![\"Purple](\"https:\/\/checkconnect.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Purple-Fringe.jpg\")
<\/a> ![\"Purple](\"https:\/\/checkconnect.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/Purple-Fringe-CU.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPurple Fringe: Phacelia sericea<\/em><\/strong> These guys are really cool looking. \u00a0In the close up of the flower on the right you can see the conspicuous yellow stamens poking out in all directions. \u00a0This guy can get to be about a foot tall. The leaves look like they have fine hair all alone them and the leaves grow in what appears to be an alternating pattern. In fact the species name sericea<\/i> means ‘silky’ which refers to the silky appearance the leaves have due to the many fine hairs growing on them.<\/p>\n Elephant’s Head:\u00a0Pedicularis groenlandica<\/em><\/strong> Elephant’s Head gets its name from the interesting shape of the flower which resembles the trunk of an elephant. These plants can grow to close to 3 feet tall. They like to grow near marshy areas and have fern-like leaves, but are not a member of pterophyta.<\/p>\n Alpine Bluebells: Mertensia alpina<\/i><\/strong> The alpine bluebell is in a eponymous genus called Mertensia<\/i> which is named for the German botanist Franz Karl Mertens (or so I read). This group contains many spectacular flowers such as the Lanceleaf Chiming Bells, the Tall Bluebell, and many others. All the flowers have blue flowers in common which seem to hang or droop off the apex of the stem. As the name suggests, the shape of the flower is similar to a bell. \u00a0 This genus is known to hybridize and the classification of the dwarf plants is contentious. \u00a0Regardless, I was very happy to see this bluebell on Twin Sisters since it had been such a tough day and the many flowers gave me some inspiration to keep going.<\/p>\n Colorado Columbine:\u00a0Aquilegia coerulea<\/em><\/strong> The Colorado Columbine is a large complex flower. It has a few variations in color, but the most famous is the blue and white variety as shown above. They can grow to 2 feet in height and are rather conspicuous. This example was found on our sunrise hike of Grays and Torreys. They are very attractive flowers.<\/p>\n Alpine Forget-Me-Not: Eritrichum aretioides<\/em><\/strong> These blue flowers are common in the alpine and enjoy sunny, rocky areas. We found these flowers on the saddle between Grays and Torreys in the light of the sunrise. They are very pretty and dainty flowers.<\/p>\n
\nTwin Sisters Hike<\/a>
\nLate June, Subalpine<\/p>\n
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\nDeCaLiBron Hike<\/a>
\nTaken late July, Subalpine<\/p>\n
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\nTwin Sisters Hike<\/a>
\nLate June, Alpine<\/p>\n
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\nGrays and Torreys Hike<\/a>
\nMontane to Alpine, June\/July<\/p>\n
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\nGrays and Torreys Hike<\/a>
\nSunny, Rocky alpine regions, June\/July<\/p>\n
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