Blue Beauties

It's amazing to watch the flowers transform into their late season colors and shapes. Take the seed head I found the other day. Maybe I'll post it sometime - when I figure out what it is. Unique! That starts to describe it.

I have figured out the geraniums are the first to show vivid fall colors as their leaves turn brilliant red. From pretty flowers to pretty leaves. Amazing.

Other plants continue to puzzle or delight or both as I observe their transformations more closely than past years. So, again we take a look at ten wildflower species which live in my backyard (using the term loosely, of course).

• 1. Blue Violet
• 2. Paintbrush
• 3. Cushion Flox
• 4. Wood's Forget-me-not
• 5. Sticky Geranium
• 6. Gaillardia
• 7. Wood's Rose
• 8. Cow Parsnip
• 9. Showy Fleabane
• 10. Prairie Smoke
• 11. Few-Flowered Shooting Star
• 12. Sulfur Buckwheat
• 13. Lanceleaf Stonecrop
• 14. Spurred Lupine
• 15. Mountain Sorrel
• 16. Hound's Tongue
• 17. Pennycress
• 18. Chives
• 19. Sugarbowl
• 20. Tall Cinquefoil
• 21. Oregon Grape
• 22. Western Gromwell
• 23. Chokecherry
• 24. Mountain Bluebells
• 25. Rocky Mountain Iris
• 26. False Solomon's Seal
• 27. Rosy Pussytoes
• 28. Elk Thistle
• 29. Yellow Salsify
• 31. Shrubby Cinquefoil
• 32. Gray Horsebrush
• 33. Water Smartweed
• 34. Common Harebell
• 35. Nuttall's Rockcress
• 36. Orange Hawkweed
• 37. Yellow Pond-lily
• 38. Musk Thistle
• 39. White Campion
• 40. Bitterroot
• 41. Kinnikinnick
• 42. Serviceberry
• 43. Alberta Penstemon
• 44. Rock Clematis
• 45. Ballhead Waterleaf
• 46. Parry's Townsendia
• 47. Low Larkspur
• 48. Blue-eyed Grass
• 49. Many-flowered Stickseed
• 50. Blue Penstemon

Kinnikinnick

Things I Already Knew: A pretty low-growing plant found close to the forest floor, this shiny leafed plant bears clusters of bright red berries by late summer.

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the shrub family this low-growing (dense mats no more than 6 inches tall) plant bears pink or sometimes white flowers in the spring. The clustered flowers look like upside-down urns. Their fruit, the bright red berries, persist throughout the winter, are edible, and are often eaten by bears.

I've never run into a plant known by more names. This short, unassuming plant is known by no less than eighteen names including Bear Berry, Bear's Grape, Crowberry, Hog Cranberry, Mealberry, Arberry, Mountain Box, Mountain Cranberry, Red bearberry, Sagackhomi, Sandberry, Upland Cranberry, Uva Ursa, Universe Vine, Wild Cranberry, and Bear's Grape

Medicinally this plant has been used for several purposes. It contains glycoside arbutin, which has antimicrobal properties and acts as a mild diuretic. It has been used for urinary tract complaints. It has also been used for bronchitis, nephritis, and kidney stones. An infusion can be made by soaking the leaves in ethanol and diluting with water. The website, http://www.holisticonline.com/, even has dosage information.

Some American Indians drank a tea made from the plant for backsprains while others used it to treat venereal diseases.

Serviceberry

Things I Already Knew: This plant produced pretty but seedy berries in profusion this year! It seems to handle sunny spots well. Serviceberry grows quite tall - up to 4 feet around here. The flowers are white and blend in with the chokecherries along Elk Lake Road.

Things I Recently Learned: Another member of the shrub family, serviceberry can grow up to 20 feet tall. The white or sometimes pinkish flowers grow in clusters (better for me to confuse them with chokecherry).

Serviceberry is also known as Saskatoonberry, Saskatoon, Western Service Berry, Shadbush, or Juneberry. It is a North American native. It is a long-living plant often bearing fruit up to 30 years. It is quite winter hardy, but it requires plentious sunshine to ripen the fruit. A late frost can destroy the crop.

Serviceberry fruit is a favorite food of many birds and animals and can be used to make jelly and wine. It looks and tastes similar to a blueberry - sweet in flavor. Serviceberry has been used by American Indians and Canada's Aboriginal peoples both as fruit and added to pemmican.

The name, Saskatoon is derived from a Cree word. The city, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is named after this useful plant.

Alberta Penstemon

Things I Already Knew: This plant grows profusely in some areas around the Resort. It appears to prefer meadows. It blooms later than many species, its showy flowers adding a splash of color to the mid-summer foliage.

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the Figwort family, Alberta Penstemon prefers dry open or rocky areas from the valley to foothills and subalpine forests in western Montana. A similar plant, Wilcox's Penstemon grows in similar soils in northwestern Montana.

Also known as Alberta Beardtongue, Alberta Pestemon is commonly found in British Columbia, Alberta, Idaho, and Montana. Boasting the largest genus endemic to North America, these perennial plants have approximately 275 species. Native to North America ornamental gardeners worldwide have long sought them for their beauty, adaptability, and wide-variety genus.

