Parry's Primrose-Primula parryi

This striking magenta flower found at higher elevations and often near water is Parry's primrose (Primula parryi), a member of the Primrose Family (Primulaceae). 

Most of them have finished flowering for this year, leaving the leafy vegetation behind.

But I looked all around and managed to find a few flowers still hanging on. This flower lends so much color to the sub-alpine and alpine scenery. It also stands out because it is so large compared to much of the higher elevation vegetation, much of which has shrunken in size to deal with the harsher growing conditions.

For more information about Parry's primrose, click here.

Spiny Milkvetch-Astragalus kentrophyta

This dainty Pea Family (Fabaceae) flower is spiny milkvetch (Astragalus kentrophyta). It grows above 10,000 feet in elevation, and is native to western North America. It has pointy leaves that somewhat resemble spikes.

For more information about spiny milkvetch, click here.

Desert Sweet-Chamaebatiaria millefolium

This beautiful bush growing in limestone areas is desert sweet (Chamaebatiaria millefolium), more commonly called fern bush. It's a member of the Rose Family (Rosaceae) and is native to the western United States.

The flowers look like most other rose-family flowers, with five petals. The leaves are quite fern looking, with many leaflets (hence the species name millefolium).

For more information about desert sweet, click here.

Threenerve Goldenrod-Solidago velutina

Seeing goldenrod in flower is bittersweet--it's one of those flowers that appears at the end of summer, and you know that it won't be too long until the cold creeps in. This species grows in dry areas and is Threenerve Goldenrod (Solidago velutina), a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It's native to the western United States.

For more information about threenerve goldenrod, click here.

Eaton's Aster-Symphyotrichum eatonii

This showy aster growing in moist places is Eaton's aster (Symphyotrichum eatonii), formerly Aster eatonii. It's a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). It is native to western North America.

The disk flowers are yellow, while the ray flowers are pinkish-whitish.

For more information about Eaton's aster, click here.

Brook Saxifrage-Saxifraga odontoloma

Growing next to a stream I noticed leaves that were a notched semi-circle with even dentations all around the edge. Rising from these leaves was a slender stalk and delicate, small flowers. This was brook saxifrage (Saxifraga odontoloma), also called streamside saxifrage. It is native to western North America.

The flowers have five petals with a two-beaked pistil and ten reddish anthers.

For more information about brook saxifrage, click here.

Largeleaf Avens-Geum macrophyllum

This large plant growing next to a stream was a little bit of a mystery at first, because it had already flowered and only had strange looking fruits on it. The leaves were large and split in three leaflets. A little searching showed it was a member of the Rose Family (Rosaceae) called largeleaf avens (Geum macrophyllum). It's native to western and northern North America.

Flowers appear in June and July, but by August only the seed is left.

Unless you get lucky and catch a few petals still clinging on!

For more information about largeleaf avens, click here.