Visitor's Guide to Pinedale, Wyoming
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Bitterroot, or Rock Rose It's not unusual to see a rocky outcrop or gravelly patch of ground covered with these flashy members of the purslane family and Montana’s state flower. Their fleshy fingerlike leaves, just an inch or so long, emerge out of nowhere as soon as warm weather arrives. When the buds appear, the leaves withdraw, and as soon as the blooms wither the whole thing disappears underground. We’ll just have to guess where they’ll come up next spring. Indians peeled and boiled the roots, but only early in the season – as they age, the roots become bitter.

The wildflower bloom on the sagebrush steppe continues as moisture keeps blessing this early summer. We’re seeing many more flowers in our high desert landscape than we have in years. In the higher elevations and swampy areas, the celebrated mountain wildflowers are just beginning, notably scarlet or skyrocket gilia, geranium, lupine, wild iris and fireweed. But there’s still lots to enjoy in the foothills and the Mesa Breaks, with blankets of phlox still filling the air with sweet scent, and the following typical characters:

Related Links Previous story - to see Wildflowers of the Sagebrush Steppe story & photos