Two more pieces of penstemon trivia: Native Americans used Penstemon roots to relieve toothaches. Merchants began selling Penstemon seeds as early as 1813. Although a North American native, Europe has always been more interested in cultivating the species for ornamental gardens.

Rock Clematis

Things I Already Knew: This delicate looking flower prefers heavy shade. It blooms early in the spring when soils are damp and temperatures are cool. Only one colorful blue to purple flower tops each leggy stem.

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the Buttercup Family, Rock Clematis grows in the north western, the north central, the rocky mountain states and even in Texas!

Although my Montana flower book says this is a climbing vine, all the specimens I've seen have been low growing. However, based on internet information, some species are low growing. This plant is also called Columbia Virgin's Bower and Blue Clematis. It is of the same family as my visitor from Whoville, the Sugarbowls.

This perenial plant is recommended for use in ornamental rock gardens.

Ballhead Waterleaf

Things I Already Knew: This low growing yet showy flower is easy to overlook. It seems to prefer moist soils and heavy shade. The leaves often almost dwarf the bottle-brush type flowers.

Things I Recently Learned: Also known as Dwarf Waterleaf, this plant is a member of the Waterleaf Family which has many varieties throughout the western United States. All family members have flower parts in fives - five fused, lobed petals that form a bell or funnel, five united sepals, and five stamens.

Ballhead Waterleaf can be found in the brushy areas and open woods of southern British Columbia, south through eastern Washington and Oregon to central California; east to western Colorado, northern Utah, Idaho, Alberta (and, obviously, Montana).

Young waterleaf shoots and leaves, collected before the flowers appear, were used by Native Americans and settlers as a cooked vegetable. They are best boiled in water, changed at least one time, and served with vinegar. Some tribes boiled the waterleaf roots with the bulbs of the Yellow Glacier Lily.

Parry's Townsendia

Things I Already Knew: I have often confused this plant with Showy Fleabane (covered in an earlier posting) because of the similarity in the flowers. However, if you were to go back to that earlier blog, you will see that although the flowers are similar, the leaves are different (okay, the fleabane photo doesn't show many leaves - see, that's my point!).

Things I Recently Learned: Parry's Townsendia is considered an uncommon wildflower. In fact, my Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, western edition, doesn't even list it. A couple of websites also list it as rare or uncommon.

Nonetheless, it is cultivated by ornamental gardeners because of its showy colors. This plant is sometimes confused with the Alpine Daisy.

Parry's Townsendia blooms in May, June, July, and August and can be found in Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and California. It is also found in Alberta and British Columbia.

This plant thrives in rocky or gravelly soils on mid-level to alpine slopes.

Low Larkspur

Things I Already Knew: A moderately tall plant (a little over a foot tall), the thin larkspur stems are topped with uniquely shaped, orchid-type flowers. These pretty flowers seem to appreciate grassy meadows.

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the Buttercup Family, Low Larkspur can be found in west, central, and east Montana. Its generic name, Delphinium, is derived from Latin for 'dolphin', a shape the flower vaguely resembles.

Low Larkspur is also known as Little Larkspur or Montana Larkspur. It is a native perennial. It can take as many as five years for the plant to flower although it may do so in its third year under favorable conditions.

Low Larkspur is grazed by elk, deer, and pronghorn as well as upland game birds, non-game birds, small mammals and domestic animals. Early in the year it is high in protein. In spite of this, it is toxic to cattle and, if pastures are grazed before the grass is mature enough to be more plentiful than the larkspur, can causes cattle loss. It can also be toxic to horses and sheep. The plant is now considered a noxious weed - although a very pretty one!

Blue-eyed Grass

Things I Already Knew: A rare plant - at least as compared to everything else. I've seen less of this plant (this is my one and only photo) in my walks than even the Nuttall's Rockcress. However, that may also be in part because it appears to like cool, grassy locations - and it doesn't grow very tall. However, this pretty flower is definitely worth the hunt!

Things I Recently Learned: Blue-eyed Grass can be found on grassy meadows or in open sites that are moist to moderately dry. A member of the Iris family, Blue-eyed Grass flowers from April to September. My western region wildflower book says it is "one of the most perplexing groups of plants, with many, often intergrading, variants named as species."

American Indians used a root tea to treat diarhhea in children and a plant tea to treat worms and stomach aches. Several species were also used for a laxative.

This plant is a perinneal which will die out when cultivated if the soil gets too dry.

Many-flowered Stickseed

Things I Already Knew: Although this plant does qualify as a wildflower, and although its flowers resemble forget-me-not (it is called Wild Forget-Me-Not) I DON'T like this plant once it goes to seed. We call it 'stick-tight' because the seed burrs are almost impossible to get out of the dog's hair (or off clothes with even a moderate nap).

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the Borage Family (related to Wood's Forget-Me-Not), Many-flowered Stickseed flowers from June to August. It is native to much of western North America.

A similar and more common wildlflower, western stickseed, is distinguished primarily by the prickles on its seed nutlet (therefore, this could be western stickseed).

This plant is a robust biennial or short-lived perennial

Blue Penstemon

Things I Already Knew: Another blue flower which seems to thrive in the meadows around Elk Lake. I must admit, I didn't know there were so many varieties. Now I'm glad I took the extra pictures!

Things I Recently Learned: Growing on a smooth 12 to 26 inch stem, Blue Penstemon has different leaves on the lower and upper stem. The lower leaves are basal while the upper are stalkless and clasp the stem (as seen in my photo).

