Natural History Wanderings

Mount Rainier National Park  reports

Currently Blooming – Updated September 16, 2016
Many wildflowers have transitioned to seed or berry. Bunchberry has white flowers that turn into clusters of bright red berries. In the dense temperate rain forest found at Carbon River, competition for growing space is fierce. So while bunchberry can normally be found on the ground, sometimes it will grow on trees! Plants that grow on trees are called epiphytes. Common epiphytes are moss and ferns.

Please note that parking is limited at Paradise while both the upper and lower lots are being repaved during September.

Wildflower Reports

• Carbon River (9/13) – foam flower, pearly everlasting, buttercup (late), narrow-sepaled phacelia, bunchberry and thistleberry berries
• Paradise (9/8) – cascade aster, pearly everlasting, thistle
• Paradise Valley Road (9/1) – cascade aster, pearly everlasting, fireweed; late: harsh paintbrush, magenta paintbrush, corn lily, arrowleaf groundsel, rosy spirea
• Reflection Lakes – Stevens Canyon (9/2) – pearly everlasting, fireweed, sitka mountain ash berries, yarrow; late: harsh paintbrush, arrowleaf groundsel. Vine maples are starting to turn colors along Stevens Canyon.

See photos and more information on Mt. Rainier Wildflowers at Discover Wildflowers – Mount Rainier National Park (U.S. National Park Service)