June 2011

Lupine
Bozeman, Montana
2011

Lupine is the second most common wildflower we have on our land, and the one most capable of competing for space with the Balsam Root. Together they certainly make for a colorful display.

Woodland Star
Bozeman, Montana
2011

A Woodland Star with one those ubiquitous Balsam Roots in the near background and a Larkspur lurking further out.

Balsam Root Forest
Bozeman, Montana
2011

I went out this morning to take some more flower photos and regardless of the flower species of interest, I found it was hard to take a photograph without at least one Balsam Root blossom in the background. On some slopes like this one, there seemed to be nothing but Balsam Root. It is normally the most predominant of our wildflowers but this year it seems to have really taken over.

Ball-Headed Waterleaf
Bozeman, Montana
2011

I’ve always called this bald-headed waterleaf, but I just looked it up and saw it is actually “ball-headed” rather than “bald-headed.” But it’s still an interesting name. It’s also sometimes called bear cabbage as well, which may be even more interesting.

Wild Strawberries
Bozeman, Montana
2011

Most of the time the birds get to the actual wild strawberry berries, but once in a while we get to them first. They are small, no larger than the fingernail on your little finger but have as much flavor as several domestic strawberries all rolled into that one little package. I hope those birds appreciate what they’re getting.

Prairie Smoke
Bozeman, Montana
2011

Some Prairie Smoke (aka Hooded Aven and a number of other names) blossoms poking up through a batch of Lupine leaves. (The various flowers grow so close together sometimes it’s hard to tell which leaves belong to which flowers.)

Forget Me Not
Bozeman, Montana
2011

Some Forget Me Not flowers poking their blossoms up through some Balsam Root leaves.

Balsam Root
Bozeman, Montana
2011

The south-facing slopes in our area are saturated with Balsam Root plants blooming this time of year.

Leather Bell
Bozeman, Montana
2011

One of the many wildflowers we get in the spring around our house.

Spring at Last
Bozeman, Montana
2011

The calendar says today is the summer solstice but it seems like spring has barely just arrived here in Montana. Whatever the season, we’re really enjoying it.