Photographic gallery — Wildflowers

In forests in the greater Yellowstone area, fairy slippers can be found in the late spring. Waiting for sunlight to illuminate them through breaks in the pines can be maddening as can waiting for the slightest of breezes to fade. It took more than an hour for everything to come together to make this image near Tower Junction in Yellowstone.

Prairie crocuses (or pasque flowers) appear in sunny patches of forests and meadows in the spring.

The grandeur of the Tetons is underscored in beauty by the multitudes of wildflowers that can be seen through the park, such as this yellowbell.

As spring turns to summer, Indian paintbrush becomes more prevalent.

A showy paintbrush rivals a human-made fireworks display.

Sunlight illuminates these shooting stars.