Colorado Wildflowers 2026

7/17/26
Every year I try to go the same wildflower hike in Silverthorne to photograph the flowers. This year, I wasn’t expecting to photograph the same flowers I saw last year. I knew it was going to be different as we have had a hot and dry year. I was right. There were no Columbine, lupine, or Buckwheat. They were all spent.

Now rabbit brush and asters were blooming! How exciting! These flowers usually start in mid August. I was surprised to see the delphinium, bell flowers, fireweed, Mariposa Lily, and cows parsnip still in full bloom. That shows me that those are longer blooming perennials.

This is why I love Colorado. Every hike is a different experience, no matter how many times I take the same path.
~Selina

Asters

Aster being pollinated

Aster with friends

Bellflower

Buckwheat field with spent flowers

Cows Parsnip

Delphinium

Delphinium

Fireweed

Mariposa lily

Rabbitbrush

Photo Credits: Selina McKee