Happy June!

Thank you for joining the Northeast Alpine Flower Watch. This is the most important month for alpine observations.

Diapensia has started to bloom in NY and NH. Thanks to @kwilson271 and @govatski for capturing these images!

Diapensia (Diapensia lapponica) flowering in the Adirondacks and in the White Mountains

While you are out in the alpine zone, you may also see blooming Lapland Azalea, Alpine Azalea, and Bearberry Willow. Please keep a lookout for budding and blooming Mountain Cranberry, Bog Bilberry, Labrador Tea, and Bigelow's Sedge.

Stay on the trail and enjoy your hike!

First of all, we've reached 100 contributors. Thank you for sharing your alpine bud, flower, and fruit photos!

In the "Alpine Garden" of Mount Washington, Diapensia (D. lapponica) is nearly finished flowering. It continues to bud and flower in other sections of the alpine zone, such as the "cow pasture" along the Mt. Washington Auto Road.

If you have not been able to visit the alpine zone yet this season, fear not. Labrador Tea, Mountain Aven, and Mountain Cranberry have not yet started blooming in the alpine zone. Two of these species, Labrador Tea and Ligonberry (another name for Mountain Cranberry), can be seen flowering below treeline.

Bigelow's Sedge (Carex bigelowii) has started to bloom. This arctic species is known in the White Mountains for its role as host plant to the endemic White Mountain Arctic butterfly. The adult butterflies lay their eggs on or near the base of the Bigelow's Sedge. The larva feed on the sedge when they hatch. The photo above was taken by @mtncranberg near Madison Springs Hut.

Happy iNaturalizing! And if you take neat photos of lower elevation species, be sure to share them to our White Mountain or Appalachian Trail projects!

After a long winter and slow snowmelt this spring, the Information and Education department at Baxter State Park finally made it up Katahdin for our first alpine hike. We went up Cathedral to the summit, down the Hunt trail, across Baxter peak cut-off, and then up and down Hamlin to the Roaring Brook parking lot. If you've ever hiked Katahdin than you know how strenuous that day was. We had perfect weather and enjoyed looking at all the blooming alpine plants. For the most part, the alpine plants that we monitor are just on the brink of blooming. Diapensia is the furthest along with flowers speckled everywhere across the alpine zone. Bog bilberry looks like the furthest behind, in some places, barely hinting that Spring has finally come. There are a few flowers on the Bigelow Sedge and the Labrador Tea will have flowers soon as well. Plenty of beautiful alpine azalea flowers on the tablelands. Next week our Summit Stewards will start their regular mountain patrols and they will be on the lookout for new flowers popping out!
Happy Hiking!
Elise
BSP Interpretive Specialist

Here in the Adirondack High Peaks, some of our alpine plants are just finishing blooming. Lapland rosebay, Diapensia and alpine azalea are finally in their fruiting stages, after a long winter and delayed bloom. These species (mixed with sedges and dwarf shrubs) survive on the harsh windward side of the mountain where the snow is swept clean in the winter and vegetation is left mostly exposed. Bigelow's sedge is also currently transitioning to it's fruiting phenophase.

Labrador tea's buds are swelling and Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewards have just begun to see their tiny flowers bloom. Bog bilberry, related to the blueberry, is almost in full bloom! In tandem with beautiful alpine flowers and sunny days, hikers have started visiting our alpine summits. Be sure to say hello to a Summit Steward on Mt. Marcy, Algonquin Peak, Wright Peak or Cascade Mountain. Furthermore, please do the rock walk above treeline, avoiding alpine plants, soil or gravel. Hope to see you on the Adirondack alpine summits taking photos!

Kayla White
ADK's Summit Steward Coordinator
Adirondack Mountain Club