June 29 - Sandwort

This sandwort (Minuartia articia) is very similar to the more common arctic sandwort (Minuartia macrocarpa) but has more of a purple color and the flowers are more sprawling.  It also has narrower leaves.  I found it growing in patches amongst the ridge line rocks.

June 29 - Tall Sandwort

The tall sandwort (Arenaria Capillaris) is blooming along the dry, rocky ridge of Antler Creek.  This little flower is less than an inch and only about 6 inches (15 cm) tall.  It grows in clumps with long, narrow, grass-like leaves.

June 29 - Whorled-leaf Lousewort

The whorled-leaf lousewort (Pedicularis verticillata) has leaves that grow in a whorl around the stem with the flowers just above the whorls.  I found this growing as soon as I started hiking up the ridge, and it continued all the way to the high alpine meadows.  

June 29 - Arctic Lousewort

This arctic lousewort (Pedicularis langsdorfii) was found in the high alpine meadows on the north side of Mount Healy.  The flowers have a magenta pink hood and a lighter pink, almost lavender color beak.  The leaves are narrow and long with red teeth.

June 29 - Oeder's Lousewort

Oeder's lousewort (Pedicularis oederi) was growing in the alpine where the tundra was really wet.  It has a spike form, about 6 inches tall (15 cm) with hooded lemon-yellow flowers.  The hoods are a dark brown color.  

June 29 - Capitate Lousewort

The capitate lousewort (Pedicularis capitata) was growing high in the alpine meadows.  This flower is only about 3 inches tall (8 cm).  It is a light yellow color with tinges of pink.  The tip of the hood is a brownish color.  Arctic ground squirrels like to eat this one.

June 29 - Maydell's Oxytrope

Found Maydell's Oxytrope (Oxytropis maydelliana) growing along the rocky alpine ridge.  This plant is about 5 inches (13 cm) tall with pinnate leaves.  Flowers are clustered at the end of the stem.  The calyx and stem are very fuzzy.

June 29 - Yellow Spotted Saxifrage

The yellow spotted saxifrage (Saxifraga bronchialis) was the most abundant flower I saw on my hike up Antler Creek ridge, growing amongst the rocks.  As the name implies, these cream colored flowers have bright yellow dots on the petals and form clusters of flowers at the end of the 6 inch (15 cm) stem.

June 29 - Frigid Shooting Star

I found an alpine meadow full of frigid shooting stars (Dodecatheon frigidum) on the north side of Mount Healy.  The leaves are basal and spade shaped.  The magenta colored flowers have five petals.

June 29 - Arctic Poppy

I only found two arctic poppies (Papaver lapponicum) blooming today in the high alpine meadows.  This plant has a long, slender, hairy stem about 6 inches (15 cm) tall.  Leaves are found at the base and lobed.  The four-petaled flower is about 1.5 inches (4 cm) and takes the shape of a cup.  It is one of my favorite flowers to find.  They are also a favorite food of animals, and are often eaten bore maturity, so they are hard to find.  

June 29 - Pink Plume

Lots of pink plumes (Polygonum bistorta) blooming in the alpine meadows today.  These plants are about 6 inches tall (15 cm) with long, pointed, edible leaves.  The flowers are clustered into a cylindrical spike on the upper 2 inches (5 cm) of the stem.  

June 29 - Weasel Snout

I've never been lucky enough to catch the bloom of the weasel snout (Lagotis glauca sap. minor) in the high alpine meadows of Mount Healy before today, but they were abundant, mostly growing along the edges, or right in the center of little pools of water.  The bluish-purple flowers grow in a cylindrical spike at the top of the stem.  A did find a few flowers that were mostly white.  

June 29 - Bear Flower

I can always count on finding a meadow full of bear flowers or Richardson's saxifrage (Boykinia richardsonii) on the north facing slope of the higher elevation Antler Creek ridge.  These tall flowers are over a foot high, usually white with maroon colored sepals and large, round, toothed leaves.  The leaves closer to the flower are smaller.  In this meadow, I found lots of pink bear flowers as well.  Apparently bears really like these flowers.  I'm glad I didn't find a grizzly bear hanging out in this beautiful alpine meadow.

June 29 - Large-Flowered Wintergreen

I was surprised to find a small meadow full of large-flowered wintergreen (Pyrola grandiflora) on the lower tundra covered slopes of Antler Creek Ridge, only because I've done this hike so many times and have never seen it here before.  I didn't get a picture of the leaves, but they are very thick, round and glossy clustered at the base of the plant.  Flowers have long, yellow anthers.  The plant is about 6 inches (15 cm) tall.

June 29 - Death Camas, Camas Wand Lily

Lots of death camas or camas wand lily (Zygadenus elegans) blooming today along the rocky ridge above Antler Creek.  Compared to all other flowers found along the ridge line, this is a tall plant, growing over 12 inches (30 cm) tall with long narrow leaves.  As the name implies, it is a highly toxic poisonous plant.

June 13 - Hairy Arctic Milk Vetch

The Hairy arctic milk vetch (Astragalus umbellatus) was found blooming in the tundra covered slopes above the Savage River.  This plant was about 6 inches tall (15 cm) growing on a hair covered stem with a grouping of 6 flowers at the top.  

June 13 - Reflexed Saxifrage

This was the only saxifrage I found blooming along the higher tundra slopes of the Savage River.  I'm not certain, but I think it is the reflexed saxifrage (Saxifraga reflexa).

June 13 - Small Yellow Violet

Found this small yellow violet (Viola biflora) blooming along the damp scree slopes of the Savage River canyon.  The leaves have a unique rounded kidney shape.