This is the second year in a row our family stopped in Park county along Hwy 285 where the Colorado trail crosses at the Kenosha campground. This is the only place I’ve seen so may columbines. A short walk revealed many of the vibrant wildflowers and all the butterflies pictured below. I also included photos of flowers found on the trail to Agnes Vaille falls in Chaffe county.
Colorado Columbine, Aquilegia coerulea, Helleboraceae (Hellebore), Colorado trail, 06302017
Beardlip Penstemon, Penstemon barbatus, Scrophulariaceae (Figwort), Agnes Vaille falls trail
Whipple’s Penstemon, Penstemon whippleanus ,Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) colorado trail, 06292017
One-sided Penstemon, Penstemon unilateralis, Scrophulariaceae (Figwort), Chaffe county area 06292017
Yellow Monkeyflower, Mimulus guttatus, Phrymaceae (Lopseed), Agnes Vaille Falls, 06292017
Fendler Sandwort, Eremogone fendleri, Caryophyllaceae (Pink), Agnes Vaille falls, 06292017
Waxflower, Jamesia americana, Hydrangeaceae (Hydrangea) Agnes Vaille falls 06292017
Indian paintbrush, Castilleja sp., Orobanchaceae (Broomrape Family) Colorado trail 06302017
glandular phacelia (like Purple Fringe), Phacelia glandulosa, Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf), Agnes Vaille falls 06292017
Both in the rose family: Wild rose, Rosa woodsii, Rosaceae (Rose), Agnes Vaille falls 06292017, Shrubby Cinquefoil, Pentaphylloides floribunda, Rosaceae (Rose), Colorado trail, 06302017
Both in the rose family: Beautiful Cinquefoil, Potentilla pulcherrima, Rosaceae (Rose), Colorado trail 06302017, Boulder Raspberry, Oreobatus deliciosus, Rosaceae (Rose), Agnes Vaille falls 06302017
White Locoweed, Oxytropis sericea, Fabaceae (Pea), Colorado trail 06292017, unidentified Fabaceae family (pea)
yarrow, Achillea lanulosa, Asteraceae (sunflower), Colorado trail 06302017, Fendler’s ragwort, Packera fendleri, Asteraceae (Sunflower), Agnes Vaille falls 06292017
Richardson Geranium, Geranium richardsonii, Geraniaceae (Geranium) family, Colorado trail 06302017
Lousewort, Pedicularis sp., Orobanchaceae (Broomrape), Colorado trail 06302017
Purple aster, Erigeron sp., Asteraceae (Sunflower), Agnes Vaille falls 06292017
Possibly norway cinquefoil a weed
Nodding Onion, Allium cernuum, Alliaceae (Onion), Colorado trail, 06302017
Mouse ear chickweed, Cerastium strictum, Alsinaceae (Chickweed), Agnes Vaille falls trail 06292017
Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia, Campanulaceae (Bellflower), Colorado trail 06292017, Cutleaf Evening Primrose, Oenothera coronopifolia, Onagraceae (Evening Primrose), Agnes Vaille falls, 06292017
Cinquefoil, Potentilla sp., probably wolly cinquefoil, Potentilla hippiana, Rosaceae (Rose), Agnes Vaille falls 06292017
Buckbrush, Ceanothus fendleri, Rhamnaceae (Buckthorn), 06292017
Heartleaf bittercress, Cardamine cordifolia, Brassicaceae (Mustard) family, Agnes Vaille falls 06292017
caterpillar with branched spines, possibly a buck moth caterpillar. http://bugguide.net/node/view/1395298#2414975
black and white caterpillar- Meris alticola moth larvae. It eats penstemon spp. It mimics another caterpillar. Neoterpes graefiaria.
butterfly -variable checkerspot maybe, colorado trail 06302017
western tiger swallowtail maybe on white locoweed, colorado trail 06302017
another butterfly on cinquefoil flower
Pasque flower, Pulsatilla ludoviciana, Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) on South Fork Shanahan trail with a fly.
Wavyleaf dandilion Nothocalais cuspidata, Asteraceae (sunflower). Upper Bluestem trail
Spring beauty, Claytonia rosea, Portulacaceae (Purslane).
Mouse ear chickweed, Cerastium strictum, Alsinaceae (Chickweed)
Salt and pepper, Lomatium orientale, Apiaceae (Parsley)
Kinnikinnick, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Ericaceae (Heath) Shanahan ridge 04082019
Nuttall’s Violet, Viola nuttalli, Violaceae (Violet)
Oregon grape, Mahonia repens, Berberidaceae (Barberry)
Echinocereus viridiflorus (Hen-and-Chickens), Cactaceae (Cactus). spines grow in lines along longitudinal ridges. Bluestem trail
turkey vulture
Boulder wildflowers 