Alpines of Mount Rainier

[David Sellars]

We were in Mount Rainier National Park last week just after snowmelt and found some wonderful alpine flowers.  The area has heavy winter snow accumulation which brings out the best in the flora and the scenery is spectacular.  Two plants were particularly outstanding and are rare in the North Cascade Mountains: Collomia debilis and Penstemon rupicola.  Collomia debilis is a highly variable species and prefers to grow on steep extremely unstable scree.  Long stems emerge from a deeply buried root crown which allows the scree to move around the flowering leafy shoots.  I started Collomia debilis var debilis from wild Wyoming seed last winter and it is flowering already in the plunge bed. The flowers are pinker and the leaves are not as dissected as in the Mount Rainier form.

[David Sellars]

Penstemon rupicola grows on the steepest black basalt cliffs which enhances the splendid flower colour. In the garden Penstemon rupicola needs perfect drainage and the flowers are much smaller than seen at Mount Rainier.

[David Sellars]

In the meadows the Erythronium montanum were spectacular. In wetter areas, the emerging flowers of  Anemone occidentalis were delightful.

[David Sellars]

On high rocky slopes the colour combination of bright red Castilleja rupicola and blue Lupinus lepidus var lobbii were remarkable.

[David Sellars]

Saxifrages were represented by huge mounds of Saxifraga bronchialis and Micranthes tolmei. Kalmia microphylla also put in an appearance. Cistanthe umbellata decorated the rocky ridges.

[David Sellars]

The sub-alpine flowers were also very good.  Here is Lilium columbianum and Xerophyllum tenax

[johnralphcarpenter]

Spectacular!

[Maggi Young]

Oh mys word - sunshine, fabulous scenery and flowers with fresh mountain air - almost as good as being there with you, David!

[ruweiss]

David, thank you so much for these impressive pictures.

[David Nicholson]

Lovely set of images David, thank you for posting.

[David Sellars]

Thanks for the kind comments on my images.  I wrote an article in the Summer 2012 issue of the NARGS Quarterly on Photographing Alpine Plants: A Landscape Point of View which is available at this link (page 208).

https://nargs.org/sites/default/files/free-rgq-downloads/roga%2070-3%202012%20summer.pdf

I have evolved my technique over the past 5 years and gave an updated presentation on my alpine plant photography methods ito the NARGS Wasatch Chapter last May in Salt Lake City. It may be time for another article!
 

[gerrit]

What a gorgeous pictures of stunning flowers before the icy peaks of Mount Rainier. It reminds me of an unforgettable visit, so many years ago. It opened my eyes for the beauty of small American rock plants and after this I started trying to grow them in my own garden. Thanks for sharing these pictures.

[Ian Y]

Stunning sequence of photographs David -taking us into the most beautiful landscape - I especially enjoy Erythronium montanum.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

On high rocky slopes the colour combination of bright red Castilleja rupicola and blue Lupinus lepidus var lobbii were remarkable.

    My word, what a combintation ! !!  An exquisite series David - astonishing photography.  Many thanks for showing.

[shelagh]

I have tried on several occasions to grow Anemone occidentalis from Seed exchanges sadly without any germination at all