Wildflowers of the Colorado Foothills in May

One-Sided Penstemon

2015 Update:

I decided to create my own Facebook page, Wildflowers of the Colorado Foothills, so that I can continue to share my love of wildflowers with others. But I know that people also stumble upon my blog so I am updating previous wildflower posts with new flowers, new trails, etc.

Red Rocks/Morrison Slide/Dakota Ridge Loop

May was a very wet month. We had a late snowstorm the day before Mother's Day and only had a few days without rain. That made for some really muddy trail runs. On one of my days off, we did a trail run on a loop that began in Red Rocks part on the Red Rocks Trail, continued onto Morrison Slide Trail and the Matthews/Winters Open Space, then returned back to Red Rocks via the Dakota Ridge trail.

A white Milkvetch was growing in clumps beside the steep ascent on Dakota Ridge. Milkvetch is from the Fabaceae (pea) family. The Eastern Colorado Wildflower website lists 15 different varieties of Milkvetch. I also saw Wavyleaf Dandelions next to the trail as well as Death Camus. 

Cicer Milkvetch

Wavyleaf Dandelion

Death Camas

Mount Falcon

The next week, we ran at Mount Falcon. I saw a white flower that looked a lot like Death Camas but its leaves are quite different. The second flower below is one that has long perplexed me because I can't find anything quite like it. I used to think it was a Golden Draba but now I'm leaning towards Fiddle Leaf Twin Pod. At Mount Falcon, I also saw another variety of Milkvetch. Based on the shape of the leaves and the fact that it is low growing and trailing, I think it is Parry's. 

Snowball Saxifrage

Parry's Milkvetch

Green Mountain
The third week of May, I went to Green Mountain. It was still very muddy. Here I found a plant that reminded me of one I used to see a lot when I was a kid - Common Cheeseweed. I saw lots and lots of Salsify, some Paintbrush, Colorado Locoweed and another member of the pea family. I wanted to get a good photograph of Blue Flax here because I don't see it growing on the higher elevation foothills trails but the rain kept most of them from opening up.

Common Cheeseweed

Paintbrush and Salsify

Blue Flax

Apex Park
We went to Apex Park on Memorial Day and could see the results of the trail maintenance following the floods of September 2013, including a couple of new foot bridges. I loved running along the creek which was really full from all the rain. Here I saw a plant called American Wintercress or Yellow Rocket.

Boulder Raspberry

American Wintercress (Yellow Rocket)

 

Chimney Gulch

The last week of May, we went to Chimney Gulch in Golden. One of the plants I saw there had me puzzled because the flowers are not fully open; I believe it is a tufted evening primrose. This May, I did not see any Western Spiderwort and have not seen any of the "bluemist" penstemons but have seen a couple of pink ones.

Tufted Evening Primrose

Penstemon

2014:

Over the past few years, I have taken dozens of photographs of Colorado wildflowers, primarily on trail runs. I told myself that this year I wouldn't have to take so many pictures of wildflowers because by now I have photographed about 100 different kinds. But when I went on my first trail run on the first of May, I couldn't resist taking pictures of wildflowers any more than some people can resist taking pictures of themselves. I love seeing my favorite wildflowers again. I am still delighted when I find and learn about a new flower - like Kinnikinnick or Western Spiderwort. So I am giving in to my compulsion and will catalog the wildflowers I see by blooming month!

I visited five Colorado trails in the month of May - Mount Falcon on the first, Deer Creek on the 3rd and 29th, Chimney Gulch on the 15th, Little Scraggy on the 24th, and Mount Morrison on Memorial Day. The Colorado Native Plant Society defines the foothills as vegetation zones from 6500 to 8000 feet.

Mount Falcon, Jefferson County: Mount Falcon is great for viewing wildflowers because its trails have few trees so the sunshine is abundant. I ran on the Turkey Trot Trail from the East parking area to the Castle Trail, then up to the shelter at the Summer White House Site. When I saw a Pasqueflower, I was so excited, I had to take a picture! Sometimes when I want a longer run, I continue on the Castle Trail beyond the shelter because eventually it comes to a very pretty meadow. This time, I explored a short trail 0.3 mile trail called Two-Dog and saw one of the early blooming Wild Delphiniums. On this run, I also took a snapshot of Fendler's Pennycress and was able to identify it based on photos on other wildflower sites.

