As the summer ends and autumn begins, we say goodbye to the last of the wildflowers for the year. We wanted to put together a quick post of the last spots of color we found on our hikes this summer before the greenery gives way to snow. Already we're looking forward to getting out at a little earlier to capture some early spring flowers. Hope you enjoy.
Western Monkshood (Aconitum columbianum)
We found some Monkshood lining the trail on our hike up to to Kendall Katwalk and Peak. One of over 250 species of Acontium, it is also known as wolfsbane, aconite and Devil's helmet. Both intriguing and highly toxic, monkshood has been used in poisons and medicines for hundreds of years.
Pink Mountain-Heather (Phyllodoce empetriformis)
Almost 30 years later, the area around Mt. St. Helens is still something of an ashen wasteland. As we picked our way though the Worm Flows on our way to the top, we spied a welcome dollop of color near Chocolate Falls.
Alpine White Marsh-Marigold (Caltha leptosepala ssp. leptosepala var. leptosepala)
With a few patches of snow still on the ground, we noticed these little guys thriving in the newly-denuded of Snoqualime Pass Ski slopes on our way to Lodge and Beaver Lakes.
Scotch Bluebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
We caught this delicate Scotch Bluebell defiantly clinging amongst the blasted rock along Kendall Katwalk. Usually confined to the meadows it was fun to find a patch of powder-blue amongst the granite.
Davidson's Penstemon (Penstemon davidsonii)
While scrambling up to the very top of McClellan Butte, we caught sight of this unusual flower. Also known as "beard-tongue" all members of the Penstemon genus have hairy stamens, giving them the appearance of having bearded tongues.
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