Alpine Wild Flowers

Cat Paws

These little flowers actually do feel like feline paws. There are little rounds of furry peddles on each stem. During the day the stems of flowers stand up off the ground. At night they lay down. 

Cat Paws

Shieldleaf

Called shield leaf because of the shape of its leaf. The seeds can be dried and used for seasoning. Medicinal purpose is as a diuretic and treatment for bronchitis. Notice the bee in the picture.

Shieldleaf

Mountain Pride Penstemon

Lives in dry high rocky talus.

Mountain Pride Penstemon

Manzanita

Blooms in spring and grows berries soon after. The berries can be made into tea. The berry looks like a little apple. I will be writing more about the Manzanita later in the summer. Notice the bee in the center of the picture. The bees were very busy that day.

Manzanita

Old Mans Beard

These tall stalk plants flower in yellow for a short time in the spring and then in the summer change to a puffy array of white seeds that blow away in the wind (much like a dandelion). Hence the name old mans beard.

Old Man's Beard