WILSON, Wyo. — The hills are alive!
Fireweed is abundant this week at higher altitudes, visible to drivers on Teton Pass. Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer pulled over to enjoy the blooms.
Wildflowers in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem usually bloom from May through September. According to Grand Teton National Park, there are only about 60 continuous frost-free days a year in Jackson Hole, so the growing season is very short and the dominant blooming flowers change quickly from week to week.
Native to the region, fireweed is so named due to its ability to proliferate quickly after a fire. It typically blooms in July and August around here.
As a scenic bonus, a cloud inversion was visible from Sulzer’s vantage point.
A temperature inversion, often more visible in the colder months, occurs when the air in the valley is colder than the air above it. This is the result of cold air being denser and heavier than warm air, therefore sinking and filling in lower elevation areas. The National Weather Service notes that valleys sheltered from the wind are an optimal location for rapid cooling.
