One of the old roads in the park. They're not on the maps, but it's a nice surprise when you do bump into them. This stretch was filled with Lupine so.....
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It seems Lupine has a romantic affinity for rural roads--or is it just a preference for disturbed soils and sunshine? In any case, I love the way Lupines beautify our byways.
I wish most of the US was a national park or Native reservations😭 then it would at least still be pretty, without an ugly brick building every 5 sq ft💯😭
Aren't these an invasive, non-native species in your area?
Pretty photographs is one thing, but when a species takes over an entire habitat, surely it's a real problem?
No, you can zoom in on the photo and see they're native. The invasives have 11 to 17 leaflets on each palmated leaf. The native species has 11 or fewer. These are very much native plants.
Ah, that's good to know. When I climbed some of the very highest peaks in Mexico a few years ago, the Lupins there had invaded absolutely everywhere. It was quite sad to see - rather like Rhododendron ponticum here in the UK's woodlands and mountainsides. Pretty, but damaging.
Which area is this in? Not sure why, but it reminds me of Canyon.
I worked at Rosy Lodge in ‘93 and try to go back every few years. Haven’t been since Covid, so I’m looking forward to our visit this summer! Thanks for sharing. ♥️
My dad told a story of parking next to the Lone Star Geyser in 1968 not realizing it was a geyser. Came back to a car covered in geyser schmutz. In 2016 we found the old road and hiked it with our kids. Core memories.
How come there still no trees growing on the old road? Are they kept open by forrest workers? Or are there so many deer and other animals that eat all seedlings?
I bet this smelled beyond incredible. The few lupine meadows I've been in that were even close to this full had the sweetest, clearest, scent. It was amazing.
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Most of these old roads exist as pieces scattered in the forest, the forest has overgrown most sections but there's a few ;-)
Pretty photographs is one thing, but when a species takes over an entire habitat, surely it's a real problem?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupinus
I worked at Rosy Lodge in ‘93 and try to go back every few years. Haven’t been since Covid, so I’m looking forward to our visit this summer! Thanks for sharing. ♥️