Snorkeling for Wildflowers

It’s spring in the Northern Rockies…that time of year when the rest of the country is well into what they call “spring,” while in Montana winter and warmer weather hold daily contests as to which will have the upper hand. A warm, sunny, shirtsleeve day is likely to be followed by a drift of new snow before dawning again, warm and bright.

The traditional signs of spring have long since arrived. The haunting call of Sandhill Cranes and twangs of mating flights of Common Snipe punctuate the air. Male Redwing Blackbirds have staked out their terrain against their competition, but sit awaiting the leisurely arrival of the females. The Robins have been in the Gallatin Valley for weeks, yet are often forced to hunt for earthworms under four inches of new snow. The harbingers of spring have arrived, but where is spring?

From previous hikes I know to look for the proper habitat niche of my favorites, and true to nature’s seasonal rhythm, they begin to show themselves. As I hike up a trail on state land, I see that Spring Beauty, Pasqueflower, Missouri Iris, and Shooting Stars have returned to their open field haunts. The Sugarbowls and Prairie Smoke are on their way. Guarded by sharp thorns, the Hawthorn thickets are just starting to stir while the Choke Cherry and Saskatoon will soon be covered in white blooms. Leaving the open foothills behind and entering the montane or forested environ, I encounter a different variety of color and texture. Here, as everywhere, the wildflowers are indicative of soil and moisture conditions. Glacier Lily, Leopard Lily, and Wild Trillium appear amid the woods. Red Twinberry and the Fairybells’ paired flowers hide beneath emerging leaves. 

John Muir once observed, “When I discovered a new plant, I sat down beside it for a minute or a day, to make its acquaintance and hear what it had to tell.” Taking that sound advice, I kneel down to observe a plant whose identity I am unsure of, like a snorkeler descending to better examine the terrain. The plant is being coy; I will have to wait for it to show more of itself. Out of the corner of my eye, a speck of pink attracts my attention. Dropping to both knees, I peer beneath some shrubs. There, standing less than three inches tall are two Fairy Slipper Orchids. They are spectacular in form and color. With a background lit by Glacier Lily, they are a treat for the eye. Having now attuned my eyes to their minute presence, other Fairy Slippers appear as if by magic, each exquisite in its pink and purple finery.

A glance at my watch tells me it’s time to turn around. The good news is that I will be back.  I am fortunate to be able to wander the region’s vast network of trails — the results of the hard work of many organizations including the Gallatin National Forest, Gallatin Valley Land Trust, and the Montana Land Reliance. In addition, organizations like the Montana Outdoor Science School continue to help the community better understand and appreciate the natural world. Whether walking the dog, hiking, riding or cross-country skiing, these trails are the lifelines of the community, stitching people together with landscapes in a way that brings mental and physical health, an appreciation for nature, and a reminder that we are the land’s stewards.

The Field Guide Goes Hi-tech

Increasingly the field guides we once toted in our backpacks can now be found on our smart phones and tablets. Along with our maps and GPS, field guides on birds to mammals to mushrooms are available as apps (applications). While many of us will continue to carry a well-thumbed guide, apps offer several advantages, most importantly the ability to query.  The Flora of the Yellowstone Region provides a good illustration. The app contains 295 species of plants readily found in the area. You can flip through it like a book, learning about the plants, seeing detailed pictures and descriptions. But you can also sea rch its database by characteristics, including flower color, leaf shape, habitat, and season. Instead of attempting to find that “yellow whatsamacallit with heart-shaped leaves” from among 295 plants, the query shows you the seven species that share those two characteristics. In addition, such apps are continually updated with new information and species. To learn more about Flora of the Yellowstone Region, visit www.highcountry apps.com.   

Gallatin Valley Land Trust

Founded in 1990, the Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT) conserves southwest Montana’s heritage of open landscapes, working farms and ranches, healthy rivers, and wildlife habitat; and creates trails to connect people, communities, and the land. GVLT is a member-supported, accredited nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing the communities that we serve.

In the past 22 years, the Gallatin Valley Land Trust has proudly partnered with 88 visionary and generous families in Gallatin, Madison, and Park counties to conserve over 38,000 acres (56 square miles) of prime land using voluntary conservation easement agreements.  We work with private landowners to help limit development while keeping irreplaceable landscapes in private ownership and management. Each easement is tailored for the property’s unique resources and the landowner’s vision. 

GVLT has also helped expand the Main Street to the Mountains trail system to over 60 miles in length, providing recreation, transportation, and a connection to nature. Last year, our trails program engaged volunteers in more than 2,000 hours of trail stewardship, including weed pulling, fence removal, and trail resurfacing.