July 6th 2024.
Maggie Gaddis, the executive director of the Colorado Native Plant Society, has recently embarked on a tour of the state to observe the wildflower blooms. She has made stops in Boulder, Estes Park, Gunnison, Durango, and Chaffee County to check on their status. After her thorough exploration, Gaddis has some valuable advice for us all: it's time to get out there and be amazed.
According to Gaddis, the flowers are currently in full bloom and are a sight to behold. In most parts of the state, where there has been an abundance of spring moisture followed by hot temperatures, the wildflowers are blooming earlier than usual. However, in the high alpine environment where snowmelt has continued into June, the peak bloom is expected in a couple of weeks.
Gaddis assures us that the alpine plants are right on schedule, thanks to the strong snowpack in higher elevations. She shares her recent experience of visiting Pikes Peak, where nothing was blooming just a week ago, but last year on the same trip, everything was already in full bloom. She believes that mid-July is the ideal time to witness the beauty of alpine flowers.
Her views are echoed by Nicola Ripley, the director of the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens in Vail, located at a stunning altitude of 8,200 feet. Ripley confirms that the gardens are currently in full bloom, thanks to the recent monsoon season and the warm and rainy weather. She believes that everything is either on time or a little early this year.
For those planning to hike in higher elevations, it is important to note that there may still be some snow and mud in certain areas. Ripley suggests waiting for a week or two if you're looking to see alpine meadows, while sub-alpine meadows with paintbrush and lupines can be seen anytime in the next couple of weeks.
If you're interested in visiting the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, remember that admission is free, but donations are encouraged. They are open daily from dawn until dusk, and the education center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In the Front Range mountains, some wilderness passes are still snowed in, according to Whitney McCurry from the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests.
McCurry shares that balsam root is currently blooming, while columbine, larkspur, and lupine have already flowered. She believes that most blooms can be seen around 10,000 feet, but it can vary depending on location and elevation.
The Colorado Native Plant Society has a calendar of events related to native plants, habitats, and gardening on their website. Gaddis encourages using iNaturalist, an app and website similar to AllTrails for hiking, to get crowd-sourced information on the status of wildflowers. She suggests checking the map function to see the recent observations of a particular area before planning a trip.
In conclusion, if you're planning a trip to see the wildflowers in all their glory, Gaddis and Ripley both recommend going in the next couple of weeks. And don't forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Adventurist, for more outdoor news and updates. Happy flower viewing!
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