High alpine color in Colorado Jul 9, 2020

High alpine color in Colorado

Songstress Dolly Parton once sang "wildflowers don"t care where they grow," but we gotta believe the wildflowers growing in Colorado"s American Basin, shown here, are pretty delighted with their surroundings. American Basin is in the San Juan Mountains in the southern part of the state, about a five-hour drive from Denver. Visitors here will find rocky cliffs, streams, unique rock formations, and some spectacular wildflowers. July and August are the best months to see the blooms—it"s the time of year when you"ll reliably spot the Rocky Mountain columbine (Colorado"s state flower), elephant"s head, Parry"s primrose, and marsh marigold. Bring us back a bouquet, all right?

© Blaine Harrington III/Alamy

palette

Today in History

Jul 9, 2018Gauchos showcase Argentina’s independent spirit
Jul 9, 2019Jaguar in the Pantanal wetlands
Jul 9, 2021A center of antiquity on the Mediterranean
Jul 9, 2022Dolomites
Jul 9, 2023Moselle River loop near Kröv, Germany
Jul 9, 2024Talampaya National Park, Argentina
Jul 9, 2025Independence Day of the Argentine Republic

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 1, 2019Southern lights for Antarctica Day
Aug 17, 2018Illuminations on the Gulf of Poets
Nov 20, 2020Atop the Needle of Chamonix
Apr 24, 2022Dark Sky Week
May 14, 2025Porto Flavia, Sardinia, Italy
Sep 18, 2020Homeward bound
Mar 11, 2025Broken Beach in Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia
Aug 23, 2021A little blue
Jul 21, 2021An octagonal architectural treasure
Oct 7, 2019From the mind of Frank Gehry
Jun 26, 2018Celebrating Madagascar on its Independence Day
Jun 7, 2023Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico
May 28, 2023Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
May 2, 2019Making it work—in Norway
Mar 2, 2019You won’t see this on Mulberry Street
Mar 8, 2021A notorious advocate for women
Dec 23, 2020Swimming into the season
Dec 14, 2019The Christmas Bird Count begins
Aug 6, 2025Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii
Sep 29, 2018Vietnam’s new bridge deserves a big hand
Dec 12, 2023Poinsettia Day
Oct 21, 2018Welcome to El Cervantino
Mar 8, 2023International Womens Day
Oct 22, 2018We did not invent this, honest
Sep 24, 2022National Public Lands Day
Sep 13, 2022Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Jun 24, 2021The call of the wild in Alaska
Dec 15, 2022Borovets ski resort in Bulgaria
Dec 29, 2023Oud-West, Amsterdam, Netherlands
May 17, 2021Happy Syttende Mai!