Natural History Wanderings

Clashing colors are on display in the park right now, with fireweed competing with purple cascade aster and bright red Sitka mountain ash berries. Fireweed (Chamerion agustifolium) wildflowers are particularly easy to spot with bright magenta flowers waving on leafy stems up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall. This plant has alternating, lance-shaped leaves and grows from spreading rootstock, forming thick clumps of plants. Common in the park, particularly in disturbed areas like roadsides, below 5,500 feet (1,676 m) elevation.