Yellowstone is one of my favorite places on Earth. I moved to Montana to be closer to the park, and sadly I find myself not getting there as often as I would like. Those of you who travel with us know I’m hoping to change that, and scenes like these beautiful arrowleaf balsamroot should be on our upcoming agenda. I want to spend the spring and early summer seasons in Yellowstone.
These bright, yellow wildflowers grow all over western North America. They’re known to have a number of medicinal benefits and were used by several Native American tribes as both a disinfectant and expectorant. Similar to Echinacea, they may also stimulate the immune system. I found this particular patch growing on the hillside while looking toward the northern section of the park from Blacktail Plateau.
For those interested in hoping to preserve Yellowstone today and for generations to come, visit Yellowstone Forever. Help them protect and conserve the last truly great ecosystem in the U.S.