Collinsia parviflora (Blue-Eyed Mary) is not an uncommon plant, but it is very easily overlooked because of its diminutive size, as demonstrated when put in a "Penny Perspective." A closer look at the corolla reveals four white and blue lobes smiling up cheerfully from the tip of a downward-pointing tube. Mary is a lover of moist places and seeps, and can be found in both the forest and subalpine zones. ~cv

Hey, Harlie here :) Just dropping by to remind everyone that it's HOT out there! Us dogs would much rather stay home where it's comfortable while you enjoy Mount Rainier's trails and wildflower meadows. You could bring us a burger and ice cream when you come home though. PWold photo. Photo of a close up of a dog looking at the camera. ~pw

Nothing is cooler than a bear cooling off in a mountain pond. 🐻 NPS/J. Jarodsky photo. Photo Description, photo of a large, furry mammal in a small mountain pond. ~pw

If you see a bright orange butterfly while walking on the trails, it’s probably a fritillary! This Mormon Fritillary (Speyeria mormonia) we spotted at Spray Park last week is the first we’ve observed on any of our survey routes this year. Some of its most distinctive and beautiful markings are the shiny, silvery spots on the underside of its wings. Sound like something you’d like to be involved with? Email nps_nocacascadebutterflies@nps.gov for more information or to volunteer. #CitizenScience #ParkScience #Lepidoptera #CascadesButterfly NPS Photo: A orange butterfly clings upside down to the bottom of a specimen jar. ~ac/kl

Spend any amount of time at popular areas, like Panorama Point or Frozen Lake, and you'll undoubtedly run into one of these fellas. Chipmunks and squirrels at Mount Rainier are known for getting a little too friendly, sometimes hopping right into the lap of an unsuspecting hiker eating their lunch. Over the years, they have become conditioned to associate people, picnic areas, and backpacks with food. Leaving food accessible while you take a break from a hike can result in an unwanted guest in your pack. Be sure to keep your food secured and pack zipped tight when stopping for a break. If they approach you, be sure to shoo them away. Do your part to keep wildlife wild, and make sure they don't get too comfortable in your presence. NPS photo. Description: Photo of a small brown mammal with stripes and a small bushy tail. ~cm

The Cascades Butterfly Project is a citizen science project with the National Park Service that relies on park employees, interns and volunteers to conduct scientific surveys recording the presence of butterflies and blooming wildflowers in the park. Citizen scientists have been monitoring butterfly abundance and plant phenology at ten permanent survey sites in two national parks and two national forest each summer since in 2011. Each week starting at snow-melt in early spring and going until first frost, project staff and interns survey 1-kilometer transects in subalpine meadows. Recording the abundance of butterflies and their available food sources (mature wildflowers) are key components in a long term study on the effects of climate change. The Cascade Butterfly Project is currently looking for volunteers to learn project procedure in hopes of having community members out in the field completing their own butterfly and plant phenology surveys. If you’d like to become a citizen scientist yourself email nps_nocacascadebutterflies@nps.gov or visit https://www.nps.gov/…/getinvolved/sup…/butterfly-project.htm for more information. NPS Photo of a butterfly. ~tc/kl

What is the value of a place like the Paradise Inn? On July 1st, the Paradise Inn celebrated its 100-year birthday. The story of why the Inn was built and what people did to keep it are just some of the compelling stories told during ranger–led talks held at the Paradise Inn. The Paradise Inn can be looked upon as a metaphor for Mount Rainier, whose predominant peak sits anchored high above the Inn. The Inn’s open-timber frame structure and steep pitched roof mirror the shape of the mountain itself. The Inn’s creators felt hikers and climbers accustomed to the mountain’s high open spaces would feel at home here. The natural light afforded by the Inn’s large open windows also helped bring the outdoors inside. Conceived as a gathering place and focal point, two large open fireplaces framing both ends of the structure complete this concept. Historic structures tell stories. They tell stories of the people who built them and stories of their changing and evolving uses. Most importantly though, buildings tell stories of the people who occupied them and the times they lived through. Built with forethought, the Paradise Inn fulfilled human wishes and needs; these qualities helped make the Inn highly popular with guests from the start. This is also perhaps why so many people made their voices heard when the question regarding the Inn’s future was open. The Paradise Inn is here today because people felt they had a stake in the Paradise Inn’s future; they felt a connection to a place whose qualities transcend time. What do you enjoy the most about the Paradise Inn and what is your favorite building feature? One Hundred Years of the Paradise Inn Join a ranger to discover fascinating stories of Paradise and the historic Paradise Inn. Meet in the lobby of the Inn at 2:30pm each day of the week except Tuesdays. NPS/L.Coldiron. Photograph of a ranger sitting in a chair and speaking while visitors listen. ~lc

