A real-time record of wildflowers on Independence Pass as they bloom (with a bonus bird list!)

Scroll through and click on the images below to read more about the flowers in this list.

April 23, roadside, lower Pass

Wildflowers:

Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
New Mexico groundsel x. Threetooth ragwort, Packera neomexicana x. tridenticulata
Storksbill, Erodium cicutarium

Birds:

Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratas
American Robin, Turdus migratorius

April 24, Difficult Campground & Trail

Wildflowers:

Spring beauty, Claytonia lanceolata
Wild candytuft, Noccaea fendleri ssp. glauca
Spring bluebells, Mertensia fusiformis

Birds:

Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula
Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia
Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus

May 14, Difficult Campground & Trail

Wildflowers:

Mountain lover/Oregon boxwood, Paxistima myrsinites
Oregon grape, Mahonia repens
Spring buttercup, Ranunculus glaberrimus
Slender phlox, Microsteris gracilis

Birds:

Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca
Yellow-rumped warber, Setophaga coronata
Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia
Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis
Swainson’s thrush, Catharus ustulatus
Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorous platycercus

May/june 2023

Featured
Shiny, beautiful things
Shiny, beautiful things
The stars of the forest
The stars of the forest
The bane of your existence?
The bane of your existence?
A perennial favorite
A perennial favorite
The east side's favorite daisy
The east side's favorite daisy
The elegant one
The elegant one
This daisy doesn't like to be pigeon-holed
This daisy doesn't like to be pigeon-holed
Berry yummy!
Berry yummy!
These fireworks aren't always on display
These fireworks aren't always on display
A purple and white harlequin
A purple and white harlequin
Give her a nod
Give her a nod
Visualize whirled peas
Visualize whirled peas
With a name like ragwort . . .
With a name like ragwort . . .
A hairy problem
A hairy problem
The first of many daisies
The first of many daisies
Cat fights
Cat fights
Evergreen (and yellow and red)
Evergreen (and yellow and red)
Free eye test!
Free eye test!
Bigger not always better
Bigger not always better
How low can you go?
How low can you go?
Cultivating appreciation
Cultivating appreciation
Pepper candy
Pepper candy
Dozens of flowers in one
Dozens of flowers in one
Hybrid fun
Hybrid fun
Good day, sunshine!
Good day, sunshine!
Spring has sprung
Spring has sprung
First flower of 2023!
First flower of 2023!

