorado trail 06302017

Lousewort, Pedicularis sp., Orobanchaceae (Broomrape), Colorado trail 06302017

Purple aster, Erigeron sp., Asteraceae (Sunflower), Agnes Vaille falls 06292017

Possibly norway cinquefoil a weed

Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum, Alliaceae (Onion), Colorado trail, 06302017

Mouse ear chickweed, Cerastium strictum, Alsinaceae (Chickweed), Agnes Vaille falls trail 06292017

Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia, Campanulaceae (Bellflower), Colorado trail 06292017, Cutleaf Evening Primrose, Oenothera coronopifolia, Onagraceae (Evening Primrose), Agnes Vaille falls, 06292017

Cinquefoil, Potentilla sp., probably wolly cinquefoil, Potentilla hippiana, Rosaceae (Rose), Agnes Vaille falls 06292017

Buckbrush, Ceanothus fendleri, Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn), 06292017

Heartleaf bittercress, Cardamine cordifolia, Brassicaceae (Mustard) family, Agnes Vaille falls 06292017

caterpillar with branched spines, possibly a buck moth caterpillar. http://bugguide.net/node/view/1395298#2414975

black and white caterpillar- Meris alticola moth larvae. It eats penstemon spp. It mimics another caterpillar. Neoterpes graefiaria.

butterfly -variable checkerspot maybe, colorado trail 06302017

western tiger swallowtail maybe on white locoweed, colorado trail 06302017

another butterfly on cinquefoil flower

 

 

 

Arapaho Pass trail, Indian Peaks wilderness area

This place takes my breath away. We couldn’t get to Arapaho pass or Diamond lake with out going through bogs and snowfields, but still found all these wildflowers. Seems like it is still early in wildflowers season at 10,000 to 11,000 feet.

Shooting star, Dodecatheon pulchellum, Primulaceae (Primrose) family

Alpine Forget-Me-Not, Eritrichium aretioides, Boraginaceae (Borage)

Globeflower, Trollius albiflorus, Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)

Marsh marigold, Psychrophila leptosepala, Ranunculaceae (Buttercup). USDA puts this in buttercup family, but other references call this a hellebore. This looks similar to the globeflower and both are growing abundantly along the streams.

Glacier Lily, Erythronium grandiflorum, Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Purple Fringe, Phacelia sericea, Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf)

Parry’s Primrose, Primula parryi, Primulaceae (Primrose). Just budding.

Indian paintbrush, Castilleja sp., Orobanchaceae (Broomrape Family)

Valeriana acutiloba, Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle)

Jacob’s ladder, Polemonium pulcherrimum, Polemoniaceae (Phlox)

Sky Pilot, Polemonium viscosum, Polemoniaceae (Phlox)

Pygmy Bitterroot, Lewisia pygmaea, Portulacaceae (Purslane)

Probably about to bloom Rose crown, Rhodiola rhodantha, Crassulaceae (Stonecrop)

Snowball Saxifrage, Micranthes rhomboidea, Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage)

Blueberry, Vaccinium myrtillus,  Ericaceae (Heath). I’ll have to verify this one. I know this is a Heath, but am not positive it is a blueberry because I haven’t seen fruit. Huckleberry has similar flowers and could also be at this location. But, I am eliminating huckleberry based on the toothed leaves.

butterfly

Nuttall’s Violet, Viola nuttalli, Violaceae (Violet)

Wallflower

scenery

Rocky Mountain National Park wildflowers, shrubs, and bugs

A close up of Purple Fringe,  Phacelia sericea.  My friend Alice found this at the Alluvial fan.  It is also called purple pincushion — imagine the long stamens with yellow anthers are the pins. For this blog, I go with USDA plant database to chose between synonyms or to ID families, so I’ll call this a Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf). But one of my favorite websites, swcoloradowildflowers.com , puts this in the Borage family.

Purple Fringe,  Phacelia sericea . At the Alluvial fan.

Darn tick! Found this when I got home. The only tick in Rocky Mountain National Park is the Rocky Mountain wood tick. I believe this is a male. According to the fact sheet linked below, these can cause Colorado Tick Fever.

RMNP tick fact sheet

Pine Tiger Moth, Lophocampa ingens, photo credit to my friend Andrew.  ID through Bugguide.net. The caterpillars make “nests” that bind together the needles on the top of a  pine tree (or some other trees) and they feed on the needles. They pupate in early summer and moths emerge in July.  Here is information from CSU: Insects that feed on trees

Northern Fairy Candelabra, Androsace septentrionalis, Primulaceae (Primrose Family). I love the name of this tiny white flower. First photo is from Aluvial fan, second and third from Aspen Glen loop trail.

All the other cool stuff! Click on photos for slideshow with ID.

 

 

 

 

Anemone Trail

Lots of folks going to Mount Sanitas, but this trail had far fewer hikers. After the formal Anemone trail ends at the sign, there is a beautiful “social trail” that goes along the ridge above the Sunshine canyon trail and ends at a fence after about a mile.

This trail goes through some of the area burned during the fire on March 19 and we could smell the “campfire” smell and see the blackened trees and yucca that survived the fire.

 

Wildflowers! Click on photos for names and families.

 

Insects!