Elk’s Lips ~ Rocky Mountain Meadow

‘Elk's Lip Meadow,’ copyright Susan A. Walton. This work of art depicts summer meadow flowers in Colorado. Similar to our yellow Eastern Marsh Marigolds, these buttercup relatives are called Elk’s Lips due to the shape of their leaves. We found one vast, lush meadow up on the Great Divide in Colorado where they were growing in startling profusion, and they were in peak condition with little sign of insect damage. They favor places where the spring thaw creates wet conditions and they reportedly are considered quite tasty by grazing elk and moose.