The story
In summer, Hurricane Ridge's subalpine meadows burst into a brief, intense wildflower bloom of lupine, paintbrush, glacier lilies, and other species. The very short growing season, set by late snowmelt and early cold, compresses flowering, pollination, and seed-set into a few weeks, producing a spectacular but fleeting display.
Take one last look at those flower meadows as you start down. In a few short weeks they'll have raced through the whole business of blooming and setting seed, and the slope will tilt back toward brown and then white. The high country gets only a sprinter's season of color. You caught it mid-stride. Now the road hands you back to the lowlands.
Photo: Olympic National Park (NPS) · Public Domain
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