Going, going...Goth! Spring in late August...Colorado never ceases to amaze.

Eriogonum umbellatum v. aureum

The fiery color on the rock is a sulphur flower going over: but most of the flowers we found on our several day field trip to Gunnison County were in fresh bloom--spring was so delayed by the colossal snows of last winter (and the chilly June and July). I happened to be in Tibet when spring ordinarily occurs in our mountains, so needless to say, I was thrilled that it was delayed!

Eriogonum umbellatum v. aureum

The mistiness on the right is dust from a passing car: it may have been snowy and cold earlier this year, but it was gloriously sunny and dry during our visit!

Castilleja miniata

I hardly think my pictures need a commentary: these are typical emblems of our Southern Rocky Mountain spring--out en masse, and in peak form during our visit this past weekend.

Castilleja miniata

Castilleja sulphurea with C. miniata photobombing

Aconitum columbianum

Henceforward our two hikes around Lake Irwin and on the trail to Copper Lake will be conflated and the plants shown alphabetically. Just to give you a taste of our very tardy spring bloom!

Anaphalis margaritaceum and Erigeron speciosus in an embrace

Antennaria microphylla

Apocynum androsaemifolium

Aquilegia caerulea

Corydalis caseana ssp. brandegeei

The giant corydalis (the largest in the genus I believe) is a local specialty we were thrilled to find at several spots--it's far from ubiquitous even in Gunnison County where it's especially "common"...

Corydalis caseana ssp. brandegeei

Corydalis caseana ssp. brandegeei

Delphinium barbeyi

Delphinium barbeyi

Erigeron speciosus

Erigeron speciosus

The Aspen daisy was phenomenal everywhere!

Frasera speciosa

This was a mast year for Monument Plant: over 25,000 bloomed in the study area--the most ever!

Frasera speciosa

Helianthus quinquenervis

My favorite sunflower--unfortunately no picture depicts its grace properly...

Helianthus quinquenervis

Heracleum lanatum

Heterotheca sp.

Hordeum jubatum

Ipomopsis aggregata

Ligusticum porteri

I was delighted to see the masses of "Osha"--the amazing endemic herb that is such an efficient cure for chest ailments.

Ligusticum porteri

Ligusticum porteri

White Admiral Limenitis arthemis

See? I'm not totally obsessive about plants!

Lonicera involucrata

Yellow Bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris)

Pachystima myrsinites

Penstemon whippleanus

Platanthera huronensis and friends

Deschampsia sp.?

Pyrrocoma crocea

Pyrrocoma crocea

Pyrrocoma crocea

Rhodiola rhodantha

Waterfall above Lake Irwin

Cystopteris fragilis

Galium boreale from a distance

Galium boreale

More Frasera speciosa

Pedicularis procera

Tour participant Jan Midgley sizing up Rudbeckia occidentalis

Jan was one of five Denver Botanic Gardens' members who signed up for this trip: she ran a native plant nursery in Birmingham Alabama for many years and has written wildflower guides for the Southern States. I was delighted to get to know her!

Senecio bigelowii

Senecio sp. not yet keyed out

Senecio sp.

Frasera speciosa

Veratrum californicum

Veratrum californicum

Veratrum californicum

Veratrum californicum

Veratrum californicum

Woodsia oregana