A member of the Figwort Family (and a relative to the Penstemon above), Blue Penstemon grows in the open plains and foothills of southwest and south-central Montana.

Native to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, this plant is a perennial. Like other penstemons, it is cultivated for its ornamental qualities.

Well, blue seems to be the color of the day (or the blog, in this case). It certainly isn't because I'm blue. Maybe its the bright sunshine and blue skies. Or, more likely, its because I'm finally getting these photos organized a bit, and, as I put them into files, the colors tend to go together. One way or the other, it was another nice trip down summer memory lane!

Lady of the Lake

Summer's Bounty

I love fall. The color. The crisp mornings. The bug-free days. The deeply blue skies. What's not to love?

However, after such a long spring, followed by such a 'short' summer, fall's arrival has taken on a different twist this year. In fact, it seems almost to have a note of 'goodbye' tucked inside.

Of course, I suspect the 'goodbye' aspect has something to do with watching a great refuge manager head down the road to a new post. It might even have something to do with finally ordering bear spray so I can get back into the woods (goodbye to feeling safe when I hike?). It could even have something to do with my weekly trip back to summer as I revisit the flower photos from early excursions.

One way or the other, seasons change. People come and go. Flowers fade and die. However, I am thankful to the many inventors who contributed to our modern day camera - especially Johann Zahn who came up with the first truly portable camera. At least this way I can continue to enjoy summer's delights as summer begins to metamorphize into fall in Montana's high mountains.

• 1. Blue Violet
  
• 2. Paintbrush
  
• 3. Cushion Flox
  
• 4. Wood's Forget-me-not
  
• 5. Sticky Geranium
  
• 6. Gaillardia
  
• 7. Wood's Rose
  
• 8. Cow Parsnip
  
• 9. Showy Fleabane
  
• 10. Prairie Smoke
  
• 11. Few-Flowered Shooting Star
  
• 12. Sulfur Buckwheat
  
• 13. Lanceleaf Stonecrop
  
• 14. Spurred Lupine
  
• 15. Mountain Sorrel
  
• 16. Hound's Tongue
  
• 17. Pennycress
  
• 18. Chives
  
• 19. Sugarbowl
  
• 20. Tall Cinquefoil
  
• 21. Oregon Grape
  
• 22. Western Gromwell
  
• 23. Chokecherry
  
• 24. Mountain Bluebells
  
• 25. Rocky Mountain Iris
  
• 26. False Solomon's Seal
  
• 27. Rosy Pussytoes
  
• 28. Elk Thistle
  
• 29. Yellow Salsify
  
• 31. Shrubby Cinquefoil
  
• 32. Gray Horsebrush
  
• 33. Water Smartweed
  
• 34. Common Harebell
  
• 35. Nuttall's Rockcress
  
• 36. Orange Hawkweed
  
• 37. Yellow Pond-lily
  
• 38. Musk Thistle
  
• 39. White Campion
  
• 40. Bitterroot

Shrubby Cinquefoil

Things I Already Knew: A lovely moderate-sized shrub which would look good in the flowerbed, this plant seeems to be quite tolerant to weather as it grows in the open on the Refuge. The Buttercup yellow flowers can be quite profuse.

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the shrub family (this comes as no surprise), this highly branched plant prefers wet, cool habitats in meadows, on foothills, and in open woodlands.

A native plant in the northern hemisphere, Shrubby Cinquefoil is a great plant for cooler climates but it does not fair well in warm temperatures. It can be clutivated by division in the spring, softwood cuttings in the summer, or seeds in the fall.

A tea can be made from the leaves of this plant which are a bit astringent. However, the most common use of the plant, as I suspected, is ornamental.

Gray Horsebrush

Things I Already Knew: I have often mistook this plant for sage because it grows amongst the sage. However, by late July it has turned into showy yellow spots on the hillsides near the lodge. Apparently, based on my observations this summer, it is a favorite with the local bees.

Things I Recently Learned: Another member of the shrub family, Gray Horsebrush grows 1 - 3 feet tall. It prefers dry soils on Montana's plains and mountain foothills. It is also known as, Spineless Horsebrush and is considered a weed in some areas.

A western states native, the first plant of this species to be collected for science came from near the Columbia River in the early 1830's. David Douglas was the collector. It was the first genus of its species to be classified.

The leaves of this plant are hepatogenic - in other words they will damage the liver. Because of this, I couldn't find any medicinal uses just listings as a poisionous plant.

Water Smartweed

Things I Already Knew: This plant grows along the shores in spots around Elk Lake. It blooms in late July and early August. Although not a showy plant, the flowers are pretty and have a somewhat unique, conical shape. The plant floats and appears to have long stems.

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the Buckwheat family, Water Smartweed is a native plant. It can grow on land or in water. On land the stems and flowers are more upright, and the plant seems to produce larger flowers.

Water Smartweed grows quickly and can cover a shallow pond by late summer. Waterfowl, marsh birds, song birds, and upland game birds enjoy the seeds from the plant. Parts of this plant have been used as an antiseptic and as a poisoning cure.

Common Harebell

Things I Already Knew: Although considered 'common' (according to its name), I have found this pretty delicate flower a delight to the eyes. It seems to prefer shady, cool, meadowlands where it grows, sometimes in profussion. The Common Harebell's stems and growing style remind me of flax.

