Royal Arch Trail

Chautauqua meadow is quite colorful along Bluebell road.  The picture below show the native Prairie Coneflower, Ratibida columnifera, and Perennial Sweetpea, Lathyrus latifolius, an escapted ornamental.  The sweetpea has pink and white varieties.

Perennial Sweetpea, Lathyrus latifolius, Fabaceae (Pea), escapted ornamental, Chautauqua meadow, 06222017

The most predominant wildflower along Bluebell road seemed to be the Silvery Lupine, Lupinus argenteus.

Silvery Lupine, Lupinus argenteus, Fabaceae (Pea), 06222017

Under the pine trees on the way up to Royal arch there are several shrubs blooming with white flowers. Waxflower, Jamesia americana, Hydrangeaceae (Hydrangea); Ninebark, Physocarpus sp. probably rocky mountain ninebark, Physocarpus monogynus, Rosaceae (Rose); and Buckbrush, Ceanothus fendleri, Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn).

Some native purple flowers that should be easy to find along the trail right now: Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia, Campanulaceae (Bellflower); Parry Geranium, Geranium caespitosum, Geraniaceae (Geranium); blue mist penstemon, Penstemon virens, Scrophulariaceae (Figwort).

Siberian Peashrub, Caragana arborescens, Fabaceae (Pea), is an introduced species, that stands as tall as a person.

Siberian Peashrub, Caragana arborescens, Fabaceae (Pea), introduced species, Royal Arch 06222017

Cow parsnip, Heracleum maximum, near the creek bed. This is a very large plant in the Apiaceae (Parsley) family.

Houndstongue, Cynoglossum officinale, Boraginaceae (Borage), is a noxious weed that can be found in several areas along the trail. Look for the little purple and pink flowers on the same plant.

Houndstongue, Cynoglossum officinale, Boraginaceae (Borage), Noxious Weed (6)

Northern Bedstraw, Galium septentrionale, and Stickywilly, Galium spurium are both in the Rubiaceae (Madder) family. Look close to see these tiny white flowers. You can see in the photo that the flowers aren’t as wide as a blade of grass.

Royal Arch

scenery (1)

 

scenery (2)

 

Rocky Mountain National Park wildflowers, shrubs, and bugs

Purple Fringe, Phacelia sericea, Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf) or borage family per sw colo wildflowers (3)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, Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf) or borage family per sw colo wildflowers (1)

Purple Fringe,  Phacelia sericea . At the Alluvial fan.

wood tick

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

caterpillar

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.