Wildflowers

I’ve had the good fortune to see what I believe are more than 220 species of wildflowers in bloom this year. I believe that I was able to identify 202 of those wildflowers using support from my friends and family, apps, books, the Montana Field Guide/Montana Natural Heritage Program, and iNaturalist. 

Are my 202 ID’s 100% correct? I doubt it. Plants have so many small, almost invisible differences between species that if you are not a botanist specializing in that species or genus you are almost certain to have some mistakes- especially among the violets, phloxes, asters, and fleabanes that burst onto the scene mid summer.

I’m okay with that, and I welcome corrections to my identifications if anyone cares to offer them. 

I enjoy the walking, the finding, the photographing, the challenge of ID’ing, and the sharing of all of the living things that I find on the trail, but I am not writing a thesis, I’m enjoying nature to my own personal fullest extent. Perhaps a book at some point, tho. Anyway, I probably have upwards of 160 or 170 different wildflowers correctly ID’ed.

From our early Pasqueflowers to our late season Blazingstars, the ground level ‘firework display’ that our plants put on are a joy to see unfold over the field season. I am deeply grateful for the open space and access to be able to see so much beauty just outside my doorstep.