When you think of Montana, what comes to mind? To the cinephile, probably Brad Pitt and A River Runs Through It. To the adrenaline junky, likely one of the many black diamond runs at our world-class ski resorts. The sportsman or woman’s mind goes straight to a trophy buck . To the historian, the decimated bison and plains indians populations, or the crazy story of the Anaconda mine. I bet most people will quickly think of our famous national parks. 

Does anyone, I wonder, think of flowers? Unlikely. I didn’t. Until on a casual hike with a friend, I saw a wilderness brimming with delicate tenacity that embodied the Montana spirit as much as any river, mineral, homestead, glacier, or elk.  Fluffy Indian Paintbrushes, delicate periwinkle Forget-me-nots, flaming pink Fireweed, and innumerable other blossoms I had never before seen filled the gaps between rocks big and small, carpeted the forest floor, and lined the creek banks. Between the mountains and rivers, between the alpinists and the kayakers, is an Eden for the hikers, botanists, photographers, little fairy princesses, and everyone who needs a reminder that this life is still full of beauty and wonder. 

My enthusiasm for plants far outpaces both my knowledge of them and my photography skills. Below are pictures I took on my phone of the flowers along the Granite Creek Trail, just outside of Libby. I’ve numbered them and listed the names of those I was able to identify. Please help us identify the rest by sharing the names of those you know in the comments. 

1. Aster variety? 
2. Greater Red Indian Paintbrush
3. Fireweed
4. ? 
5. Larkspur variety? 
6. ? 
7. ?
8. ?
9. ?
10. Prickly Rose
11. ?
12. ?
13. ?
14. ?
15. ?
16. Yellow Columbine 
17. ?
18. ?
19. ?
20. True Forget-me-not
21. ?
22. ?
23. ?
24. ?