How Do You Identify Spring Mountain Plants?
Mountain plants and wildflowers are part of the ephemeral glory of spring, their eye-catching beauty a delightful promise of warmer days to come. For many people, it is a rite of spring to hike the forest and alpine mountain meadows and find and identify the glorious new growth and renewed life hidden beneath the melting snows. There are many different species and types of new flora emerging from their winter sleep. Plants vary in size, color, fragrance and shape, and sometimes identification can become rather confusing. Locate a field guide. Guide books and Internet sites are specific to region, so find a guide that focuses on the localized area you plan to explore. The United States Forest Service, local county extension offices, the local library and gardening clubs are helpful resources. A pocket-sized guide that has flowers grouped by color is a helpful tool to aid in quick identification in the field. Familiar yourself with characteristics of different species of wildflowers and
