ALPINE FLOWERS

Mountains and purple subalpine larkspur flowers beneath an aspen forest.

 

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FLOWERS

- an interview with Pamela Soltis

"Currently the angiosperms are by far the largest group of plants and the most important from an ecological standpoint. They inhabit all sorts of environments. They make up the majority of a lot of different habitats, such as grasslands (all the grasses are flowering plants), most forests except for the boreal forests, and most terrestrial habitats on the face of the planet. They provide food sources and shelters for the organisms that live in these habitats. On a more personal note to humans, they provide us with most of our food and, in certain areas, a lot of our shelter materials."

ON GRATITUDE

 

Brenda takes with her a small bag woven in rich patterns, filled with ground millet, following traditions passed down to her in knowledge. When she comes to a place that she feels is special, she dips her hand into the bag and scatters the millet with a message of gratitude, giving thanks to the environment in her own way.

I have felt incredibly thankful, while walking in the wild woods of Colorado. I have seen all manner of plants, waterfalls, dead trees surrounded by the creeping vines of new growth, and tiny animals. I have dipped my hands into water, my feet too, letting my gratitude take off downstream like a ribbon caught in a flood. 

I will be eternally grateful to the Earth for her generosity, and not least of all, for the wildflowers.

 

columbine

alpine aster

red desert paintbrush

purple mustard

penstemon

alpine buttercups

chiming bells

clover

creeping thistle

subalpine larkspur

marsh marigolds

subalpine paintbrush

fairy slipper

silvery lupine

catnip

 
Booth Creek Falls Trail in Spring.
Alpine flowers in the mountains of Colorado, Booth Creek Falls in Spring.
Ranunculus Ficaria - a bright yellow many petaled alpine buttercup.
Shrine Pass Trail.
Wild red and yellow columbines in an alpine environment. 
Curvy aspen boles in a forest.
Walking barefoot on the trail.
Wild clover and alpine buttercups
Shrine Pass trail in Spring.
Subalpine paintbrush - purple alpine flowers.
“The way of the priestess is not easy, for you must die a thousand deaths to be one with the Goddess - she who flowers ten thousand times.”
— SARAH DREW
Desert paintbrush flowers, Shrine Pass, Colorado.
Desert paintbrush flowers in a field of Shrine Pass.
Mertensia Chiming Bell flowers.
Mertensia Chiming Bell flowers, alpine environment.
Marsh Marigold - alpine flowers
Small stream and Marsh Marigolds, Shrine Pass.
Giving thanks to the water.
Ranunculus Alpestris - white alpine buttercups.
Clouds reflected in a pond, in the mountains of Colorado.
Flower shadows on a mossy rock.
Booth Creek Falls, Colorado. 
Chipmunk in the underbrush. 
Alpine Aster purple daisies and red Desert Paintbrush flowers.

SOURCES AND FURTHER READING:

 

www.actionbioscience.org - interview with Pamela Soltis

Zoe Eccles