Ultimately, my favorite--


...the kind that I cannot possibly recreate in my own yard



I would love to see everyone's pictures of wild rock places and learn about plants that grow there.

These are from somewhere around Moab, Utah in early spring. There's just something about the way these 'gardens' develop over time, the ever-changing arrangement and rearrangement of the hardscaping really tickles me.

Here are two flowering gems found in this spot: Need help with ID



The first I think is Physaria acutifolia
The second I believe is some kind of Astragalus ...my best guess is preussi, but really...I don't know how to figure it out.

Can anyone help?

Well I know enough not to hazard a guess!

Flora of North America hasn't published Astragalus yet, but they have Physaria (as if that would help)
http://www.efloras.org/florata...

Thanks Rick,
I cannot say the site helps me to confirm or refute the original supposition...???

But whatever they are, they were kinda cute trying to grow there

Nice plants! I'll comment further on them in the Plant ID forum.
Wow, how I would love to visit that area again! The colours are so rich and the life one sees in the desert is so fascinating!

Here are some shots of natural "rock gardens" in the Rocky Mountains west of here. This is in northern Banff National Park. As one hikes up to higher elevation, it goes from fairly lush alpine meadow, to rich alpine tundra, and finally to what I think of as sort of a cold desert... my favourite part of it, though I think most people would think it was frighteningly barren! That's where the choicest little things grow and there's a certain quality of light that makes each of them stand out like a gem!



Another area... just a neat view from the very floriferous Lineham Ridge in Kananaskis, west of here. The turfy substrate is chock full of a variety of alpines in bloom.

Marmots?
Hard to pick a favorite ...'till I saw the critters
Fantastic place!! and pictures! I am going to look at them again and again...if you don't mind
Thank you

Can you make the last one bigger?

Yes, hoary marmots.
Sorry 'bout that last one - not sure if I can embiggen it but I'll try. (Edit: Nope, sorry. I don't have the original photo any longer, just this puny one.)
Hey, I'll post more if you post more! Please join in, folks!

'Jellystone' National Park

Had that one handy because it is one of my favorite rocks, especially with the yellow stuff that time of year.

Yes, join in please, hoping for pics of natural rock gardens from all over the world

Well, it's the closest we have to rock gardens in Minnesota....

June pics, southwest Minnesota:
Houstonia longifolia, Opuntia fragilis, and Opuntia fragilis with a grass and Plantago patagonica

It's unusual to find a blooming O. fragilis, let alone with multiple flowers.

Phemeranthus parviflora and Coryphantha vivipara


August:
Aristida basiramea


October pics, southwest Minnesota:
Bouteloua gracilis, Opuntia fragilis and Phemeranthus parviflora

Lovely creviced rock face - the darker bands are water seeping down, yes?
Phemeranthus (used to be Talinum) parviflora - cool!
A few more...
Potentilla uniflora(??) in the loose scree on the flank of Forgetmenot Ridge;

One of the many alpine tarns (snowmelt lake) in Sparrowhawk valley:

Claytonia megarhiza - another scree plant; I like the contrast of these fleshy leaves with the sharp rocks:

Probable end moraine (my guess anyway):

Dryas octopetala:

magnificent!
wish i didn't have to dash off to work...

Yes--water seeping! Very cool.
Lori, I swear you have the most spectacular habitat photos!! will you tell us what those precious plants are?
Phemeranthus is one of my faves--had no idea that it hangs out in MN too

here are some pics from the bighorns in WY...a little late in the season






I don't know if you can see how the trees are smashed down in different directions in that last one...almost as if Paul Bunyan was playing golf on this course...probably not, but odd nonetheless

Wow, stunning photos! I'd love to be walking along that ridge top!

dirtdorphins said:
... the most spectacular habitat photos!!

