INDIAN PAINT BRUSH
Due to the dryness of the season the mass of wild flowers have come
early in the high meadows and will not stay with us so long as in normal
seasons but while many of the flowers will be stunted and there life
shortened the red indian paint-brush seems to be improved by the dry
weather. Visitors always wonder at the depth and richness of the colors
of the common red variety (Castilleia oreopold) but this season the
color is richer and the masses greater than every before. At present it
is the dominant red flower of the alpine meadows. There are two other
species of Castilleia, one growing in dry areas is orange in color and
grows ranker and the second is pure white but unfortunately it is very
rarely found.
An interesting note on this flower is that the conspicuous tuft of
bracts which looks like a brush dipped in red paint is not the flower at
all but merely a bunch of modified leaves, the flower proper being quite
inconspicuous and entirely hidden by the red leaves. This species like
the avalanche lily commonly pushes it's way through the edge of the
receding snow and often early in the spring it may be found blooming
through the snow with the white lily.
"UNPICKED FLOWERS ARE LOVLIEST"
Almost all of the lovely blossoms for which this Park is world
famous, wither within a very few hours after picking and the plants from
which they are torn bleed and die. Left to bloom undisturbed they will
spread their beauty over many weeks, even months and will be alive and
sturdy to repeat their free flower show next season.
You are only one of many hundreds of thousands to whom these flowers
belong. Those who come after you, have as much right to the enjoyment
of these God-given beauties as you have.
Unpicked flowers give unending enjoyment.
