Road Trip to Montana 5/24/12

East of the Cascades, the hillsides and forests are completely dominated by the Ponderosa Pine. The bark of this hardy tree is thick, protected from forest fires and long-term drought, while the needles are long and very pointed!

These small flowers emerged from the pine-needle strewn earth throughout Idaho and into western MT. This plant was about 30cm tall, with small scentless white flowers. The very thin green leaves are well-adapted to a dry climate that doesn't provide much water for growing wide, thick leaves.

Western larch began to appear more obviously as we entered Montana along I-90. The trees are easily distinguished against the dark-green sea of pine trees for their brilliant green needles. The tree loses it's needles each fall, so in spring they are new and bright.

This very low growing nootka rose is just beginning to come into bloom! I wonder if it's shortness (10 cm from the ground) allowed for the plant to put energy into flower formation, as opposed to the surrounding tall rose bushes that are flowerless.