July. A spectacular month with sunny days, occasional showers, fields of wildflowers, and healthy wildlife. It is truly perfect in every way. You can’t beat waking to cool forty degree temperatures with the warmth of the sun on your face. You know by mid-afternoon temperatures will be in the eighties as the sun warms the earth. As the day draws to a close, the sun sets late in the evening as the coolness envelops the land once again.  Oh, the mountain life. After 20 plus summers in the area, I have to admit this month has been a spectacular one. The rain in June has made the vegetation flourish so by the end of July, the mountains are a mosaic of color and outdoor adventures are filled with endless wildflowers, possible wildlife sightings, blue azure skies, and vibrant energy.

July would be considered the peak month for wildflowers. It is the time of the season that the snow releases its hold on most mountain aspects so the new blooms can mature and flourish. Granted we do still have more snow in the mountains this summer than most, but alpine flowers are growing at tree line and blooms can be found at all elevations. Soil is a main deciding factor as to where flowers will grow. They also need sufficient sunlight and moisture. As you hike, you will see meadows of different species as conditions permit a particular plant to grow and flourish.

Seeds can remain dormant on the forest floor until conditions are right for germination. Since we are having such a perfect summer with afternoon showers and normal temperatures, seeds are sprouting everywhere! I have seen a lot of spotted coralroot which is an orchid that grows well in wooded sites. I have also seen glorious mountain hollyhocks, fields of columbine, cushion mats of moss campion at treeline, alpine sunflower, and endless osha/fern leaved lovage (ligisticum filicinum). Osha is a western species with anti-viral properties. At every turn on the hiking trail, colors abound, butterflies float, birds feed, and maybe the moose stops to watch you as you come to share her meadow.

Mushrooms are also present this summer. I have seen so many varieties and need to get better at identifying them. It amazes me how an invisible branched web called a mycelium can produce a fruiting body, a mushroom, when the perfect conditions permit. It takes just the right amount of moisture and sunlight for the mushrooms to emerge. Our red squirrels enjoy the mushrooms and many tree species are dependant on this fungal part of the forest.

The birds are a bit quieter now that the young have fledged. To fledge means acquiring the feathers and wing muscles necessary for flight. I have seen robins learning how to forage and fend for themselves. I also saw our resident house wrens vocalizing at one of their chicks. I am unsure what the young one did, but it certainly had the attention of its’ parents J.

Watching the house wrens has certainly been a summer highlight.  Both adults tend the nest and the young are born immobile, downless, eyes closed and dependant on the adults for food. This degree of development upon hatching is referred to as altricial. I was continuously buzzed by an adult as they raced from the nesting box to catch the next insect and feed their calling chicks. In about two weeks the chicks fledge and leave the nest but they are still near our yard and fun to watch.

Mid-summer…what a glorious time to be outdoors. Take the time to walk barefoot in the grass, connect to the earth, and feel Mother Nature. She supports us from the ground up. Breathe big, into the blue sky, fill your being, feel the support. From above and below, nature supports us. Take time to walk, clear your head, be present.

What’s in the woods-
7/2- house wren chicks fledged
7/4- robin chicks fledged, maybe second brood
7/5- Sleeping Indian- alpine forget-me-nots, alpine sunflower, moss campion, big horn sheep in alpine environment
7/7- Munger Mountain- flowers peaking between 6400-7500 feet- osha, parrot’s beak, lupine, geranium, hellbore, scarlet gilia, Indian paintbrush, sunflower, mule’s ear, common blue, fritillary, wood satyr, swallowtail butterflies.
7/11-Atherton Creek- evening primrose
7/13- Victor, ID- young hawk returned to nest
7/14- Victor, ID- sego lilies! in sage flats
7/19- Munger Mountain- American white pelicans
7/20- Shadow Mountain- bull bison, white crowned sparrow, flax, geranium, gentian,
7/21-Grand Teton Park- black bear and two cubs
7/22-Grand Teton Park- about 70 cow elk and calf coming off river and moving to forest
7/24- Teton Canyon- glacier lily, columbine, osha, lupine, geranium, parry’s primrose, fields of wildflowers!, moss campion, old man of the mountain sunflower, cow moose
7/27-Ski Lake- Indian paintbrush, hollyhock, cone flower, mountain cicely, horsemint, lousewort, geranium, sunflowers
7/28-Shadow Mountain- bull bison, mountain bluebird
7/31- Victor, ID- bald eagle on connie’s pond

Tour Suggestion-
Right now the flowers are amazing at 8000 feet and above. The ridge walk out to Black Canyon overlook is spectacular. It is easy to moderate and you drive to the top of Teton Pass on Highway 22 and start on the trail south of the road. You can walk out to Mt. Elly and it is about 3.0 miles round trip with about 600 feet elevation gain. If you are hiking in Grand Teton Park, I would explore the LSR preserve which is beautiful and limited with the number of people. It has many hiking options with varying lengths and you can even continue into Death Canyon after visiting Phelps Lake. The LSR preserve is on the Moose-Wilson Road north of Teton Village. If you want to do a longer hike, you have endless options- some of my favorites are Lake Solitude, Amphitheater Lake, Holly Lake and Granite Canyon. These are all in Grand Teton Park and you can obtain directions and information at the Moose Visitor Center. Have fun, be prepared, and enjoy this glorious season!

Experience nature! Join us to make the most of your Jackson Hole visit! Our tours are educational, inspirational, and fun for all ages. Visit the Hole Hiking Experience.

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