Flowers Were Made for People

The sun shines not on us but in us. The rivers flow not past, but through us. Thrilling, tingling, vibrating every fiber and cell of the substance of our bodies, making them glide and sing. The trees wave and the flowers bloom in our bodies as well as our souls, and every bird song, wind song, and tremendous storm song of the rocks in the heart of the mountains is our song, our very own, and sings our love.  (John Muir)

Abronia fragrans, Sweet Sand Verbena

Balsmamorhiza sagitata, Arrowleaf Balsamroot

Calochortus nuttali, Sego Lily

Delphinium occidentale, Tall Larkspur

Epilobium angustifolium, Fireweed

Fragaria vesta, Strawberry

Geranium viscossisimum, Sticky Geranium

Helianthella uniflora, One-flower Helianthella

Iliamna rivularis, Mountain Hollyhock

Juniperous osteosperma, Utah Juniper

Lupinus caespitosus., Utah Lupine

Mimulus guttatus, Yellow Monkeyflower

Nasturtium officionale, Watercress

Oenothera fruiticosa, Evening Primrose

Pedicularis groenlandica, Elephant's Head

Quercus gambelii, Gambel Oak

Rosa woodsii, Wood's Rose

Solidago missouriensis, Goldenrod

Tragopogon dubius, Salsify

Vaccinum scoparium, Low Huckleberry

Veratrum californicum, False Hellebore

Wyethia amplexicaulis, Mule's Ear

Xerophyllum tenax, Bear Grass

Yucca baccata, Spanish Bayonet

Zigadenous elegans, Death Camus

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 13

Taraxacum officionale, Dandelion. Family Asteraceae. The ubiquitous flower commonly found in lawns. The blossoms are sometimes used to make wine.  Dandelion greens are said to be edible, but I disagree.

Thermopsis montana, False Lupine. Family Fabaceae. Pretty yellow flowers.  Commonly found in Utah mountain meadows.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 12

Veratrum californicum, False Hellebore. Family Melanthiaceae.  Common in marshy riparian zones.   Rhizomes are extremely toxic. Veratrum contains highly toxic steroidal alkaloids that activate sodium ion channels and cause rapid cardiac failure and death if ingested.

Don't eat these.

Equisetum arvense, Horsetail, Scouring Rush. The only living genus from Family Equisetaceae, others are present in fossilized specimens. Ours are found in wet marshy areas. Early settlers in the Rocky Mountain region reputedly used the silica-laden stems to scour their pots and pans. Extracts have historically used for medicinal purposes, but I'd never eat this stuff.

The big leaves in the foreground are Thimbleberry.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 11

Sphaeralcea coccinea, Scarlet Globemallow. Family Malvaceae. These showy little orange flowers grace dry foothill and desert areas, just to make it more interesting.  A close relative of the Hollyhocks in our flower gardens!

Urtica dioca, Stinging Nettle. Family Urticaceae. Poisonous hairs on stems and leaves are a skin irritant. These plants are traditional source of food and medicine. Soaking in water or cooking denatures the stinging chemicals. I've still got plenty of better things to eat.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 10

Hackelia micrantha, Stickseed.  Family Boraginaceae.  The seeds stick very tenaciously to your socks. Similar to the genus Myosotis, Forget-Me-Not.

Sambucus cerulea, Elderberry. Family Caprifoliaceae. Abundant in Rocky Mountain region, the berries of this species are a source of sweet delight, for classic Elderberry Wine, as well as all forms of preserves, jams, and jellies, and syrup . Not only do elderberries make delicious syrup and jam, but some claim they also have particularly healthy properties. Possibly antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral benefits. In fact, elderberries seem particularly helpful in fighting the flu virus, if anything really does.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 9

Frasera speciosa, Elkweed. Family Gentianaceae. Such elegant flowers.  These grow in mountain meadows at intermediate elevation.  Other species of Frasera are found throughout Utah deserts.

Tragopogon dubius, Oyster Plant, Salsify. Family Asteraceae. The large tap root can be roasted and eaten - but it tastes pretty awful.  The mature seedheads form a large ball of fluffy seeds, similar to dandelion but much larger.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 8

Helianthella uniflora, Onehead Sunflower. Family Asteraceae. Very showy flower common in subalpine meadows.  This beauty is the summer splendor over the high meadows on Mount Timpanogos.  Millions and millions of these blossoms turn the whole landscape into yellow gold.

Tamarix ramosissima, Salt Cedar, Tamarisk. Family Tamaricaceae. An introduced invasive species common along waterways throughout the western region of the US. Introduced to the US early in the 20th century, Tamarix is thought to crowd out native species and compromise riparian environments.  Nice flowers, but the shrubby trees are kinda messy when they get overgrown.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series 7

Eriogonum umbellatum. Sulfur-flowered Buckwheat. Family Polygonaceae. An important species providing food sources for wildlife.

Balsamorhiza sagittata, Arrowleaf Balsamroot. Family Asteraceae. Such an interesting name.  Used by indians as food and medicine source.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series - 6

Calochortus nutalli, Sego Lily. Family Liliaceae. The Sego Lily is the State Flower of Utah. Mormon Pioneers depended on the bulbous root for subsistence during the early settlement years. The plant was used extensively by indian tribes across the Western US. Other members of the Calchortus genus are found throughout the area and are cultivated for their elegant floral display.

Caltha leptosepala, White Marsh Marigold. Family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup). This lovely flower is found in marshy wet places in subalpine locales throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

Wasatch Wildflower Series - 5

Rudbeckia hirta var., the popular Black-Eyed Susan.  Family Asteraceae.  Cultivated in gardens all over the world.  These were photographed by my son Thomas, as his shadow shares the glory.

Astragalus utahensis. Utah Milkvetch. Family Fabaceae. Extracts are used for medicine. Also known generally as "locoweed", it can have toxic effects on browsing livestock.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series - 4

Erigeron utahensis, Utah Fleabane. Family Asteraceae.

Arnica cordifolia, Heartleaf Arnica. Family Asteraceae. Common in shady undisturbed coniferous forest. Aromatic extract has been used for medicine.

Wasatch Wildflower Series - 3

Epilobium angustifolium, Fireweed, Willowherb. Family Onagraceae.

This graceful beauty of forest lands is often the first to populate burned-over areas.



Erigeron utahensis, Utah Fleabane. Family Asteraceae.

Wasatch Wildflowers Series - 2

Achilea millefolium, Yarrow. In the family Asteraceae. A classic herbal medicine source, the flowers are a splendid array.

Agastache urticifolia, Horse Mint. Mint Family (Labiateae). Strongly aromatic perennial. Some find the strong perfume disagreeable.  When I hiked the high elevations where this species was common, I would put a few blossoms in my pocket.   The pleasing odor is half the point.