When navigating around Mount Rainier, the names of different rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, and ridges provide an easy way to orient yourself and others. But these names carry a lot of significance and reveal a great deal about the past and present at Mount Rainier. Many of these names come from American Indian words. Chutla Peak is part of the Tatoosh Range in the southern part of the park and derives its name from the Nisqually word for ‘rock’. This picture was taken from the Paradise weather station. NPS photo of a snow-capped ridge and peak studded with tall trees. ~cf

Temporary Closure of Westside Road through Sunday, August 6 Westside Road is temporarily closed to all vehicle and foot traffic, starting August 4 and running through the end of the day on Sunday, August 6, due to increased potential for glacial outburst activity. During the temporary closure no vehicle or foot traffic will be allowed on the Westside Road. Those with backcountry permits will need to use alternate trailheads to access their sites. This temporary closure was put in place as a result of increased flow observed and subsequent field observations that indicate possible glacial outburst activity. Due to the continued high temperature and the potential for it to trigger additional outbursts (sudden releases of large volumes of water) and resultant debris flows in park streams, the Westside Road and trail access will be closed through the weekend. This closure is to ensure safety of the visiting public during the current weather conditions. Park staff will assess the area over the weekend and if conditions warrant, the closure could be lifted as early as Monday morning. Please remain alert to your surroundings at all times and be aware of geohazards (https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/geohazards.htm). Report any unusual stream flow or conditions to a park ranger. ~kl

Every year it seems like one wildflower blooms particularly well, and anecdotally “wins” the season for best display. This year Sitka Valerian (Valeriana sitchensis) is definitely in the running! In the Paradise Valley, their blooms have dusted the meadows with white. Not to say that other wildflowers aren’t blooming - look for paintbrush, rosy spirea, lupine, asters, and columbine to name a few. What is your favorite wildflower of the season? Wildflower Updates: https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/wildflower-status.htm ~kl

Congratulations to Mount Rainier National Park Ranger Geoff Walker for being nationally recognized for excellence in “rangering" with the Harry Yount award. This award honors those who have promoted the highest degree of awareness and appreciation for the ranger profession and the National Park Service. Much like Harry Yount, who patrolled Yellowstone National Park in the 1880s and is recognized as the world’s first park ranger, Ranger Walker is well regarded for his dedication to the preservation of public lands. Walker is a skilled law enforcement officer, EMT, criminal investigator, wildland firefighter, wilderness expert, helicopter crewman, training coordinator, supervisor, mentor, and rescuer. Ranger Walker has participated in scores of incidents, from upper mountain rescues, to wilderness searches, to roadside accidents. As an experienced EMT, he has responded to all manner of medical issues, including severe injuries and fatalities. Among his accomplishments, he initiated the longest successful CPR save in the state of Washington. Walker also manages the park’s wild land fire program, protecting the park’s 236,000 acres. As Superintendent Randy King stated “Geoff Walker is dedicated to the mission of the National Park Service and exemplifies all of the personal and professional characteristics desired in a Park Ranger, a colleague, a supervisor and leader. Ranger Walker is home among those at the heart of the National Park Service Ranger Corps.” Please join us in congratulating Ranger Walker! NPS photo of Park Ranger Geoff Walker. Description: Photo of a skier in a helmet and reflective goggles in a snowy landscape. ~pw

Landscape Language dehisce (v) – to split open Certain wildflowers have seedpods that dehisce, or split open. Dehiscing seedpods often rupture suddenly, flinging out their seeds to spread as far as possible. The Yellow Willowherb (Epilobium luteum) in this photo has several seedpods that have already dehisced though it is still blooming. Another common wildflower with dehiscent seedpods is Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium), with its tall stalks of pink flowers. Have you seen examples of this type of seed in other wildflowers? NPS photo of Yellow Willowherb, July 25, 2017. Description: Along a flower stalk are split-open seedpods, closed seedpods, and a blooming flower at the end. ~kl