Milton Public Library

Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountain region, Denver Botanic Gardens

eng

no index present

non fiction

Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountain region

electronic resource

dictionaries

Denver Botanic Gardens

Timber Press field guide

A must-have for wildflower enthusiasts, hikers, and naturalists in the rocky mountain region Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountain Region-from the Denver Botanic Garden, the region's recognized leader in horticulture-describes and illustrates more than 1,200 species commonly encountered in the region. - Covers entire Rocky Mountain range from Canada south to New Mexico, separated into Northern Rockies, Middle Rockies, and Southern Rockies - Describes and illustrates nearly 1200 species - Includes perennials, annuals, biennials, vines, shrubs, and subshrubs, both native and non-native - 1245 superb color photographs, 1189 range maps, 1 ecoregions map - User-friendly organization by flower color and petal count - Authoritative trailside reference Featuring more than 1245 stunning color photographs, this comprehensive field guide is the must-have portable reference for the wildflowers the Rocky Mountain Region. Green inside and out, Denver Botanic Gardens began in 1951 and is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Gardens' living collections encompass specimens from the tropics to the tundra, showcasing a plant palette chosen to thrive in Colorado's semiarid climate. The Gardens offer world-class art exhibitions, education programs, and important plant conservation and research initiatives. For more information, visit botanicgardens.org. Introduction The Rocky Mountains have been famous as magnets for winter sports for decades, but the appeal of the Rockies has grown exponentially in the summer months as well, as residents of the burgeoning Front Range flee the summer heat by driving to the heights on weekends. Tourists in droves from across North America and the world pay homage to the numerous national parks that stud the region. The incomparable displays of wildflowers that bloom reliably throughout the growing season are a large part of the draw. Crested Butte has celebrated a Wildflower Festival for decades, but truth be told, the Mardi Gras of flowers in the Rockies is never-ending, beginning in late winter and extending to the last days of fall. Thirty years ago, Denver Botanic Gardens published Rocky Mountain Alpines, a coffee-table tome with authors from around the world celebrating the unique flora of this region. Since then, the native plant collections at the Gardens have expanded enormously. They have become a focal point of interest for keen gardeners who visit. This book is a testament to the Gardens' commitment to our native flora. Throughout the growing season, the Rocky Mountain region boasts colorful displays at different elevations, and first-time visitors are justified in being somewhat confused and overwhelmed by the flora they encounter. The first flowers begin to appear in March most years (a few harbingers even before that at the lowest elevations and in special microclimates): regional flower buffs are always seeking the first pasqueflowers, springbeauties, or Townsend daisies on the fringes of the Great Plains. It's not till May most years that the lower foothills and plains explode with color, and June is when the higher mountains begin their floral pageant. July and August are the months for glorious bloom across the higher mountains. Although autumn arrives mid-August at the heights, the color only deepens as foliage on Ross' avens (Geum rossii) turns bright scarlet, the asters and gentians blaze with bright blue color, and a hundred yellow composites burgeon everywhere, making this book all the more important to have along to help sort them out! Elevation, rainfall, and aspect have an extraordinary impact on the character and nature of floral displays in the Rockies-perhaps more than almost any other part of our country. You can dri..

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