Conserving Colorado’s Wildflowers: Behind the Lens with Doreen McGunagle
High in the Rockies, summer writes its brightest chapter in wildflowers—columbine, paintbrush, lupine, and a hundred fleeting hues. These blooms are more than beauty; they’re the living threads that hold alpine ecosystems together, feeding pollinators, stabilizing soils, and signaling the health of mountain watersheds.
Why wildflowers matter
Pollinators & biodiversity: Native flowers provide timed nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, supporting a web of life up the food chain.
Soil & water: Root systems reduce erosion, protecting streams fed by precious snowmelt.
Seasonal indicators: Bloom timing helps scientists and land managers track climate shifts and ecosystem health.
Pressures on a brief season
Colorado’s bloom window is measured in weeks. Earlier snowmelt, hotter droughts, invasive plants, and heavy off-trail traffic can flatten seedlings, reduce seed set, and disrupt pollinator cycles—impacts that echo into future seasons.
Simple trail habits that protect blooms
Stay on established paths. One shortcut can crush seedlings; many footprints can erase a patch.
Leave blooms for bees and seeds. Picking flowers removes food today and seeds for tomorrow.
Clean boots and gear. Knock off mud and seeds to keep invasives from hitching a ride.
Leash pets where required. Wandering paws can damage fragile groundcover and disturb wildlife.
Pack it in, pack it out. Even “natural” peels and cores don’t belong in alpine meadows.
Ethical photography in flower country
No trampling for a shot. Use longer lenses or reposition—never step into dense blooms.
No staging. Don’t move plants, break stems, or bait wildlife.
Patience over proximity. Wait for wind lulls and pollinator visits; let the scene unfold.
Share the story. Use captions to educate viewers about respectful practices.
Art as a bridge to stewardship
Doreen McGunagle Fine Art transforms these brief seasons into lasting fine-art prints—visual invitations to connect with place, then protect it. Each piece is crafted to honor the subject and the story the landscape is telling.
Watch the video
Experience the full Behind-the-Lens feature on conserving Colorado’s wildflowers:
👉 https://youtu.be/wcQT-2AWLVU
Join the effort
Fine Art Prints are available at https://www.doreenmcgunagle.com/, and a portion of all proceeds supports Global Voices for Nature Foundation Inc. Come be part of our conservation efforts—for our precious wildlife and our national treasures.