Please Don’t Pick the Daisies

By Tom Zeiner, President, Crested Butte Wildflower Festival

“Don’t Pick the Daisies!” You may hear your hike leader ask you not to pick the flowers but do you know why? It’s not just for aesthetics, although we like to watch wildflowers go through their whole cycle.

We have a really short growing season here at 9000’, so all the growth and seed production is squeezed into a compact 3 month growing season. Lots of our plants have developed ways to maximize that brief summer, but they still need a little help.

Only a few of the seeds that all those wildflowers produce actually become new plants. Some don’t land in a good spot, some are digested by birds, and some may sprout, but just plain don’t make it.

Picking flowers or even trampling flowers if you go off-trail assures that

Colorado Columbines by Tom Zeiner

(970) 349-2571 55 those seeds will never have a chance to germinate. Not to mention that wildflowers are generally very short-lived once they’re cut.

True story—In the early 1900’s Coloradoans loved to take the train into the mountains for a getaway. One of the favorite hobbies was picking wildflowers to bring back home. The favorite target was the state flower, Colorado Columbine. Collectors would bring armloads of flowers home with them—so many that it actually endangered the species. It’s now illegal to pick a Colorado Columbine for that reason!

We have one really good substitute for picking wildflowers—PIC them. Take a few good shots of your favorites, then when you’re home in January you can look at your pics and enjoy wildflower season all over!

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