Well, no thanks to me but to the absolutely amazing scenery in the Rocky Mountains west of here!
I went back and added plant names to the previous photos.
Love that Phemeranthus photo... Hmmm, I should be trying that species here.

dirtdorphins said:
I don't know if you can see how the trees are smashed down in different directions in that last one...almost as if Paul Bunyan was playing golf on this course...probably not, but odd nonetheless

Isn't that strange. It looks like the stand is struggling with a disease or infestation of some sort in general, judging from all the brown tops, not just in the blow-downs. Maybe strong, swirling winds (plough winds?) are able to knock them down in their (presumed) weakened condition?

Yes--the dreaded mountain pine beetle and probably some 'blister rust' or whatever the latest epidemic killing off the forests is.
Winds yes, we usually get more straight-line type winds that blow them all down in the same direction whether they are weak or not. I've just never seen such defined swirly patches before. Gotta be some kind of a down draft phenomenon I would think (is that a plough wind?), or maybe they had a bit of a tornado proper up there. Who knows?

Yeah, you should try some Phemeranthus---it does real well for me --except where I've allowed it to get crowded out and smothered by others; self sows too
Thanks for the edits--
love learning the term: alpine tarns (snowmelt lake)
and I am a big fan of that fleshy weed Claytonia megarrhiza. Looks like there is also another fleshy companion there with some seed head--it's quite attractive too.

No, seriously you *do* have the most spectacular habitat photos--granted, you have access to amazing scenery--importantly, though, there is much thanks to you for visiting and sharing!
So very inspirational.
Please, will you put the ones of that cute saxi over here too? well, that, and any of the many more...

Yes, I was thinking of a downdraft, perhaps? ? I don't think we can blame those horrible pine beetles in this case (only as those appear to be spruce rather than pines but correct me if I'm wrong, as I frequently am ) but they certainly have caused devastation across huge swaths!
The other fleshy-leaved native plants (very few "weeds" up there, thankfully... just teasing Yes, I am a pain in the butt... ) whose leaves are showing in that photo are Rhodiola integrifolia ssp. integrifolia and an unknown Senecio.

Here's a rather atmospheric habitat shot of Rhodiola integrifolia. By the way, this plant also occurs in your state, where I'd imagine it must be at very high elevations, given the much warmer climate?



More "atmospheric" photos... I love seeing the play of light and shadow across the mountain slopes.

Hmm, wonder why they call this "Boulder" Pass?



It certainly is wonderful to be able to get up into these areas with only some exertion!
Speaking of inspirational habitat shots, I would love to see more of yours from Utah - surely one of the most scenic places on earth!!

Hmm, which saxifrage are you thinking of? I'll guess maybe this one, Saxifraga lyallii:

I was going to ask about what is killing the trees, too. They all seem to have succumb fairly recently.

We have two Phemeranthus spp. in Minnesota: P. parviflorus and P. rugospermus. P. calycinus jumps around happily in my pots.

I haven't been to real mountains in decades, and it never ceases to amaze me that trees and meadows grow simultaneously without any mid sized floral contingency.

yes, I think that one I so love, love, love that pic in the rock...I just went and 'thumbed it' so you can know which one it is.

On the trees--
Lotsa dead lodgepoles out there for sure--there is also a spruce-specific beetle, but some say the pine beetle kills spruce too. I don't really know.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/...

Oh, how I am smitten with the Rhodiola integrifolia! Now that is a cute weed
Sorry, I am teasing about all plants being weeds--
I'll go high and try to find it--takes me more than "some" exertion though.
I'll try to remember to bring the camera--and take more pictures with it (I'm bad about that)

Chaco Canyon


I believe this was Hovenweep
Mesa Verde Mariposa lily (Mesa Verde)



Three Sisters Monument Valley

We love the west and I have loads of rock photos!

Thank you @rocklady!

dirtdorphins said:
I'll try to remember to bring the camera--and take more pictures with it (I'm bad about that)

We spent all day traipsing around Chaco Canyon and thereabouts --with the camera in the car
Did get some shots of the moon coming up though--and thanks to your daylight pictures, I hope that viewers can have a frame of reference (and maybe even some reverence... if you know anything about the place)

Great photos, Rocklady! I love the desert!

We spent the day in Chaco also and it is an amazing place. @dirtdorphins love your moonrise pictures.