Alpine Flowers from the Vanoise National Park

As a final drop of photos from my August trip to France: this time some of the alpine flowers from the Vanoise National Park, mostly from high up in the French Alps above Courchevel. Supporting the profusion of butterflies & insects and the nibbling of the local marmots, there is an even greater profusion of wild-flowers, especially on the upper pastures. Most of these examples are alpine plants taken on a hike up to the Lacs Merlet, though the Helleborine and Willow Gentian were photographed on the wild-flower trail at Lac de la Rosière just outside Courchevel.

Alpine Saxifrage sp.

Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris)

Broad-leaved Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine)

Alpine Pasqueflower seedhead (Pulsatilla alpina)

Stemless Carline Thistle (Carlina acaulis)

Edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale)

Bearded Bellflower (Campanula barbata)

Fringed Gention (gentianella ciliata)

Willow Gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea)

Greater Masterwort (Astrantia major)

Laserwort (Laserpitium siler)

Yellow Mountain Saxifrage (Saxifraga aizoides)