While this flower is not native to Colorado, I was fascinated to learn about its morphology when I saw it on outside Gunnison last week.

I will be spending some time in the Gunnison-Crested Butte area soon and I checked iNaturalist to see which flowers people have noticed; Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) came up a lot and I hope to see some!

I spent some time in the Gunnison-Crested Butte area earlier this month and wanted to share some wildflower photos and sightings!

I usually have a hard time identifying small, yellow wildflowers - there are so many similar ones - but goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) stands out due to its height and its upward-facing flowers.

I have been seeing prickly poppies (Argemone polyanthemos) everywhere for the last couple weeks - they stand out from Colorado’s dry, red soils easily with their giant white flowers!

Best known as the host plant to monarch butterflies, “showy” milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) is a very common summer wildflower in Colorado!

I saw a bunch of Rocky Mountain Irises (Iris missouriensis, a.k.a. western blue flag) near Woodland Park a couple weeks ago!

Prickly pear cacti (Opuntia polyacantha) are an iconic species of the Western US and Mexico. Learn how this cactus is uniquely adapted to its environment and how humans have traditionally interacted with this plant!

Dogbane is an important plant to be able to identify - as its name suggests, this plant is notable for its toxicity to humans and other animals, including dogs.

These are one of my favorite summer wildflowers - I love how it looks like they are wearing a crown!

Nodding onions (Allium cernuum) are beautiful, delicate flowers that get their common name from the slight bend at the top of the main stem, which differentiates it from others in the allium family.

Avalanche lilies (Erythronium grandiflorum) stand out with their cheerful yellow colors, particularly in the alpine habitats where they thrive!

Mountain Candytuft (Noccaea fendleri) is generally found on hillsides, slopes, open woods or forests, and tundra, and blooms from April to July.

Blue flax (Linum lewisii) is a vibrant spring wildflower that is easy to spot and identify. We can expect to see blue flax growing by mid-March, and they flower until fall.

Tall chiming bells (Mertensia ciliata), also known as mountain bluebells, are beautiful and delicate flowers with colors ranging from (occasionally) white or pink to (frequently) blue or purple.

The Rocky Mountain Spring Beauty (Claytonia sp.), as the name suggests, is one of Colorado’s earliest and most beautiful blooms.

Stemless Townsend Daisies (Townsendia exscapa) are another early-year wildflower in Colorado! They grow in a “tufted” or “mounded” form, giving them the title of “stemless” - the stems are so short they can be difficult to spot.

Generally the second flower I see in the spring, sand lilies (Leucocrinum montanum) are resilient and beautiful!

In the first Wildflower Remarks of 2024, let’s talk about one of my favorites of all time: the pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens)!

Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a spooky and fun late-season plant with uses in wellness and skincare.