Bright blue and purple lupine with green leaves. Lupines are members of the pea family, which gives their flowers a distinctive butterfly-like shape. They also improve the soil by fixing nitrogen, allowing them to grow in poor or sandy conditions where many plants cannot. As the tall flower spikes bloom from the bottom upward, a single lupine can appear to change colors as it matures.

This field of wildflowers is along the Nagoonberry Loop Trail in Gustavus, which was built by The Nature Conservancy in 2010. Locals and visitors alike enjoy this trail that meanders through forest, meadow, and beach. Photographer: Sean Neilson