june 2023

Featured
Syncing with the cinquefoils
Syncing with the cinquefoils
Kinnikinnik spelled backwards . . .
Kinnikinnik spelled backwards . . .
Lucky us
Lucky us
The most delicate of drabas
The most delicate of drabas
First wild blueberry
First wild blueberry
Be careful where you step
Be careful where you step
It's all about the leaves
It's all about the leaves
Look for me high and low (and always low)
Look for me high and low (and always low)
Yellow to the west, lavender to the east
Yellow to the west, lavender to the east
What makes a wildflower a weed?
What makes a wildflower a weed?
Bursting with abundance
Bursting with abundance
Never to be forgotten
Never to be forgotten
Best name ever
Best name ever
Ugly? Not!
Ugly? Not!
A slender fella
A slender fella
Word of the day: "cleistogamous"
Word of the day: "cleistogamous"
The choke's on you
The choke's on you
A work of art
A work of art
A beary important berry
A beary important berry
Elderberry wine, anyone?
Elderberry wine, anyone?
The second of many Senecios
The second of many Senecios
In search of a family
In search of a family
A marigold's best friend
A marigold's best friend
Goodbye, snow, hello, marigolds!
Goodbye, snow, hello, marigolds!
Currantly unavailable
Currantly unavailable
Let me paint you a picture
Let me paint you a picture
Here, kitty, kitty!
Here, kitty, kitty!
All things bright and beautiful
All things bright and beautiful
Looking for a nice family
Looking for a nice family
Featured
A pretty potentilla
A pretty potentilla
Fairy time
Fairy time
Pioneer pea
Pioneer pea
Lookin' sharp
Lookin' sharp
What's new, pussytoe?
What's new, pussytoe?
Purple jewel of the alpine
Purple jewel of the alpine
Break on through
Break on through
A social climber
A social climber
The mama bear of parsleys
The mama bear of parsleys
Not a keeper
Not a keeper
Nah nah na nah nah
Nah nah na nah nah
A hairy beast
A hairy beast
Alp lily
Alp lily
Serious science vs. mickey mouse
Serious science vs. mickey mouse
Berry uncertain
Berry uncertain
Packing in the Packeras
Packing in the Packeras
At home in the great white north
At home in the great white north
arctic sandwortt above Linkins 12,400' 6.16.23.jpg
The white in alpine red, white, and blue
Bluebells on high
Bluebells on high
Our berry best berry
Our berry best berry
A wonder of creation
A wonder of creation
Berry unappetizing
Berry unappetizing
Yellow lupine?
Yellow lupine?
Patience pays
Patience pays
How low can you go
How low can you go
Sufferin' saxifrage!
Sufferin' saxifrage!
Daisy rockin' it
Daisy rockin' it
Pika produce
Pika produce
Alpine cinquefoil
Alpine cinquefoil
Short life but many offspring
Short life but many offspring
Featured
Rocky Mountain regal
Rocky Mountain regal
Beauty subjective
Beauty subjective
Looks good, smells good, tastes . . . well . . .
Looks good, smells good, tastes . . . well . . .
A rose by any other name . . .
A rose by any other name . . .
I am not a parasite
I am not a parasite
Another hairy beast
Another hairy beast
Bedding down for the summer
Bedding down for the summer
Narcissism earned?
Narcissism earned?
Meet me by the lake
Meet me by the lake
Drilling down on reproduction
Drilling down on reproduction
A culinary delight
A culinary delight
A hairy beast
A hairy beast
Another daisy to delight in
Another daisy to delight in
Psyched to smell a skunk
Psyched to smell a skunk
Inelegantly named
Inelegantly named
White draba
White draba
Skunks are beautiful!
Skunks are beautiful!
Lodgepole lupine
Lodgepole lupine
Ain't no stinkin' senecio
Ain't no stinkin' senecio
Mind the sheep
Mind the sheep
A woolly one
A woolly one
Carpe diem!
Carpe diem!
Big daddy dandelions
Big daddy dandelions
Smokin' soft
Smokin' soft
Tobacco's waning appeal
Tobacco's waning appeal
Your (lower) roadside companion
Your (lower) roadside companion
Friendly fire
Friendly fire
She just gets better
She just gets better
A pointillist paintbrush
A pointillist paintbrush
O Tay, Buckwheat
O Tay, Buckwheat
Featured
Your dog's enemy #1
Your dog's enemy #1
Pearly vs. Pussy
Pearly vs. Pussy
Babbling brook beauty
Babbling brook beauty
Licorice, anyone?
Licorice, anyone?
What a square
What a square
Rooting for the bears
Rooting for the bears
Triangles in nature
Triangles in nature
Calling Luke Skywalker
Calling Luke Skywalker
Another eye test
Another eye test
Spot on
Spot on
Pin cushion plant
Pin cushion plant
What a clown
What a clown
Green with envy
Green with envy
Singin' the big blues
Singin' the big blues
Wind river draba
Wind river draba
Red runners, red runners
Red runners, red runners
The leaves have it
The leaves have it
Unfortunately named
Unfortunately named
Difficult drabas
Difficult drabas
See me!
See me!
Climate change bellweather
Climate change bellweather
A rare find
A rare find
Fuzzy, wasn't he?
Fuzzy, wasn't he?
Red clover, red clover
Red clover, red clover
Don't call a medic
Don't call a medic
Feel the burn
Feel the burn
Baby blues
Baby blues
Eat but don't touch (?)
Eat but don't touch (?)