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the Harebell Family, Common Harebell is also called Scotch Harebell and Bluebell. In favorable surrounding it may grow 20 inches tall, but at harsher, alpine climates, it may only reach a few inches (our growing climate must be 'more favorable').

The Cree Indians chewed this plant's root for heart and lung problems. A root infusion was used by the Chippewa Indians for sore ears. The Thompson Indians used a plant decoction to treat sore eyes. In addition, the plant leaves are edible both raw and cooked.

This perenial plant is fairly wide-spread, even to being common in Britain where it is propogated for flowerbeds. Maybe that's why it's called 'Common Harebell'?

Nuttall's Rockcress

Things I Already Knew: Although apparently this is a common plant, I haven't seen it much. The small white flowers grow on a moderately long stem (about 1 - 2 feet tall). The stem appears leggy with only a few long narrow leaves.

Things I Recently Learned: This is a very HARD plant to study. For that matter, I won't argue too hard if someone tells me this is not a Nuttall's Rockcress since it is also almost impossible to find a decent photo of the flower.

In fact, the Internet (an amazing source of information on some flowers) has next to nothing about this plant except requests for pictures or websites (like the Montana wildflower site) which say something like "Our data base on this plant is empty!"

Even my Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers (Western Region) doesn't list this plant! However, my Montana wildflower book has a little information - from which I learned:

Nuttall's Rockcress is somewhat shorter than most rockcresses. It prefers moist flat areas often sheltered by taller plants in valleys and along alpine ridges. It is a member of the Mustard Family which contains some plants which are so proliferous they are now considered noxious weeds. Obviously this plant hasn't reached that status.

Orange Hawkweed

Things I Already Knew: This plant grows stalks about 2 feet tall topped with numerous (this specimen shows four to five) flower heads. It seems to prefer moist locations since I found it along the lake interspersed with what I've always called "Zebra Grass" (although look for its real name on this list one of these days). It is an uncommon plant for our area.

Things I Recently Learned: Orange Hawkweed is a member of the Sunflower Family (which would be more obvious if the flowers in my photo were a little further along in their development). This plant is native to Europe and appears primarily on disturbed soils in northwest and west-central Montana (that explains its lack of abundance in our area).

It is listed as a noxious weed in Idaho although their website says this flower's spread has been greatly aided by its beauty which attracts flower enthusiasts. It is found throughout Canada, in most northern states and along the east and west coasts.

Although from the Sunflower Family, herbalists class Hawkweeds with the Chicory group because of their unique flower shape and their milky juice. Orange Hawkweed has also been called, 'Grim-the-Collier,' because of the black hairs which clothe the flower stalk. Several medicinal uses are given for plants in the Hawkweed family.

Yellow Pond-lily

Things I Already Knew: Grows in dense mats covering large sections of shallow water. The leaves are quite large and impressive. The flowers are large and a vivid yellow.

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the Waterlily Family, Yellow Pond-lily is also called spatterdock and cowlily. This acquatic plant grows on a thick round stem which is up to 6 feet long and connects the floating plant parts to the bottom mud.

The leaves are 4 to 16 inches across and the flowers (which can range from yellow to reddish tinged) are about 3 to 5 inches across.

The American Indians harvested the plant's pods and fried the dried seeds until they popped much like popcorn. The Indians also used the dried roots, which are edible raw but have a disagreeable flavor, to prepare meal and flower. Muskrats gather the roots and store them in their lodges for winter sustenance.

Musk Thistle

Things I Already Knew: A large, showy thistle growing 3 feet and taller with colorful 'flowers' reaching 2 - 3 inches across. While most thistle flowers are not very pretty, the Musk Thistle's flowers rival many other colorful 'wildflowers' I've seen.

Things I Recently Learned: Musk Thistle is a member of the Sunflower family. Actually, if you remember from last time, the Elk Thistle, a more common thistle in our area, is also a member of the Sunflower family.

Also known as Nodding Thistle, Musk Thistle is a common noxious weed introduced to North America from southern Europe or western Asia in the early 1900s. It is most commonly seen in disturbed soils - which accounts for my finding it along Elk Lake Road.

This plant is a biennial. It takes two years to mature and bloom. Like most thistles, it is quite edible. However, learning how to peal the stalks without getting poked may be more trouble than it is worth! Medicinally, musk thistle leaves and seeds are useful as a bitter tonic to promote liver function.

White Campion

Things I Already Knew: A fairly prolific flower in our area, White Campion begins blooming in June. It has a very distinct petal shape. While each flower has five petals, each petal is deeply notched. The stalk of the plant is quite hairy and the flowers have a distinctive 'pouch' behind the flower face.

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the Pink Family, the male and female White Campion flowers occur on separate plants. Some plants have stamens only. Others have ovaries only.

A non-native plant, White Campion was introduced from Europe and is most commonly found in disturbed soils (which surprises me because our soils are definitely NOT disturbed much around here).

Also known as Evening Lychnis, White Campion has no known medicinal uses.

Bitterroot

Things I Already Knew: A very pretty little flower which opens to the sun and closes as the temperatures drop. The Bitterroot is the Montana state flower. One look at this showy flower and I conquer! Although its stem rarely reaches a few inches tall, this lovely flower is honor worthy.

