Parry's Townsendia

Yes, I survived the full-day hike yesterday, though my body isn't moving quite like it should today, LOL. The scenery was spectacular and the wildflowers just wonderful. Two of us were taken to this trail by a friend who had been there a handful of times before. Both guys have had a lifetime of walking and hiking - and then there was me, LOL. However, we were stopping constantly to search for plants, record them and photograph them, so it was not a brisk-walking hike, thank goodness, otherwise I wouldn't have gone. Lost count of the number of times I glanced at the mountain sides to check that there were no Grizzly Bears in sight, though one had been along our trail at one point, turning over large rocks to see what was underneath. Thanks, David, for sharing this special place with us, and thanks for your patience with a slower walker : ) I SURVIVED!!

Thanks, too, for finding the only Parry's Townsendia for us - I was thrilled to bits with this, as I had never seen one before. The flower in my photo is way past its best, but I still love it. The setting was perfect, too, surrounded by rocks and Lichens and other wildflowers. We were astounded by the number of Long-bracted Orchids there were everywhere, including at the top of this mountain ridge. Parry's Townsendia is a native wildflower that grows July-August on dry hillsides and grassy slopes. The flower head is 5-7 cms across. The achene (fruit) is a pappus of long, soft bristles, more attractive (in my opinion) than the actual flower (which looks rather like a Fleabane).