JUNE/july 2023

Featured
Yet another senecio
Yet another senecio
Oy, vetch!
Oy, vetch!
You needn't get bogged down
You needn't get bogged down
Satellite saxifrage
Satellite saxifrage
For your parking pleasure
For your parking pleasure
The cow's bane
The cow's bane
Mr. Parry scores another
Mr. Parry scores another
The shrinking snapdragons
The shrinking snapdragons
Breathe deep
Breathe deep
Aspen vs. Showy
Aspen vs. Showy
Lady of the evening
Lady of the evening
These berries won't kill you
These berries won't kill you
Help found
Help found
Pennsylvania's own?
Pennsylvania's own?
As good as the real thing
As good as the real thing
Why ciliate margined petioles matter
Why ciliate margined petioles matter
A Colorado native who never left
A Colorado native who never left
A higher brand of dandelion
A higher brand of dandelion
A crowning achievement
A crowning achievement
Little and/or common
Little and/or common
Another smelly beauty
Another smelly beauty
Snow white wonder of the east side
Snow white wonder of the east side
Pledge allegiance
Pledge allegiance
A member of the royal family
A member of the royal family
Runt of the lovely litter
Runt of the lovely litter
Shrubby bugger
Shrubby bugger
East-sider only
East-sider only
Showiest in show
Showiest in show
My old man
My old man
Fireworks!
Fireworks!
Featured
Another fuzzy wuzzy
Another fuzzy wuzzy
Unleash the elephants!
Unleash the elephants!
Mid-summer daisy
Mid-summer daisy
Beautiful but twisted
Beautiful but twisted
Ah, the spectable
Ah, the spectable
Fairly fuzzy
Fairly fuzzy
Go ahead, be crass
Go ahead, be crass
Naturalizing nicely
Naturalizing nicely
The higher goldenrod
The higher goldenrod
A (non) ray of sunshine
A (non) ray of sunshine
Roadside wonder
Roadside wonder
Another c-p
Another c-p
Bad hair day
Bad hair day
Telltale turions
Telltale turions
Three heads are better than one
Three heads are better than one
Modesty in the name of the future
Modesty in the name of the future
A most golden weed
A most golden weed
The big fuzzy wuzzy
The big fuzzy wuzzy
Beautiful but deadly
Beautiful but deadly
Things are looking rosy
Things are looking rosy
Not just a pretty face
Not just a pretty face
Another lousy wort
Another lousy wort
Arnica #2
Arnica #2
Beautiful sandwort (if you can find me)
Beautiful sandwort (if you can find me)
Daisy vs. Fleabane
Daisy vs. Fleabane
Invasive and much loved by pollinators
Invasive and much loved by pollinators
Whip's veneration
Whip's veneration
The daintier meadowrue
The daintier meadowrue
What a ballhead
What a ballhead
A world beater
A world beater
Featured
Yet another pygmy
Yet another pygmy
A long-limbed star
A long-limbed star
A ragwort never looked so good
A ragwort never looked so good
The asters are out!
The asters are out!
Hostess with the leastest?
Hostess with the leastest?
Arctic splendor
Arctic splendor
A thistle to embrace (carefully)
A thistle to embrace (carefully)
Tricky tansy mustards
Tricky tansy mustards
A crowning achievement
A crowning achievement
Viviparous, indeed!
Viviparous, indeed!
Good thistle!
Good thistle!
The next round of roadside daisies
The next round of roadside daisies
Fish food, toilet paper, and self-service all in one
Fish food, toilet paper, and self-service all in one
A cut above
A cut above
Not a lawn dweller
Not a lawn dweller
Circumboreal
Circumboreal
Grandaddy thistle
Grandaddy thistle
Hoary, not hairy
Hoary, not hairy
Surprise!
Surprise!
Black hairs redux
Black hairs redux
Black hairs matter
Black hairs matter
Wormskjold makes his mark
Wormskjold makes his mark
An angelic carrot
An angelic carrot
Not a lemon
Not a lemon
A rare delight
A rare delight
Reindeer pollination
Reindeer pollination
There's gold in them thar hills
There's gold in them thar hills
On the straight and narrow
On the straight and narrow
Is the end nigh?
Is the end nigh?

august 2023

Featured
Osha light
Osha light
A Rocky Mountain namesake
A Rocky Mountain namesake
Our lavender gentian
Our lavender gentian
Our most widespread orchid
Our most widespread orchid
This kitten wandered up from the San Juans
This kitten wandered up from the San Juans
The crazy-making daisy
The crazy-making daisy
Late-blooming early bloomer
Late-blooming early bloomer
Genus vs. Genus
Genus vs. Genus
Another alpine ragwort
Another alpine ragwort
The nerve(s)!
The nerve(s)!
Aliens have landed
Aliens have landed
Our smallest (sweetest?) saxifrage
Our smallest (sweetest?) saxifrage
Wood nymph, indeed
Wood nymph, indeed
Terrestrial dolphins
Terrestrial dolphins
A bashful fella
A bashful fella
Your roadside companion
Your roadside companion
Three families are better than one (?)
Three families are better than one (?)
Short on rays, long on personality
Short on rays, long on personality
A late summer star
A late summer star
A stemless one
A stemless one
Three heads are better than one
Three heads are better than one
Medicinal wonder
Medicinal wonder
The Scottish bluebell
The Scottish bluebell
Ah-choo!
Ah-choo!
A pink wet woods dweller
A pink wet woods dweller
Lakeside hemlock
Lakeside hemlock
Deep purple
Deep purple
IPF mascot
IPF mascot
The wide-mouthed one
The wide-mouthed one
Greenland's national flower
Greenland's national flower

september 2023

Featured
Pulling me softly
Pulling me softly
Beautifully berried
Beautifully berried
Twin Lakes splendor
Twin Lakes splendor
Twin Lakes beauty
Twin Lakes beauty
Bring on the disasters
Bring on the disasters
Our smallest gentian
Our smallest gentian
Rorippin' mustard
Rorippin' mustard
Weirdly wonderful
Weirdly wonderful
Dandelion lookalike
Dandelion lookalike
Late summer orchid
Late summer orchid
Prince(ess) of the pines
Prince(ess) of the pines
Skunky hellebore lily
Skunky hellebore lily
Grandaddy goldenrod
Grandaddy goldenrod
Leave it to cleavers
Leave it to cleavers
An unpronounceable beauty
An unpronounceable beauty
Bilberry time!
Bilberry time!
Another buttercup
Another buttercup
Family feud
Family feud

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.        — ed abbey