The Colorado blue columbine (Aquilegia coerulea) is a lovely flowering plant native to the Rocky Mountains in the USA. It is the State Flower of Colorado. Here are some key details about it:
Description: The Colorado blue columbine grows to 20–60 cm (7.9–23.6 in) tall and produces flowers in various colors, including pale blue, white, pale yellow, and pinkish. The sepals and petals can be bicolored. The plant’s long spurs contain nectar accessible to hawkmoths and other pollinators. It thrives in moist woods and open mountain meadows.
Distribution: It is native to Colorado, southeastern Idaho, southern Montana, Wyoming, northern New Mexico, and Utah.
Be respectful of the flowers
Don't touch or pick the flowers. Also, stick to the trails to refrain from trampling any flowers. Remember – it's always important to leave wildflowers for others to admire. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, picking wildflowers can be illegal as well as amaging to the ecosystem. Picking the state flower, the Colorado Blue Columbine, can result in a misdemeanor offense and a fine of up to $50.
Think before you pick! In what year did the General Assembly enacted a law to protect the rare and delicate state flower?
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06/16/2024 By ernie66 I was heading from Colorado Springs to Franktown and Parker this morning for a few hours of caching and there was a small plane crashed in the Plum Creek ponds area just north of the Larkspur exit! Hopefully the crash and recovery didn't hurt any endangered Preble's Jumping Mice or there will be hell to pay!
Fire trucks had just arrived and were in the process of blocking 2 northbound lanes, and now, nearly 7 hours later, they are still blocked. News reports say the two people onboard walked away from the crash! Anyway, it was a great walk out to the cache but I should really bring my bike next time! TFTC!
06/15/2024 By Pinerypros Quick cache and dash by unusual rest stop.
06/08/2024 By EJKPBR Another fun find along this bike trail. I'm so happy that @vegantriathlete got the FTF on this one and left the other new cache for someone else to find (like me) What a thoughtful thing to do.
Thank you OUT14ND3R for placing and maintaining "Colorado Nature Nook #12" for me to find and log. Saturday June 8, 2024 3:03 PM
Colorado Nature Nook #12
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