Nelson's Larkspur (Delphinium)

Wild Candytuft

Pasqueflower

Deer Creek Canyon Park, Jefferson County: Deer Creek is one of my favorite trails in the foothills because I love running next to the Plymouth Creek Trail with its flowering trees and butterflies. I also love the forested Homestead Trail and Red Mesa Loop, though I usually don't run Red Mesa because of the distance. On my first run early in the month, the Spring Beauty flowers absolutely lived up to their name. I learned that Spring Beauties have edible tubers. (Good to know, but I'll stick with energy bars!) I also saw the yellow Nuttall's violet on my first visit.

On my second run at the end of the month, I saw a bunch of Canada violets along the creek (not pictured). After I turned onto the short trail that connects with Red Mesa Loop, I found Hookedspur Violet. According to Eastern Colorado Wildflowers, its vegetation zone is primarily Montane or Subalpine (i.e. over 8,000 feet). Wild Delphiniums, Golden Banner and a couple of different kinds of Penstemons were blooming profusely. The Chiming Bells were also really pretty on Red Mesa. Last year when I ran on Red Mesa, I saw a dark purple flower that I initially thought might be some type of Penstemon. Now after finding it again in the same area and at Mount Morrison, I believe it is really Britton's Skullcap which grows on dry open slopes and in dry pine forests.

Spring Beauty

Nuttall's Violet

Britton's Skullcap

Chiming Bells

Hookedspur Violet

Penstemon - Bluemist

Chimney Gulch Trail (Golden, Colorado): When I visited Chimney Gulch, it was just days after the late snow we had on Mother's Day. I only took a couple of wildflower photos, including this picture of Missouri Milkvetch, which is not especially pretty. It was something new to add to my list, however.

Narrowleaf Puccoon

Milkvetch

Little Scraggy, Colorado Trail near Pine, Colorado: We first visited this trail last year in August. At that time, I noticed a lot of Columbine plants in the forest and wanted to return this year to see them blooming. May proved to be too early to see Columbine flowers but I did find something new to me - Kinnikinnick - a low growing shrub with bell-shaped flowers that grows in Montane and Subalpine regions.  You can see its evergreen leaves in my other photos of daisies and Pussytoes.

Kinnikinnick

Cutleaf Daisy

Small-leaf Pussytoes

Mount Morrison (Morrison, Colorado): This trail is a new one for me though it is located at Red Rocks Park, which we frequent. I learned about the trail this spring when my club's outdoor fitness coordinator, John Gillingham, challenged us to try it. It is very steep! My husband and I hiked/ran it on Memorial Day. The trail has very few trees so the wildflowers get a lot of sun. Paintbrush is a foothills favorite. I found a purple wildflower to add to my list - Western Spiderwort.

Mouse-ear Chickweed

Foothills Paintbrush

Western Spiderwort

Both Blessed and Humbled!

My niece recently shared The Humanist article Are You Blessed or Just Bragging? by Meghan Hamilton. Hamilton writes that the use of the word blessed "has spiraled out of control to the point where the word "blessed" is meaningless." I don't doubt that the word blessed is misused by some, but it is obvious that Hamilton's objection has nothing to do with what a person is grateful for (whether significant or trivial) and nothing to do with a person's self esteem (whether they're bragging or not proud enough). No, the reason for Hamilton's criticism is that the object of a believer's gratitude is God. In her own words, she "can't possibly see why anyone would want to dedicate their accomplishments to the "blessings" of a god." 

Hamilton notes that there is an "ongoing trend of immediately attributing accomplishments or good fortune to God's blessing." The use of #blessed or #anything in social media is certainly a new trend but humans have been worshiping the Creator since the beginning of time. So why is it that believers are so quick to thank God for the positive things in their lives? I can give you a few good reasons.

1. The Creator is greater than the created. Humans did not create the universe, the laws of nature, nor the building blocks of life. We cannot take credit for the amazing genetic language that defines our very being, for the gifts with which we are born. When I consider the splendor of God's creation, the fine tuning of the universe, I am filled with awe and wonder. I am humbled by God's omniscience and omnipotence. Anything I accomplish pales in comparison. Ascribe to the Lord, the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

2. Humans fall short of God's glory and holiness. We are sinful and disobedient. Our sin comes with a price - death. We don't deserve God's forgiveness. Yet he loves us so much, he sent a Savior to redeem us. When I consider the depravity and selfishness of mankind, I am grateful for God's grace and mercy.  In my own brokenness and disobedience, I am humbled by God's holiness. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

3. God promised to bless his people. About 600 B.C., the prophet Ezekiel foretold the coming of the Messiah (Ezekiel 34). Using an analogy of a shepherd and his flock, he criticized the shepherds of Israel for taking care of themselves while treating the flock harshly and neglecting the weak, sick and lost. God was not pleased with this. He promised to search for his sheep and to look after them. He said he would save his flock and place a Shepherd over them. He said they will know that I am with them. I will bless my people and their homes around my holy hill. And in the proper season, I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, taught a way of life that leads to heavenly blessings. The qualities Jesus listed in The Beatitudes are in stark contrast to the human desires for power, material rewards, recognition for accomplishments, etc. - the worldly values that Meghan Hamilton holds dear.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are they who mourn, 

for they shall be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek, 

for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they shall be satisfied. 

