Open for Business

Glacier lilies are among the first spring wildflowers to open for business in the subalpine meadows and along the forest understories within the Rocky Mountains.  Don’t let their dainty appearance fool you.  These are tough operators.

Glacier lilies often appear in the first patches of open ground—even as huge snowdrifts still surround them.  And they can survive a few late snowfalls.  Glacier lilies produce enough heat they may even melt a little hole in the snow around themselves.

This has been an exceptional spring for the lilies.  The heavy snows of last winter and the spring rains have brought forth massive numbers of the flowers in the mountains of Montana.

Yesterday, while on a drive that took me twice over the Continental Drive, I stopped to admire a few patches. 

Posted below are a few images I captured.

--Mitchell Hegman