Friday, June 26, 2009
Up the Forest Road..
Yesterday, Reggie and I decided to go up the forest road across from the RV Park. (Actually it was Reggie who started up the road and I agreed to go after having decided to go to meadow #1 originally.) We hadn't been up there for quite a while and I thought it would be good to see what was growing there. The road goes about a mile into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and leaves Red Rock road about 1/4 mile west of RedRock RV Park (Island Park, Idaho).
The forest road is a good place to find wildflowers (if you look).
The first delight was seeing the beautiful Wild Blue Flax growing in the same place as last year along the road. They obviously like it there, on the edge of the road in front of the high grass. They obviously like a lot of sunshine. Last year they created a large array of blue there. Now there are only a few blooming.
Wild Blue Flax along the forest road off Red Rock Road in Island Park, Idaho.
The forest road is a good place to find wildflowers (if you look).The first delight was seeing the beautiful Wild Blue Flax growing in the same place as last year along the road. They obviously like it there, on the edge of the road in front of the high grass. They obviously like a lot of sunshine. Last year they created a large array of blue there. Now there are only a few blooming.
Wild Blue Flax along the forest road off Red Rock Road in Island Park, Idaho.As I got close to the forest's edge I heard the familiar call of the Swainson's Hawk. I looked up and there he was watching us climb up the road. It was nice to know he was nearby. The meadow in front of the forest is a good hunting ground for him. Unfortunately, I didn't have a long lens with me for a sharp closeup. (As it was I had two heavy cameras and a flash. Three is beyond me while hiking.)
Swainson's Hawk watching Reggie and I climb into the forest.
Swainson's Hawk watching Reggie and I climb into the forest.As I reported earlier, the Yellow (Aquilegia flavescens) and Red Columbines are starting to bloom in the forest directly across from the RedRock RV Park. I found a group of them here as well. One such group was intertwined with the many-flowered stickseed (Hackelia floribunda) which made a nice accent for the yellow.
Yellow Columbine
The Heartleaf Arnica (Arnica cordifolia) is doing very well here. They seem to like the open shade afforded by the road and forest here. There are many bunches of them along the road. With the deep green of the forest vegetation they stand out well.
The Heartleaf Arnica along the forest road (inset of bloom).
Another similar flower that I encountered is most likely the Twin arnica (Arnica sororia). Its flower is similar to the Heartleaf arnica, but the leaves are lance shaped and opposite.
Twin Arnica in forest with inset of leaves.
I noticed the Sticky Currant (Ribes viscosissimum) starting to bloom. These are small shrubs that have sticky leaves and bear edible fruits. Meriweather Lewis collected this then unknown flower on his way home. He found it in Idaho also at the Lolo Pass.
The Sticky Currant flower along the forest road.
Western Blue Elder and bloom closeup.
A shrub, the Western Blue Elder (Sambucus cerulea) is in full bloom now. They are a beautiful shrub with large flat-topped clusters of small white flowers. They produce elderberries in the fall which are used for making wine and jellies. They are a favorite food for birds and animals, so they don't last very long in the forest.
Bunch of Fairyslippers.
Again, I was on the lookout for my favorite plant, the Fairyslipper Orchid. I remembered it growing in a bunch near the road last year. I finally found it as a bunch of several specimens. Normally I find these growing as single plants, but here they grow bunched together. Click on the photo for an enlarged view. Notice the basal leaves flat to the ground.
I'll end here, but there are more flowers that I'll be reporting on up the forest road. Here's a closeup of the one of the Fairyslippers (I can't get enough of these!)
Please come and visit us at RedRock RV Park and see for yourself.
Yellow Columbine The Heartleaf Arnica (Arnica cordifolia) is doing very well here. They seem to like the open shade afforded by the road and forest here. There are many bunches of them along the road. With the deep green of the forest vegetation they stand out well.
The Heartleaf Arnica along the forest road (inset of bloom).Another similar flower that I encountered is most likely the Twin arnica (Arnica sororia). Its flower is similar to the Heartleaf arnica, but the leaves are lance shaped and opposite.
Twin Arnica in forest with inset of leaves.I noticed the Sticky Currant (Ribes viscosissimum) starting to bloom. These are small shrubs that have sticky leaves and bear edible fruits. Meriweather Lewis collected this then unknown flower on his way home. He found it in Idaho also at the Lolo Pass.
The Sticky Currant flower along the forest road.
Western Blue Elder and bloom closeup. A shrub, the Western Blue Elder (Sambucus cerulea) is in full bloom now. They are a beautiful shrub with large flat-topped clusters of small white flowers. They produce elderberries in the fall which are used for making wine and jellies. They are a favorite food for birds and animals, so they don't last very long in the forest.
Bunch of Fairyslippers.Again, I was on the lookout for my favorite plant, the Fairyslipper Orchid. I remembered it growing in a bunch near the road last year. I finally found it as a bunch of several specimens. Normally I find these growing as single plants, but here they grow bunched together. Click on the photo for an enlarged view. Notice the basal leaves flat to the ground.
I'll end here, but there are more flowers that I'll be reporting on up the forest road. Here's a closeup of the one of the Fairyslippers (I can't get enough of these!)
Please come and visit us at RedRock RV Park and see for yourself.
# posted by RV Guy @ 10:34 AM 
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