Photos by Deborah Olsen.

Fifty-six days may be all gardeners have to bring blossoms to fruition in Steamboat Springs’ short growing season, but plenty of showy flowers flourish in this high montane environment. With careful planning, gardens can bloom from late spring into early fall. Try these alpine-friendly flowers.

1. Lupine - A couple plants placed in loamy soil where cool temps and sunshine are plentiful can lead to fields full of lupine for years to come. Lupines begin to bud shortly after daffodils, providing waves of purple, pink and white flowers into early summer.

2. Peonies - With brilliant red, pink or coral flowers larger than a softball, peonies kick in just as lupines begin to fade. While the bushes generally only blossom once per season, the beautiful display is well worth the wait.

3. Dianthus - Every garden needs pollinators, and dianthus is a fragrant, summerlong showpiece in any Steamboat garden. With annual, biannual and perennial varieties, dianthus attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Plant them with petunias to make a pollinator smorgasbord.

4. Pansies - Put these hardy plants everywhere. They grow throughout the summer and into the fall. Defying their categorization as annuals, they sometimes even come back the following year, appearing just as the snow melts away.

5. Daisies - Mix and match hardy perennial Shasta daisies with delicate, colorful annual marguerite daisies to create a summer/fall spectacle. Bonus: the more you pick them, the more they blossom.

6. Sunflowers - Just when everything else is winding down, here come the sunflowers, blooming bright and bold in late summer and early fall. The pride of many a Colorado gardener, sunflowers turn to the sun. Plant accordingly, or they’ll quite literally turn their backs to their audience.

While starting seeds indoors in spring is always an option, most Steamboat gardeners “cheat” a little, cultivating a relationship with their favorite nursery to jumpstart the season by purchasing plants. Pro tip: consult the CSU Routt County Extension Office for master gardener expertise.