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.