Things I Recently Learned: When in bloom, this flower produces 12 - 16 rose, pink, or occasionally white rounded or pointed petals. The genus name Lewisia honors Meriwether Lewis who collected a flower specimen near Lolo, Montana.

Bitterroot grows on open, dry or rocky shallow soils. It is an illusive flower only seen by those in the right location during its short blooming season.

American Indians harvested Bitterroot roots and boiled them for food. When cooked, the root swells to nearly 6 times its size and resembles a jelly-like substance. Despite this unusual presentation, Bitterroot is said to be extremely nutrious. In fact, I read 50-80 grams of this plant is sufficient to sustain an active person for a day.

The plant has several known medicinal uses. The root is thought to affect the heart and promote milk secretion. A root infusion has been used as a blood purifier. The root has also been eaten raw to counteract poison ivy's rash and to treat diabetes. The pounded dry root has been chewed to relieve sore throats, and a root poultice has been applied to sores.

That's might impressive for a plant that barely tops 1 inch tall!

As the new colors - the colors of fall - begin to peak around the corner, I continue to find my treks through this summer's color bounty as delightful as it is insightful.

Lady of the Lake

Plants and More Plants

It's back! My wandering wildflower book is back on my shelf so I'm hot and heavy into wildflowers again this week.

Although they are fading as the summer heat pushes many local wildflowers into the seed bearing stage, flipping through the photos on my computer is a colorful experience.

However, I must admit my hiking area has diminshed (well, moved) lately with the recent bear sightings. However, this is a good thing as I'm exploring new areas and photographing new delights.

So, here they are. Just as a reminder, the first ten wildflowers are described in a blog from three weeks ago. Flowers eleven to twenty are described in a blog from two weeks ago. This week we will focus on flowers twenty-one to thirty.

• 1. Blue Violet
• 2. Paintbrush
• 3. Cushion Flox
• 4. Wood's Forget-me-not
• 5. Sticky Geranium
• 6. Gaillardia
• 7. Wood's Rose
• 8. Cow Parsnip
• 9. Showy Fleabane
• 10. Prairie Smoke
• 11. Few-Flowered Shooting Star
• 12. Sulfur Buckwheat
• 13. Lanceleaf Stonecrop
• 14. Spurred Lupine
• 15. Mountain Sorrel
• 16. Hound's Tongue
• 17. Pennycress
• 18. Chives
• 19. Sugarbowl
• 20. Tall Cinquefoil
• 21. Oregon Grape
• 22. Western Gromwell
• 23. Chokecherry
• 24. Mountain Bluebells
• 25. Rocky Mountain Iris
• 26. False Solomon's Seal
• 27. Rosy Pussytoes
• 28. Elk Thistle
• 29. Yellow Salsify
• 30. Sego Lily

Oregon Grape

Things I Already Knew: A low growing plant which reminds me of holly, I suspect the yellow flowers which turn into small blue colored grape-like clusters are where it gets its name. This plant is usually found on the forest floor where it benefits from the cooler temperatures and shade.

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the shrub family, the Oregon Grape is a low, spreading evergreen shrub which matures less than one foot tall. The tart berries have been used in jellies and wine. This plant is fairly deer-tolerant (which is nice for areas where deer regularly over-prune the flowers) and it makes a good ground cover for cold climates.

The American Indians used the yellow inner bark as a dye. They also used the roots to treat stomach troubles, to prevent bloody dysentary, and as a blood purifier. Mixed with whisky, it was used for bladder problems, venereal diseases, general aches, and kidney problems. Preparations of the entire plant were considered something of a cure-all. They were also used as a lotion to treat scorpion bites. Now, that's interesting. I wouldn't expect scorpions and Oregon Grape to live anywhere near each other!

Western Gromwell

Things I Already Knew: Well, frankly, not very much. This isn't a plant with which I am at all familiar. In fact, having taken dozens of pictures of some plants, I find I only have one of this plant. I did expect it to be in the 'shrub' category, but it wasn't.

Things I Recently Learned: A member of the Borage family (which includes pretty plants like Hound's Tongue, and pesky plants like Stickseeds), Western Gromwell is a bushy plant (that's where I got the shrub idea) which grows 10 - 20 inches tall.

The roots contain a purple dye. In fact, it must have been fairly commonly used by the American Indians since an Indian name for the plant is Puccoon which means 'a plant containing a dye'. Some American Indians also used the cooked roots as a food, to make tea for controlling internal bleeding, treating skin and eye problems, and as a contraceptive.

That aside, the most interesting piece of "Gromwell" trivia I read was, this plant, when chewed, was blown into a sleepy person's face to keep them awake. I suspect, if someone blew chewed up plant particles in my face, I'd not only stay awake - I'd move farther away from them!

Chokecherry

Things I Already Knew: This plant produces edible, albeit very sour (as their name implies) fruit which can be used in jams and jellies. It grows as a shrubby tree and seems to prefer quite a bit of sunshine.

Things I Recently Learned: This plant is native to North America found nearly everywhere except the deep south and the far north. While the berries are very sour and even create a dry mouth, they are very high in antioxidant pigment compounds.

Wild chokecherry is often considered a pest since it is the host plant for the tent caterpillar which is a threat to other fruit plants. However, there are cultivated forms of the plant which are not host plants and produce less astrigent berries.

