The Alpine Gardens

It is June, and the Alpine flowers atop Mount Washington are in bloom. These flowers, known as the Alpine Gardens, are located on a relatively flat area of our highest-most eastern peak. The area is an arctic outpost inhabited by rare wildflowers that normally live only in northern Canada, Greenland, Alaska and within the arctic circle. Huge rock piles, some of the most unusual and exciting landscapes in all New England, are home to some of the most interesting species of these hardy but slow growing mountain-loving flowers. Our frequent guests, The Tintis, stayed at The Lodge last week and said the flowers were just amazing. If you plan a day hike to see them, save this outing for a calm, sunny day, so you can savor the flowers and the extensive views eastward to the Carter Range. It is a long and arduous hike to reach this special place, and one must be ever vigilant regarding the weather, which can be fierce, if not life-threatening, at any season of the year. Fortunately, there is an alternative if you are not too proud to drive there. The Mount Washington Auto Road will take you to the Alpine Gardens, and you may park and hike along the trail bearing the same name. Many folks take an annual pilgrimage to see these rare beauties, and if you bring a camera, you will not be disappointed no matter what the weather.

The ‘official’ Alpine Tundra Ecosystem is restricted to the highest peaks of Mount Washington. The primary vegetation is similar to those species occupying most other summits, ridges and slopes above treeline, (usually from 4,200 to 4,900 feet in elevation), with the exception of these rare flowers which are native to the Mount Washington area alone. There are about 70 plant species in this system, include dwarf alpine shrubs (bilberry, cranberry, and blueberry heaths, and other dwarf shrubs), alpine sedges and rushes, and relatively few forbs. Nearly all of these plants are perennials. Flowers you will most likely see this time of year are:
· Diapensias (Diapensia lapponica) grows on exposed rocky ridges that are kept free from snow by high winds. It’s a small evergreen perennial shrub up to 15 cm in height, with oval, leathery toothless leaves, up to 1 cm long, which are arranged in dense rosettes. It bears solitary white flowers and can be aged by counting growth-rings, and on this basis, tiny plants no bigger than a coin have been shown to be over a century old.

· Lapland Rosebay (Rhododendron lapponicum) The most striking flower in the alpine zone is not only beautiful but tough! It lives in an area of sharp, angular rock fragments left by the last glacier. Over centuries of freezing and thawing action just enough soil has been created to creat a habitat for these flowers. One of the first alpine flowers to bloom each year, the one-inch deep pinkish-purple flowers of this diminutive, perennial shrub are considered huge by alpine standards, dwarfing the rest of the plant. The leaves and branches seemingly disappear in a sea of pink during its short blooming period from mid- to late-June.

· Dwarf Cinquefoil (Potentilla robbinsiana) This is a small perennial member of the rose family endemic to Mt. Washington, with 5-petaled yellow flowers. It was placed on the endangered species list in 1980, when only two populations were known. The primary threat to its existence was ‘recreational impact’, associated with the Appalachian Trail. This prompted moving the trail in one location on Mount Washington to protect this species. It has since recovered and was removed from the endangered list in 2002.

· Mountain Avens ( Geum pekki) The leaf and flower stems of this buttercup look-alike flower emerge directly from the ground and its leaves turn bright red to purple colors in the fall. It is indigenous to Mount Washington.

· Alpine Azelea (Loiseleuria procumbens) From the tufted branchlets of this matted shrub are borne pairs of tiny, oblong, closely-set leaves and abundant clusters of dainty flowers. Each flower, a rose to white bell, is perched upright in the cluster. Plants are not taller than 1 ft. A creeping, much-branched, mat-forming, dwarf shrub with 2-5 pink, bell-shaped flowers in terminal clusters and evergreen leaves with rolled edges.

Now that you know some of the very rare, colorful players on our highest peaks, be sure to come take a peek at their flowers while they are still in bloom. Its an opportunity we're afforded only once a year!