How to Enjoy Utah's Wildflowers | Salt Lake City Family + Senior Photographer
It is almost my favorite time of year; wildflower season. Wildflowers are my love language. They are just so bright, happy and beautiful! The way the colors pop against the green backdrop just sings to my soul. Being a transplant to Utah has made me appreciate them so much more. They are such a uniquely beautiful and time sensitive part of this gorgeous landscape. When I was a little girl, about 6 or so, on one of the many trips to the beach we ended our picnic lunch at a park by having a footrace back to the car. I was in the lead (but had a pretty significant head start compared to the rest of the participants.) My dad was gaining on me and shouted, "Look! Flowers!" and pointed at a perfect patch of daisies. Despite my lead, I stopped to pick the flowers. I honestly thought I could scoop up a bouquet and still make it to the car first. I did not win. Instead, I cried with my handful of flowers while I arranged them into a miniature bouquet. I was so mad, not that I had lost, but that my dad had outsmarted me out of my win.
With all this rain we've been having this year, the wildflower bloom should be a good one. Which makes me incredibly happy and incredibly nervous. Let me explain. Last year, in the middle of wildflower season the photography community was hit with a blow. There was to be a shooting fee that needed to be paid in order to photograph clients at Albion Basin. I am all for paying fees and dues in order to preserve and protect beautiful places, but the main beef that most of us had was the way it was sprung on us mid season - with many of us already having shoots booked for that location. Not only did we have to pay a fee, but also the processing fee to obtain your permit. The reasoning behind this change was due to the pollution and destruction of the wildflowers. If you read about the wildflower bloom in California, you'll know that there were too many people visiting the site and so many flowers were destroyed and it caused so much trouble. I don't want that to happen to our beautiful, Utah mountains. I've compiled a list of ways you can enjoy mother nature's paintings without ruining it for the next season.
FOLLOW THE RULES
This may seem like a no brainer - but most of these rules were in place long before the fee was enforced.
1. Do not pick the flowers. I know, it's so tempting. It takes so much willpower to not revert back to my 6 year old self and gather a whole bouquet to press, but the flowers need to stay there.
2. Stay on the trails. There are enough game trails that you should be able to get where you want to go, or at least the general area. If you trample down baby sprouts it hinders the growth.
3. If you're going up to Albion Basin there is now a $6 fee per car and they only let 62 cars up at a time. You'll either need to get there ridiculously early, or wait at the toll booth for a car to come down. You can always park at Alta and hike up!
4. Only Park in the Parking Lots. There are two lots up at Albion Basin. If you park on the side of the road you'll get a ticket. The forest ranger patrols the dirt road heavily and will not hesitate to slap a ticket on your car.
5. If you are photographing at Albion Basin for any client or promotional gain you MUST HAVE A PERMIT. it is totally fine to snap pictures of your kids while you and your family are out, enjoying the scenery, but if you hired someone to take pictures, they need a permit. It's a pretty hefty fine if you try and sneak a photoshoot and get caught.
6. Leave it better than you found it. Please be respectful! It's because of the neglect and ignorance that these rules have to be in place. I don't want to see this beautiful landscape be closed off to the public. Not to sound like a hippy, but it's our job to take care of our planet so that we can all enjoy it!
