This is the Colorado columbine, our official state flower. Columbines come in a variety of species and colors but this blue species, Aquilegia coerulea, is our state flower. We won’t see these in the wild until late May and June, but our recent temperatures in the 70s have made them seem just days away.
The photographer, Erik Stensland, is based in Estes Park and his spectacular photos of Rocky Mountain National Park are available online and at his gallery in Estes. Many more of his photos can be viewed on his Facebook page (can be viewed without logging in). He gave me permission years ago to reprint his photos on Pied Type and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Always a favorite to see in the wild! Although today, all is under a fluffy white blanket (roads are just wet)
Sad to say I’ve never actually seen these except in pictures.
Some of that white stuff is falling here at the moment. And to think we hit 74 degrees yesterday.
One of my favorites.
If your climate permits, I can imagine you tucking them into a loose stone retaining wall like my brother did at his place.
I think they’ll grow here, I’ll have to check.
That’s a blossom to be proud of – such beauty and delicacy, Colorado !
And Erik’s photography is almost as admirable. 🙂
He could make dandelions look like orchids and cesspools look like mountain jewels. The columbines would be just as pretty if he weren’t there.
I look forward all winter to seeing this amazingly complex but fragile flower.
Well you just described it better than I could. Columbines just leave me speechless. I’ll rely on Erik’s photos.
Like
🩵
My new neighbor next door has several large columbine plants emerging in her garden. My favorite plant by far, and I’m hoping that the ones in the back garden are doing as well as my neighbor’s.
I love having neighbors who plant flowers (since I don’t)
They are new neighbors. She asked me what the plant was, and didn’t know what a columbine was. Kind of unfair, right?
Oh my. Well make a big fuss and tell her how lucky she is and maybe she’ll take good care of them (I have no idea what constitutes good care for columbines!) Yep, it’s unfair.