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Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
79 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2003 : 09:41 AM
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I was just wondering, when does the full bloom flower season start in the alpine, and when does it end?
(oh and incase your wondering I'm not talking about flowers and their status in the fall. Just the summer  )
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 Super botonist, hippie chick who cuddles thistles with glee
Langley, BC
Canada
1541 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2003 : 09:48 AM
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| For Manning Park, I always remember the full bloom being around my son's birthday, so the 3rd week in July. And that was true this year also, a group of us CTers went up there on the 18th and it was a fantastic show! |
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Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
79 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2003 : 10:00 AM
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| Thanks Trailflower. Let me explain something though, for everyone else. Let's say there is a start date for the alpine flower season, and an end (just bear with me). Let's say this period of an which the flowers are in their full bloom is appropriatly true for the meadows behind Cheam peak. So if this is true for that region (talking about the time frame for alpine flowers), does that go for all the rest of the regions where alpine flowers could be found everywhere? Or are there some places where the alpine flowers bloom on a separte time frame basis, DIFFERENT from the rest of the alpine flower season which and where could be found anywhere else? |
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alpine seekin, therma loungin, java brewin, licorice whorin, stealth hikin, all weather trail guru
Pt. Coquitlam, B.C.
Canada
1772 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2003 : 12:02 PM
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Latitude and elevation make all the difference. To generalize the further north, or higher up, the later the snow clears for for flower season.
Where the growing season is very short, not much will grow at all. And what does will have to struggle. These areas can be extremely sensitive to foot traffic. A single boot print can cause years of damage to the growth
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^^ Livin' in the 3rd dimension - Go Vertical !! |
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Buntzen roving stealthy beer mule and artist, aspiring weird image findmaster who loves BC
lower mainland
Canada
1647 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2003 : 12:15 PM
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Good question rambler. I think you've picked up on one of the finer details of nature there and why it's so cool and amazing. In a nut shell, the flowers will come out when its warmest (in whatever area), and warm, sunny weather hits different areas of BC (latitude and elevation) at different times. So flowers may bloom in southern areas sooner than northern ones. You may have seen flowers in bloom along a dirt road going UP somewhere, only to find that the flowers along the roadside higher up, haven't bloomed yet.
I'm thinking it also has to do with snowpack and when it melts, which also depends on latitude and elevation, north or south facing slopes. It starts to become more and more of a puzzle and judging by your interest, this may be the start of hobby. Maybe take notes on when you see the flowers out and where. Put it on a map. The more you do it yourself, but refer to books of course, the more it'll all seep into you. I had a thought this past summer that if I wanted to, I could become an expert on something (I was looking at a fish fry at the time). Sorry for going on, I'm basically talking to myself.
A great book is 'British Columbia - A Natural History' by Richard and Sydney Cannings. It goes through all the different regions of BC. |
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Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
79 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2003 : 2:47 PM
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Thanks guys. Mighty big help. Now I can plan my hiking list accordingly.  |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
444 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2003 : 3:55 PM
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quote:
I'm thinking it also has to do with snowpack and when it melts
Very much so. Taylor Meadows (Garibaldi Park) is usually at its peak in late July or early August.
However in 1999, there was virtually nothing in bloom at that time. Same at Brandywine Meadows. 1999 was the year which broke 50+ year old snowfall records, so the snowpack had a dramatic influence in both timing and amount of bloom (some species just won't bloom, period, if they don't get a long enough growing season). |
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Maple Ridge, BC
Canada
79 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2003 : 4:14 PM
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Well I know now what times are best for summer wild flowers. I'm not interested that much in fall colors but, just out of curiosity, what time does the fall foliage and fall colored flowers begin for most areas? What time do the flowers start turning into thier "fall" look faze? I'm thinking the start of october is the answer, but just incase I'm wrong, does anybody know the proper answer then?  |
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Buntzen roving stealthy beer mule and artist, aspiring weird image findmaster who loves BC
lower mainland
Canada
1647 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2003 : 11:10 PM
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Hi Rambler, not too much up on fall flowers but check out the thread below for one example of fall blooming. Scroll down that thread a bit.
http://www.clubtread.com/sforum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3877
Trailflower might help if she comes back here??
Also, some books may help. Plants of Coastal BC doesn't seem to really say when blooming happens, but a great book though. Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers to Know in BC gives flowering date ranges, but not for all, and it may be out of print. Try a library though.... |
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 right wingin', rock climbin', photo takin', computer geek
North Van, BC
Canada
742 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2003 : 2:11 PM
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| Wow guys. VERY imformative stuff here. I'm thinking photography here, so knowing when and where to hit is extremely important! Thanks! |
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alpine seekin, therma loungin, java brewin, licorice whorin, stealth hikin, all weather trail guru
Pt. Coquitlam, B.C.
Canada
1772 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2003 : 3:16 PM
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Fall colour will depend on mostly the same things as flower season. If you were to wait for October to visit some ares, like the Rockies for example, you could very well miss what is often a very brief fall season, before the snow starts flying.
I would say September is the best bet for most areas, except for the Fraser Valley perhaps
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^^ Livin' in the 3rd dimension - Go Vertical !! |
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Flower season
