Wolf Creek Pass and the Weminuche Wilderness Area

July 19 - 21, 2007

A Photo Essay by Vickie Danielsen

Upon closer look we could see the meadows covered with a delightful plant, one we believed new to us.

Turns out, it is only new in the profusion of flower we were seeing — acres and acres of bluish-pink!

To be certain of identity, we checked again with Lorraine Yeatts about the display. Here's what she says,

“I think the acres you describe would be more likely for Penstemon strictus but I can't be sure without seeing the plants.

Sometimes P. strictus grows enmasse along the highway in South Park and that would be more likely

for the elevation above Pagosa Springs.”

Lorraine then shares two of her own images of Penstemon comarrhenus, which we originally thought we might be seeing.

They are linked here [use Back arrow to return here] with this description: “In UT where I have seen it,

P. comarrhenus tends to be tall, wand-like with widely spaced flowers which are a pale violet to pinkish blue. It grows in mesic

sagebrush meadows or under open P-J forest.” At this point, we'll be like Myrna's mom when looking through a flower or

bird book and say, “We want to see that one”! Oh that it were so easy. <grin>

Whatever the species, come along, walk awhile with us among these lovely plants!