#subalpine wildflowers

[thebashfulbotanist]

Bear grass,  Xerophyllum tenax, is a very ethnobotanically significant plant in western North America. It has tough, fibrous leaves that many Native American peoples used to weave into waterproof baskets and even used as decoration on clothing. Today, people learning traditional weaving techniques still often gather bear grass. Bear grass leaves fade to white when gathered, and accept and retain dye well. I found these ones in the subalpine zone of Granite Mountain in Washington State.

[professor-buffalo-blog]

When visiting Paradise Meadows in Mount Rainier National Park, I find that the best lighting is in the early evening. The other benefit of exploring these meadows at the end of the day is that the crowds are leaving and the wildlife is coming out.

[thebashfulbotanist]

Cassiope mertensiana, white mountain heather, is a tough subalpine wildflower that I found right at the summit of Granite Mountain in Washington State.

[professor-buffalo-blog]

Colorful subalpine wildflowers glow in the low-angle light of the evening sun at Paradise Meadows in Mount Rainier National Park.

[professor-buffalo-blog]

Two photos that I took during the evening up in Paradise Meadows of Mount Rainier National Park. The top photo is of Magenta Paintbrush (Castilleja Parviflora) and Arctic Lupine (Lupine Arcticus). Subalpine Daisy (Erigeron Peregrinus) is seen in the foreground of the lower photo.