Natural science education, summer camps, hiking, snowshoe tours and things to do in the Eagle River Valley and Vail, Colorado.

Fresh Off the Trail: Yarrow Wildflower Sighting

Posted by Walking Mountains on Aug 24, 2017 2:58:01 PM

This all-season bloomer is one of the most recognizable, tastiest, and most useful of all native wildflowers. Yarrow blooms from early June through the end of the summer and is readily confused with..

Topics: Wildflower Update, Fresh Off The Trail

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Fresh Off the Trail: Gentian Wildflower Sighting

Posted by Walking Mountains Science Center on Aug 17, 2017 3:29:02 PM

This late summer bloom is one of the last reminders of the summer wildflower season. Blooming from the valley bottoms to the alpine, the classic five petals open up in the sun creating a bottle shape..

Topics: Wildflower Update, Fresh Off The Trail

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Fresh Off the Trail: Fireweed Wildflower Bloom

Posted by Walking Mountains Science Center on Aug 10, 2017 10:38:32 AM

This showy pink bloom is a flower that comes with many stipulations! Fireweed is a pioneer species and is most readily observed in disturbed environments (ski areas, roadcuts, and construction areas)..

Topics: Wildflower Update, Fresh Off The Trail

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Fresh Off the Trail: Monkshood Wildflower Sighting

Posted by Walking Mountains on Aug 3, 2017 1:52:54 PM

Located in wet environments from the Front Range to the sub-alpine are the deep purple blooms of the monkshood wildflower (Aconitum Columbianum). These unique blooms are regularly mistaken for..

Topics: Wildflower Update, Fresh Off The Trail

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Fresh Off the Trail: Sky Pilot Wildflower Sighting

Posted by Walking Mountains Science Center on Jul 27, 2017 11:06:39 AM

Soaring above tree line and lining alpine ridges are the beautiful purple blooms of the Sky Pilot, Polemonium viscosum. You may smell it before you see it and the skunky funk is the reason this..

Topics: Wildflower Update, Fresh Off The Trail

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Fresh off the Trail: Paintbrush Sighting

Posted by Walking Mountains on Jul 20, 2017 4:06:14 PM

It is the time of the year we like to play “find the color of the sunset!” and the easiest way is to look for the gorgeous paintbrush blooms. Check out the yellow alpine varieties on exposed mountain..

Topics: Wildflower Update, Fresh Off The Trail

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Fresh Off the Trail: Mariposa Lily Sighting

Posted by Walking Mountains Science Center on Jul 13, 2017 12:43:13 PM

There are many varieties of mariposa lily found in the Rocky Mountains but all are members of the Calochortus genus. In Greek, Kalos means beautiful and Chortos, means grass and thus, the mariposa..

Topics: Wildflower Update, Fresh Off The Trail

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Fresh Off the Trail: Parry's Primrose Sighting

Posted by Walking Mountains Science Center on Jul 6, 2017 9:44:59 AM

Named for Charles Parry, the famous collector of western plants, these bright magenta blooms are common in the early summer in wet environments. Parry first observed these flowers in 1861 “near the..

Topics: Wildflower Update, Fresh Off The Trail

Fresh Off the Trail: Stonecrop Wildflower Sighting

Posted by Walking Mountains Science Center on Jun 29, 2017 3:37:44 PM

Look for this yellow succulent growing among the granite boulders on Cross Creek or Bighorn Creek. Stonecrop is a variety of sedum, and was first described in the Pike Peak area by John Torrey in..

Topics: Wildflower Update, Fresh Off The Trail

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Fresh off the Trail: Wild Blue Flax Wildflower Sighting

Posted by Walking Mountains Science Center on Jun 22, 2017 3:42:20 PM

Wild Blue Flax, Adenolinim lewisii, can be seen growing in dry, open environments like the first couple miles of all the trails in East Vail. Look for the blue-purple flowers on thin, grass-like..

Topics: Wildflower Update, Fresh Off The Trail

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Fresh off the Trail: Fairy Slipper Wildflower Sighting

Posted by Walking Mountains Science Center on Jun 15, 2017 4:48:05 AM

Welcome to the first installment of Walking Mountains Science Center’s Blooming Blog! Check back throughout the season to find out what is blooming where and what elevation and trails have the most..

Topics: Wildflower Update, Fresh Off The Trail