Blessed are the merciful, 

for they shall obtain mercy. 

Blessed are the pure of heart, 

for they shall see God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, 

for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

As a Christian, I confirm Hamilton's suspicions about believers - we really do believe that God steps in to influence events in a way that blesses us. We believe that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. We even believe that being mocked for our faith is a blessing.  So thank you Meghan for inspiring me to share my faith in response to your criticism!

As for Hamilton's suggestion that people who say they are blessed are bragging, bragging implies pride. So why does Hamilton conclude her commentary by saying that "we need to feel proud of ourselves?" Why does she say that if you give credit to God, it "completely undermines your ability and depreciates everything you have done to earn it?" I give credit to God for the blessings in my life, for the things that I have accomplished and even for the trials I have overcome because he made me. God does not diminish me - He lifts me up when I am weak.

One final comment. Ms. Hamilton encouraged her readers to take credit for their accomplishments because "We need to feel significant in something and to somebody." Meghan, regardless of what we've accomplished, we are more than significant to God.

Konza Prairie - Godwin Hill Loop

Last July, I visited the Konza Prairie outside Manhattan, Kansas on my 50th birthday. I grew up in Northeast Kansas but have lived in Colorado the past twenty-five years. I frequently run in the Colorado foothills yet I still love the rolling flint hills of my home state. However, I have gotten rather spoiled by the low humidity in Colorado and my first attempt to hike at Konza Prairie left me sweaty and uncomfortable. So I looked forward to returning for another visit in early summer or fall. I had that opportunity on the Friday before Mother's day.

I decided to tackle the Godwin Hill Loop, the longest trail open to the public. At 6 miles, it is the average distance that I typically run on trails in Colorado. I downloaded a trail map of the Kings Creek loop before my visit and carried it along with a Camelback and my camera. In the parking area, there is a sign requesting a $2 donation for using the park. Good people pay the fee to support the trail. I did!

From the parking area, I followed the Nature Trail along Kings Creek. According to the trail guide, Kings Creek's headwaters are entirely within the boundaries of the protected Konza Prairie, which makes it a good benchmark for researching our environmental impacts on natural streams. You can see the erosion along the banks.

Kings Creek

As I approached the first trail junction, I was a bit confused about where to go. There was a sign that said K1A on the trail to the left, which would be the .6 mile segment that crosses over to the north side of the park. I continued to my right, which took me towards the limestone buildings of the Hokanson Homestead. There I found another trail sign close to the creek. Across the creek is the research area that is not open to the public.

There aren't a lot of trees on the prairie; most of the trees are along the creek. I really enjoyed this view of the green, rocky grass.

One of the reasons I love visiting trails is the opportunity to see wildflowers and learn more about them.  The Friends of Konza Prairie will host a wildflower walk on the first of June. I did my best to identify the flowers I saw on my own with the help of the Kansas Wildflowers & Grasses website but would welcome corrections.

There were small flowers in the grass next to the trail - White-eyed Grass and Violet Wood Sorrel. I found a pretty purple flower that appeared to be from the pea family - Blue Wild Indigo and later a pale yellow Plains Indigo. According to Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses, Indigo is actually in the bean family. 

White-eyed Grass

Violet Wood Sorrel

Blue Wild Indigo

Plains Wild Indigo

I also saw a couple of flowers that remind me of Colorado wildflowers - Groundsel and Lupine. According to the KS wildflower website, there is a Small or Rusty Lupine that grows in western Kansas in sandy soil. They don't have any photos of Lupine in eastern Kansas. 

Groundsel

Lupine

New Jersey Tea

Prairie Parsley

At the far end of the loop, the trail runs along a fenced area where cows graze. I think this cow was as interested in me as I was in it. In the last snapshot, looking towards Manhattan, you can see farmland in the Kansas River valley. 

As I came back down the hill at the end of my run, I saw a young couple and a photographer headed up the hill for some pictures. I enjoyed my second visit to Konza Prairie!