Page 37 - Walks In The Black Range

11. Campanula rotundifolia, Harebell. In this, the higher elevation portion of the trail, we also found several clumps of Harbell, also known as Bluebells of Scotland. This species generally prefers more water than is always present along these slopes.
Farther down the trail we encountered a community of composites at the saddle. This was the area where we traditionally see Iris.
12. Potenilla anserina, Silverweed. This species is best identified by its leaves (see below).
13. Iris missouriensis, Rocky Mountain Iris. The first time we walked up this trail we were struck by the fact that there were blooming Iris high on the mountain - followed by the ladybugs. Later in the year they go to seed and the insects feast.
14. Western Bluebird, Sialia mexicana. On the way down the mountain we flushed two juvenile Western Bluebirds from a tangle of down trees. The juvenile of the Western Bluebird can be told from that of the Mountain Bluebird by the spots on the back of the Western. See the first link for larger images.