The Native Americans ground the fruit's pulp and kernels together then formed them into patties or balls. This paste was also combined with buffalo meat and fat to make pemmican. The fruit was also dried. Tea made from the bark was used as a cold rememdy. Tea made from the roots was used as a sedative and stomach remedy.

Mountain Bluebells

Things I Already Knew: This is a delicate-appearing plant which seems to prefer moist stream banks and shady meadows. This pretty plant produces clusters of intensely blue flowers from which it obviously got its name.

Things I Recently Learned: Another likeable member of the Borage Family, mature Mountain Bluebell flowers turn pink and a style protrudes from the bell.

Mountain Bluebell flowers are edible raw. The leaves are, as well, but becuase they are rather hairy, they become more palatable when cooked.

American Indians used an infusion of the leaves for smallpox and measels. An infusion of the entire plant was taken by women after child birth to increase their milk flow. An infusion of the powdered roots was taken for the itching caused from smallpox.

Rocky Mountain Iris

Things I Already Knew (or thought I knew): This short-lived but showy plant can be abundant in meadows and along stream banks some years. It grows from a bulb. In cultivated versions, the Iris comes in a rainbow of color. I think this plant's color must be affected by moisture. The wild specimens I've seen are usually light to dark blue and even a purplish hue. This year they were nearly white.

Things I Recently Learned: Rocky Mountain Iris, aka Missouri Iris or Blueflag, can come in colors from pale blue to dark blue with purple lines and yellow center stripes. Meriwether Lewis collected a specimen in 1806 near Ovando, Montana.

The roots and young shoots of this plant are toxic and cause a burning sensation, difficulty breating, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some people even have allergic skin reactions to the plant.

None-the-less, the ever resourceful Native American's found several uses for the plant. An arrow poison was made from ground up roots. The roots were used to induce vomiting, as a temporary toothache remedy, and for other tooth and gum problems. An infusion was used to treat bladder and kidney complaints and stomach ache. Other uses were for sores and burns, to treat earaches, and for rheumatic joints.

One more piece of Iris trivia: The roasted seeds can be used as a coffee substitute (okay - seeds - makes me wonder if this plant doesn't grow from a bulb like I supposed)

False Solomon's Seal

Things I Already Knew: This plant prefers shady, forested settings. It is a low growing plant with leaves which almost tend to dwarf the pretty little, erect growing flowers.

Things I Recently Learned: False Solomon's Seal, aka False Spikenard, is drought resistant, pest resistant, and produces fragrant flowers. It is cultivated for flower gardens and prefers shady areas.

Common medicinal uses include a root tea for constipation and upset stomach, as well as leaf tea to quiet coughs and aid in contraception. The leaf tea is also used topically to reduce the discomfort from itching and rash.

Rosy Pussytoes

Things I Already Knew: A very small flower which seems to enjoy cooler locations, the Rosy Pussytoes is exactly the kind of plant I have often overlooked. However, after carefully examination, I can't imagine why I didn't notice this unique little flower. The flowers grow from a creeping surface base and the stems have few to no leaves.

Things I Recently Learned: Would you believe this unassuming flower is part of the Sunflower Family? I would never have made that connection! This plant is also called Littleleaf Pussytoes, Cat's Feet, Ladies' Tobacco, and Everlasting. The generic name for the plant is Antennaria. This was chosen because the flower heads resemble insect antennae.

I could not find any medicinal uses for this plant. Although it is cultivated for ornamental use, it doesn't appear to have any other specific use nowdays - nor, for that matter, in times past.

Elk Thistle

Things I Already Knew: A thistle-type plant which I assumed (more on that in a moment) was part of the 'thistle' family. A unique compact-looking thistle with impressive flowers (some years) years which accompany its always impressive thorns. Occasionally cattle will eat the tops of this plant although I've heard it can be poisonous to them at certain times of the year. Seems to prefer lots of sun (don't most thistles?).

Things I Recently Learned: Elk Thistle is NOT a member of a thistle family. It is a member of - okay, get this - the Sunflower family. This posting has three sunflower family members - none which I would have guessed to be so.

This native plant is a short-lived perennial. It is also known as "Meadow Thistle." It grows on an impressive 8 to 40 inch tall stem (locally Elk Thistle typically grows about 2 feet tall).

Elk Thistle's buds were eaten by some Native Americans. The peeled stems and roots are edible. They have a sweet delicate taste. In fact, the Flathead Indians liked the plant so much they imposed a taboo to prevent people from overpicking this plant.

Here's another interesting piece of Elk Thistle trivia: In Yellowstone National Park, this plant may be called "Evert's Thistle" in memory of Truman Everts, an explorer who lost his way in the park in 1870 and subsisted on mostly thistle roots until his rescue.

Yellow Salsify

Things I Already Knew: An erect growing plant with a short lived flower followed by large (baseball-size) white puffy globe which resembles a giant dandelion. Although it has no stickers, I've always thought of this plant as a type of thistle - I suspect because it seems to prefer dry, sunny locations.

Things I Recently Learned: Yellow Salsify is another unexpected member of the Sunflower Family. Although the flowers arguably resemble sunflowers, the plant and its seed pods look more like dandelions.

An introduced biennial, this plant came over from Europe. The flowers are closed on cloudy days but on sunny days they follow the sun from morning until they close in mid-afternoon.

