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Wildflowers, Geology, and the Chugwater formation

More wildflowers.  Its so green here, everywhere.  Won’t last long, this is the West you know.  I took a hike in the Clark’s Fork basin area where the beautiful Chugwater formation of red sandstone juts angled out from the surrounding ground.  This is the remnants of an ancient sea.  Fossils can be found embedded in the stone.  At  the Lake where the hike begins, an entry in the log states “Went hiking in the best geological area in the U.S.”.  He noted that he was there for 12 hours!

A few flowers and highlights:

Chugwater sandstone

Chugwater sandstone

Calochortus nuttallii - edible bulb, but do not eat as that kills the plant

Calochortus nuttallii - edible bulb, but do not eat as that kills the plant

Gaillardia aristata - cultivated perennial.  I am pretty sure the I.D. is correct.  Sunflower family is large.

Gaillardia aristata - cultivated perennial. I am pretty sure the I.D. is correct. Sunflower family is large.

Prickly Pear cactus flower

Prickly Pear cactus flower

Potentilla fruticosa.  The new name is Pentaphylloides floribunda.  This is a landscape plant and I prefer the old name!

Potentilla fruticosa. The new name is Pentaphylloides floribunda. I prefer the old name.

Nature landscapes the best!

Nature landscapes the best!

Sphaeralcea coccinea; Malvaceae family.  I have still not been able to pronounce this name

Sphaeralcea coccinea; Malvaceae family. I have still not been able to pronounce this name

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