Pasque Paradise

Pasque ParadisePasque flowers bloom on the forest floor near Crested Butte, Colorado.

Pasque flowers are among the first to bloom near my home. In dryer areas they can bloom as early as mid-April when the snows melt and leaves the forest floor a little damp. They can continue to bloom well into June in areas that receive more snow or are shaded under a forest canopy.

My favorite group to photograph bloom in June under a very shady canopy of conifer trees. You can see the proliferation of pine needles around the flowers in the photo. Pasque flowers offer a stark color contrast to the brown of the forest floor. They are also kind of fun to watch as patches of sunshine break through the canopy above. It only takes a minute or two of direct sunlight to get them to open their petals to the warmth of the light. You can see the closed and open difference in the photo. That's what I like about "Pasque Paradise". It tells a little story about a beautiful bit of nature. 

These flowers only grow to a few inches tall so to photograph them with respect a photographer has to get down on their level. My "wet belly" days are drawing to a close but I still enjoy chasing these little beauties. They seem to be a wonderful subject for Easter weekend. I hope you like them too.