Yellow Salsify roots are edible, raw or cooked. The plant's stems, when young, as well as the leaves are also edible either raw or cooked. There do not appear to be any known medicinal uses for this plant.

Sego Lily

Things I Already Knew: A very erect standing flower which prefers dry, rocky, sunny hillsides. Grows about 12 inches tall. I've only seen it open when the sun is shining. Very PRETTY!

Things I Recently Learned: The Sego Lily, aka Nuttall's Mariposa Lily, is Utah's state flower. Officially named in 1911, this beautiful flower was chosen because its sweet, starchy, bulblike roots helped relieve the famine faced by Brigham Young and his followers in 1847.

Native to several western states, the bulbs of this and other related lilies, were roasted, boiled, and made into porridge by Native Americans. Currently it is grown for ornamental purposes.

This plant's Greek generic name, Calochortus, is a derivative of kato which means beautiful, and chortos which means grass. "Sego" is a Shoshonean term which means 'edible bulb'.

One last interesting tidbit: In 1806 near present-day Kamiah, Idaho, Meriwether Lewis collected the first specimen of this plant for science.

Well, that's the end of this week's plant species lesson. I trust you are still enjoying this educational excursion. As summer lengthens and fall begins to peak around the corner, the flowers fade. However, returning to the photographs I've taken is not only an educational delight and a delight to the eyes - it is a mini trip down memory lane. As I relive my spring and summer excursions, I'm again reminded of how blessed I am to be the

Lady of the Lake

More Color!

I lent my wildflower book to a guest so this week I'm focusing on another colorful addition to our summer. Butterflies!

Several years ago, when the kids participated in a homeschool science class on butterflies, I began collecting butterfly species of every shape, size, and color. Back then I could identify several species with ease - and others were at least familiar. However, that was in another time and another place. Here, although I see a few familiar 'faces', I have also found many I don't recognize.

A few days ago we were blessed with a lovely rain storm. It just dumped! The next day there were areas around the lodge and up my favorite hiking trail where I felt like I was walking in a cloud of butterflies. That was a wonderful experience! Besides, it gave me another excuse to photograph more colorful summer visitors.

One regular guest was telling me butterflies are an indicator species. Their presence tells us we have a healthy eco-system. My brief Google search showed at least some scientists concur. This knowledge adds to the joy I experience when a colorful visitor flits by.

Below I've listed eight species including photos and brief descriptions. The ninth picture above is a colorful visitor I'm struggling to identify. It doesn't help that this colorful friend is quite shy. Even with my telephoto lens, I've struggled to capture his image. For those of you willing to give me a hand identifying this beautiful specimen, keep in mind although the picture does not show this, this butterfly does not have a swallow tail.

• Edith's Checkerspot
  
• White-Lined Sphinx Moth
  
• Lupine Blue
  
• Milbert's Tortoiseshell
  
• Pink-edged Sulfur
  
• Western Black Swallowtail
  
• Western Tailed Blue
  
• Western Tiger Swallowtail

Edith's Checkerspot: Can you identify the plant this butterfly is visiting? If not, check out my last blog post. A colorful medium-size butterfly, the Edith's Checkerspot has quite a large range covering most of the western states and the central and northern rocky mountain states.

Even with this wide range, this butterfly is considered uncommon. Some have suggested climate change may have effected them. Apparently this assumption is based on changes in the butterfly's range with large populations dying off in the southern USA while increasing numbers are found in the northern regions.

This butterfly belongs to the Lycaenidae family with over 4,700 species unevenly distributed worldwide. Amazingly enough, since we experience such COLD winters, these butterflies over-winter as young caterpillars or hibernating adults. That makes me wonder how far they travel during their migration.

White-Lined Sphinx Moth: This unusual visitor looks like a cross between a moth and a hummingbird. Sometimes called hummingbird moths, this species flits their wings very quickly. Because this rapid wing movement uses up a lot of energy, these moths are typically only seen in during the cooler dawn and dusk hours.

Due to sprawling developments, they have moved their range further north than in times past. Unlike butterflies, their caterpillars pulpate in shallow burrows in the ground. However, many caterpillars are killed before they reach the moth stage because these 'hornworm' (characterized by a 'horn' on one end of their bodies) caterpillars are a threat to tomato, pepper, and grape crops.

An amazingly large flying insect, White-lined Sphinx Moths vary greatly in size with wing spans averaging between 2 1/2 to 9 inches! In addition to being called "Hummingbird Moths", this unique insect is also called "Hawk Moth" and "Sphinx Moth".

One more interesting piece of 'moth' trivia: The White-Lined Sprinx Moth's European cousin, the "Death's Head Sphinx Moth" (yuk, what a name!), was featured in the movie Silence of the Lambs.

Lupine Blue Do you see the blue butterfly in the upper right segement of this photo? This is a Lupine Blue.

Here's a trivia question which my blog readers should be able to answer. What is the larvae host / nector source plant for this pretty little butterfly?

Did you guess Sulfur Buckwheat? If so, you were right! So, why isn't this fellow called a "Buckwheat Blue"? Who knows? One thing scientists do know is the butterfly has nothing to do with Lupines and everything to do with Sulfur Buckwheat!

