Wildflower Hike, May 24 by Sherry Brence

 With the most perfect day that Colorado high country has to offer in the early spring, six women from the Women With Altitude Chapter of the Red Hat Society set out on a mission. Our starting point; a dirt road at the mouth of Byers canyon. Our destination; a high mountain meadow covered in wildflowers. Armed with several identification manuals, Marcia Skinner drove us to our well-scouted destination. As we approached, the first flower to catch our searching eyes was the most beautiful yellow daisy-like actinella identified by Marcia, lest we would never have figured that one out. The foliage is a sage color with a soft fuzzy covering. From there the self-made botanist continued to spot an estimated total of seventeen of nature's most beautiful accomplishments in bloom from the bluebells to the Pasque flower to the barrel cactus with its pinkish-white flowers. Barb was lucky to point out several including groundsel, golden pea, and monkshood among others. Joyce helped us identify the wax currant bushes of which I would like to collect the berries in the autumn to make jam. We saw hoary cress, chokecherry bushes, lupine, phlox, cinquefoil, wild iris (almost in bloom), evening primrose, the brightly coral-colored Indian paintbrush and my favorite the vase flower. Pat, Lee, Barb, Joyce, Marcia and I ended the day with a rest and lunch by the creek. It was truly a day to remember. Thanks Marsha and I will be looking forward to the next little trek.