Top Places to See
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Glacier National Park
Pictures and Slideshows
Park Map
Lodges and Chalets
In Glacier Park
Camp Grounds
In Glacier National Park
St. Mary's Area
See Map Here
McDonald Area
See Map Here
North Fork Area
Southern Boundary
Area
Two Medicine Area
Logan Pass Area
Many Glacier Area
See Map Here
Trail of the Cedars
Avalanche Area
Cut Bank Area
Chief Mountain
Goat Haunt Area
See Map Here
Services Available
In Glacier Park
Wintering In
Glacier National Park
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Wildflowers
In Glacier
National Park
St Mary's Lake
Mother Nature woke one lovely morning,
and decided to bless us with an array of colors. She gazed over the
mountains and meadows of a place dear to her heart, ----
Glacier National Park.
Now, she decided, I'll plant flowers of every color and shape to
match this beautiful place. And while I'm at it, I'll pick only
those that will thrive in cold nights, and short seasons. Their
beauty will flare in the presence of icy glaciers. My flowers will
also provide food for the wildlife that roams these meadows and
valleys.
Her palette of many colors, helped her to plant a scene of beauty to
behold.
Today, as we hike in the Logan Pass area, which is a gateway to
beautiful alpine meadows, we will find lupine, glacier lilies,
geranium, monkey flower, and many others. Most all are in bloom from
late June until early August.
Beargrass (Jesse Malone)
Bear grass, is a flower that will amaze you. It reaches a height of
five feet, and blooms with large, cream colored, fragrant blossoms.
Some years, they will nearly cover the rocky slopes by mid July.
Each plant, may bloom now, and not again for several years.
Glacier Lilies break through the icy snow early. These hearty
beauties will show off at their best in July and August. Mother
Nature has planted many of them because their bulbs are a favorite
food for the grizzly bear. It's all in the balance of Nature.
For those of you who are photographers, there are sights here you
won't want to miss. But do take pictures at different times of the
day, as the light changes and so does the scenery.
We all know that nights in the park can be very chilly, but these
alpine flowers have adapted to the cold, and to the short season.
They can even be found where heavy winter snows prevent tree
seedlings from growing.
If your trip to Glacier National Park has to be later in the season,
we suggest warm clothing. You will never be sorry by treating
yourselves to the beautiful fall colors. As the trees put on a
display of fare-well colors against a backdrop of evergreens, and a
surprise dusting of snow on the mountain tops, your camera will be
busy. Late September to mid October, is a Fall Paradise.
Lake McDonald Bridge
As our winters seem to be milder than in the past, our glaciers are
gradually melting, and this also affects the wild flowers. It's sad
but true, that some experts have predicted, by the year 2030 there
may be no more glaciers in our park. These huge ice fields have
created the beauty of the landscape we see today. As the glaciers
slowly slide, they have molded the peaks and valleys that are so
lovely. As this melting progresses, it will affect not only the
plant life but the animals who roam this area in freedom.
As this global warming gradually melts the glaciers, the plant life
will not have the heavy snow cover. Longer summers and milder
winters will produce drier soil and could prevent the growth of many
of the wildflowers.
We have a fear of wild fires each summer but Nature has used this as
a cleansing and it may actually make some varieties of flowers grow
more abundantly.
You will enjoy the Visitor center at Logan Pass. It sits on
top of the Continental Divide, with an altitude of 6,680 feet. As
you look to the west in peak season, there is a display of
wildflowers that is sure to bring you back again next year.
Wildflowers in Glacier Park, by Verna Parks.
Wildflower Slideshow
or
Views of Glacier in Bloom Slideshow
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