In stark comparison to the large moth we just looked at, the Lupine Blue has a wingspan of only 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches. This little butterfly tends to be found around its host plant - often in rocky areas and alpine forests. The males like puddles (this fact is supported by my picture) and both the male and female visit a flower we will look at in a later blog known as Pussy Paws or Pussy Toes.

Milbert's Tortoiseshell Sorry folks, this isn't the best butterfly picture I have ever taken, but it is the best of several tries to catch this fellow with wings spread. In fact, I have observed few butterflies which open and close their wings as quickly as this fellow.

Often seen as a harbinger of spring in North America, the Milbert's Tortoiseshell emerges in some areas as early as March (not here this year, fortunately!) This butterfly has a squared-off forewing which adds distinction to the wing shape and aids in indentification.

I consider this butterfly to be in the medium-size range for our area. It has a 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inch wingspan. When closed, the wings appear dark and drab. When opened, however, they sport a riot of orange, black, and yellow colors.

Now, for the most interesting tidbit I found (in my opinion). The Milbert's Tortoiseshell's host plant is nettles (another plant we'll look at down the road). It lays up to 900 (yep, 900!) eggs on the nettle plant. When the caterpillars emerge, they feed on the nettles. When they finally take to the wing, the adults feed on thistle, goldenrod, and lilac flowers. (So, much as I hate to admit it, the nettles which leave a nasty sting when you touch them serve an important purpose!)

Pink-edged Sulfur Yellow butterflies seem to abound. Sporting minimal markings, it can be quite difficult to distinguish between the different species. This small to medium butterfly has a 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inch wingspan.

As in most species seen in the wild, the male has slightly more color on his wingtips. These pretty bright color spots prefer shrubby areas in woods, bogs, and scrub areas.

They enjoy a fairly widespread range covering much of the northerm United States and British Columbia.

Here's an interesting piece of Sulfur Butterfly trivia: In some species the males' wings have a brilliant UV reflection. The females' wings do not.

Western Black Swallowtail This large butterfly sports a slightly different color pattern / mixture than the Tiger or Western Swallowtail which I've delighted in seeing over the years. It is also much more elusive than its yellower cousin.

It seems this pretty fellow has been identified by several names - or possibly is just easily confused with a couple other species. Some call it the "Old World Swallowtail" others "Baird's Swallowtail". Based on the photos and information I could gather, I'd say the Old World, at least, looks almost if not identical.

This colorful butterfly's caterpilar enjoys sagebrush. Although I've only seen them on other plants or flitting across my path as I walk through the hills and meadows around the lodge, maybe I need to look a little closer at the sagebrush! The adults prefer flower nectar and tend to spend their time on open hillsides and in mountain meadows.

Western Tailed Blue Here is another one of those pretty blue butterflies which line my path after a good rainstorm. The Western Tailed Blue's only distinguishing mark is a single orange spot near its tail.

I must admit, as I studied the two blue butterflies shown in this blog, I began to wonder if they had mixed up the butterfly pictures and name plaques at the first butterfly convention. This butterfly seems much more adapted to the name Lupine Blue since its host plants are of the vetch and pea family and include False Lupine.

With a wing span of 7/8 to 1 1/8 inches, the Western Tailed Blue is not a very big fellow. However, since they seem to like hanging together (I've seen blue butterflies group into crowds of twenty or thirty around a damp spot on the ground), they create a pretty blue cloud when disturbed.

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Last but not least we come to one of my favorite butterflies. In fact, back in my butterfly hunting days, I had the rare experience of having one of these beautiful insects land on my pants leg. Since I was hot and sweaty, I must admit it wasn't because I smelled like the lilac which attracts them to my yard. I'm more suspicious it was the bright red shorts I was wearing.

More recently I had the rare opportunity to watch the interaction between two of this beautiful species. As I was walking through the woods, close to the top of a nearby ridge, two Western Tiger Swallowtails flew by. I was intrigued because it almost appeared as though one was chasing the other. So, I watched.

Next thing I knew, one of the Swallowtails headed back the way I'd come while the other kept flitting ahead of me. I puzzled briefly over their antics before pursuing the remaining butterfly with my camera, hoping for a picture. Imagine my surprise when from behind me the other butterfly appeared. Even more amazing, it flew right up to the butterfly I was pursuing, seemed almost to touch it, and then turned and flew away with my butterfly in hot pursuit. So, did I witness a butterfly game of tag? It sure looked like it to me!

A scientist, however, would probably tell me they were two males patroling the ridgetop in search of females. The females lay their eggs on willows, aspens, cottonwoods, wild cherry, and ash. The caterpillars feed on these host plants before entering the cocoon. The emerging adults enjoy flower nectar.

This colorful insect is one of the larger North American butterflies. With a wingspan of 2 3/4 to 4 inches, a large Swallowtail can be as big as a House Wren!

Well, that's the extent of my currently uploaded butterfly pictures. I hope you have enjoyed the pictures, if not the trivia. As with flowers, the more I learn about these beautiful and diverse insects (which, by the way, used to be called 'flutterbys' because of their floating flight pattern), the more I grow to appreciate the diversity of creation.!

If you enjoy butterflies but struggle with identifying the various species - or maybe, you would just like to learn more about our flutterby friends, check out the Butterflies and Moths of North America website. What a wonderful resource!

Lady of the Lake