Snoqualmie - June 3, 2010

Mt. Si has a new look this month! The lupines are blooming....

Purple Meadows' Majesty!!

This plant, a regal June beauty, is cleverly equipped to add nutrients to the soil and work with native bumbleebees.

The hillside by the golf course is covered with native lupines or lupinus polyphyllus, and are just one of more than 20 varieties that grace Washington state. It's also one of the showiest varieties, standing a stately 3 to 4 feet tall. It is a wildflower pretty enough for an ornamental garden. They are really enjoying the summer rains!

Lupine is one of the first plants to take root in disturbed ground, and it plays a crucial role, enabling other plants to thrive by adding nitrogen to the soil. It was the lupine that first braved pumice plain at Mount St. Helens after the volcano's eruption, paving the way for other plants to come. "They fundamentally transform the environments they colonize by improving the soil".

It seems as if God has placed every flower just right....every flower a window opening into heaven.

Only one pink lupine!

Lupine blossoms are cleverly engineered to entice their champion pollinator, the native bumblebee. They are on task today!

Not sure what this wildflower is? Does anyone know its name?

These beautiful wild roses were sitting alone in all their splendor!

The "tissue paper" petals of this rock rose are too perfect to be real......amazing!!

It so looks like spring is here.... it keeps on raining so everywhere we look we see lush green!

Awesome!