Vida and I decided to take a quick cruise through the Ninemile Valley (located west of Missoula) to hike the Grand Menard Discovery Trail (actually more of a stroll) and fly the DJI Phantom 4 over a few of the picturesque meadows of the valley. The meadows were covered with common camas, meadow buttercup, and American bistort. Perhaps the best discovery of the day was a Putnam’s Cicada (I was over-excited, dad-boner moment)

Common Camas – Camassia quamash
American bistort – Polygonum bistortoides
Meadow Buttercup – Ranunculus acris
Common Camas – Camassia quamash
Lone tree from a long ago homestead
Lone tree from a long ago homestead

Grand Menard Discovery Trail

The Grand Menard Discovery Trail is a short nature trail through ponderosa pine forest. The trail is wide and gently rolling with a gravel surface. At the farthest end of the outer loop is a view of Stark Mountain and the Ninemile Valley. The best moment of the stroll was sighting a Putnam’s Cicada.

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Grand Menard Dsicovery Trail
Grand Menard Dsicovery Trail
Putnam's Cicada - bio-nerd moment
Putnam’s Cicada – bio-nerd moment
Elegant Mariposa Lily ~ Calochortus elegans
Elegant Mariposa Lily ~ Calochortus elegans
This is where to put smelly shoes according to Vida
This is where to put smelly shoes according to Vida

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