MeadoWatch: Wildflower Timing in Mt. Rainier National Park | Nov 18, 2025

Volunteers through the MeadoWatch program have been tracking the phenology of wildflowers in the subalpine meadows of Mount Rainier. Come hear Dr. Berry Brosi of the University of Washington present results of this program and plans for the future.
Thomas Bancroft Thomas Bancroft
8-year member and Key Leader
November 06, 2025
MeadoWatch: Wildflower Timing in Mt. Rainier National Park | Nov 18, 2025
Fritillary butterflies are a pollinator of Cascade asters. All photos by Thomas Bancroft.

A stunning mosaic of purples, magentas, yellows, and whites filled the green meadow, subtly contrasted by the darker firs behind. In the light breeze, the flowers resembled a spinning kaleidoscope. On this July day, the subalpine meadow before me was at its flowering peak. All I could do was stare across Berkeley Park and breathe in the deep, sweet aroma of life regenerating itself.

Numerous trails at Mount Rainier National Park cross subalpine meadows. When the snow recedes, the meadows explode into blossom. Snow, rain, temperature, and changing climatic patterns affect flowering, and understanding how these factors – especially climate change – influence phenology is critical to conserving the Park’s biota. The University of Washington and the National Park Service have developed a remarkable citizen science program known as MeadoWatch  to investigate the impact climate change has on flowering and seed production at Mount Rainier. 

MeadoWatch has been underway for more than a decade and attracts many Mountaineers volunteers. The program focuses on two locations in the Park: Glacier Basin and Reflection Lake, and each summer, a cadre of people hit the trails to track budding, flowering, fruiting, seed production, and seed release. This past summer, MeadoWatch also ran a pilot program to track important pollinators and assess the impact of climate change on pollination and the genetic diversity maintained through the transfer of pollen between plants.

Subalpine Fleabane Meadow - Erigeron glacialis-Berkeley Park Trail-Mt Rainier Wilderness-9103.jpg
THE DIVERSITY OF FLOWERS AT BERKELEY PARK IN LATE JULY, 2017. I TRY TO VISIT THIS MEADOW EACH YEAR WHEN IT'S IN BLOOM.

Glacier Basin Trail Flowers in early August-Glacier Basin Trail-Mt Rainier Wilderness-1005.jpg
A mixture of flowers along the Glacier Basin Trail. The Glacier Basin Trail is one of the study sites for the MeadoWatch Program.

Learn More About MeadoWatch’s Findings on Nov 18

Join us for a magnificent presentation by Dr. Berry Brosi of the University of Washington, who – along with Dr. Hilli Ris Lambers – oversees the MeadoWatch project. Brosi will discuss the current results of this project and their plans for the future. The presentation will be over Zoom and a recording will be available for registrants.

MeadoWatch: A Citizen-Science Program on Wildflower Timing in Mt. Rainier National Park
November 18, 2025
7pm

REGISTER

Reflection Lake Trail-Reflection Lake Trail-Mt Rainier Wilderness-6279.jpg
On August 22, many species were still in flower while others had set seeds. This trail is one of the study sites for the MeadoWatch program.

Prumnacris rainierensis - Male-Reflection Lake Trail-Mt Rainier Wilderness-5135.jpg
a Male Prumnacris rainierensis.

Pachyta armatha on an angelica.-Glacier Basin Trail-Mt Rainier Wilderness-1053.jpg
A longhorn beetle, Pachyta armata, feeds on the flowers of an angelica along the Glacier Basin Trail at Mount Rainier. 

As I write this, I am reminded of how wonderful this past summer was at Mt. Rainier National Park. I was lucky enough to lead six Mountaineer hikes and do several scouting trips for future hikes. The flowers were breathtaking, and it was interesting to see how they varied from early July through late September. The ecosystem in the Park is dynamic and full of wonder.

I look forward to joining you all on Tuesday, November 18, to hear about the study’s results, how the pilot project on pollinator-plant interactions went, and how volunteers help make this vital science happen. After the presentation, you may feel inspired to volunteer with MeadoWatch yourself. Or, if you are already a volunteer, I hope you enjoy the fruits of your labors.

Lupine & Paintbrush-Naches Peak Loop-William Douglas Wilderness-9340.jpg
Naches Peak Loop Trail was a study site for the MeadoWatch program, but had to be dropped to ensure enough volunteers were available for the other two sites.

Owyhigh Lake-Owyhigh Trail-Mount Rainier-0111.jpg
In mid-August, some flowers were still blooming while many had set seeds in the subalpine meadow near Owyhigh Lake. More flowers were in bloom here than I'd seen a few days earlier around Sunrise. Possibly, the high mountain ridges had held snow longer on these meadows.

Cascade Asters gone to seed in late September-Silver Forest Trail-Mount Rainier-0124.jpg
The cascade asters were in seed on 25 September along Silver Forest Trail at Mount Rainier.

Cascade Asters in Seed-Silver Forest Trail-Mount Rainier-0014.jpg
the seed clusters of Cascade Asters. Each ray and disk flower can form an individual seed if pollinated. The seeds have little umbrellas that allow the wind to carry the seeds from the parent plant.

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Mike Kretzler
Mike Kretzler says:
Nov 10, 2025 12:38 PM

This is a great program. I've participated since 2018. I highly recommend that people learn more about Meadowatch and consider participating next summer.