Recent heavy rainfall should make this an excellent year to view wildflowers at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, park officials said this week.
The remote 750,000-acre monument—located about 25 miles northeast of Carey on U.S. Highway 20—is considered a top spot for wildflower viewing in wet years. Park managers said this year's peak bloom is approaching and should last through early July.
For now, low-growing dwarf buckwheat makes up the bulk of the wildflower display on the monument's cinder slopes. However, the varied habitats of the monument support more than 700 different species of plants, a National Park Service news release states.
While wildflower seekers will find the greatest abundance of blooming plants during the month of June, there are a variety of wildflower species that will continue to blossom throughout the summer.
Wildflower gazing isn't the only activity happening at Craters this summer.
The monument is already offering daily guided walks and evening programs. In addition to these regularly scheduled activities, a variety of special walks, lectures and events are also on tap, including a stargazing party hosted by the Idaho Falls Astronomical Society on June 19-20.
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 14 astronauts' visit to the monument, the park will host a special evening presentation by a NASA educator and other shorter presentations throughout the day on Saturday, June 20.
The weekend of June 20-21 has been designated as a "Fee-Free Weekend" to encourage people to visit national parks, the news release states.
Other events being offered at the monument this summer include wildflower walks and wildflower photography walks. For more information, call the monument at (208) 527-1335.
Jason Kauffman: jkauffman@mtexpress.com
