Sparing bursts of floral color unfold on Lake Superior’s rocky northern coast in summer. Lakeside cliffs and ledges present a harsh growing environment for plants. Fierce winds and wave spray pelt the rock; the lake’s cold waters delay the coming of spring; and soils are thin and often confined to crevices, mossy mounds, and grassy patches. Yet the coast hosts an impressive diversity of flowers. From towering headlands to low-lying ledges, its land forms provide varying conditions of exposure to wind, weather, and waves, and the assorted crevices, rock walls, and basins on their surfaces create micro-habitats for plants with differing soil, moisture, and shelter requirements. 

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Click on an image to scroll through the gallery and read the brief accompanying text. If interested in learning more about Lake Superior's coastal flowers, please see suggested