Colorado College Bulletin

Wild About Wildflowers

Clockwise starting from top left corner:  parry primrose, avalanche lily, harebell, green gentian, Indian paintbrush (red), lupine (purple), green gentian paintbrush, little sunflower

On cover clockwise starting from top left:  columbine, avalanche lily, Indian paintbrush, evening primrose

By KATHY DARROW WARREN '81

When I arrived at Colorado College in 1977, I intended to major in French. As it turned out, I never enrolled in any French courses during my four years at CC. However, I did become enamored with Latin, of sorts, when I took Field Botany with Dr. Jack Carter in fall of 1978.

I can still remember with fondness and amusement how excited I was when I keyed out my first plant all by myself: Malva neglecta, Common Mallow, which I had found blooming next to the path along Monument Creek one sunny autumn afternoon. Dr. Carter nodded his affirmation with encouragement. I carefully pressed and mounted a specimen to archive in the CC herbarium, where I worked while earning my B.A. in science. Only later did I realize that my precious Mallow is considered a "weed" in Colorado, maligned for its tendency to take over lawns if not routinely pulled up by its long and tenacious roots.

In my journal I still have an old herbarium label typed up by one of my classmates, who was affectionately known as "Dr. Bunk." All the essential information for the specimen is there:

Habitat: On a peaceful mountain hillside set aside for vacationing CC students looking for fall colors

Elevation: Almost heaven

Section: Beautiful

The enthusiasm of my classmates (including artist and author Anne Zwinger), the Zen-like mentorship of our professor, and the endless inspiration of the subject itself led me into a lifetime love affair with the plant kingdom. A copy of William Weber's "Rocky Mountain Flora" has become well-worn over the years, having been a constant companion on thousands of miles of hikes in Colorado's mountains, deserts, and plains.

In 1998, I published my own book, "Wild About Wildflowers: Extreme Botanizing in Crested Butte, CO," pulling together writing, research and photography I had done during the past 20 years. Here are some of the photographs from the book, which I hope will invigorate your own passion for the living world around you, whether it's a weed in your lawn or a colorful field of alpine wildflowers.

"The Earth laughs in flowers."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson. 1803-1882.

"Ah Sunflower! Weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the Sun,
Seeding after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done."
- William Blake

"Oh fondly on the past I dwell,
And oft recall those hours
When, wand'ring down the shady dell,
We gathered the wild-flowers."
- George Linley. 1798-1865.

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