Join us, July 10-19, 2026!
The Wildflower Capitol of Colorado
Our Mission To advocate for the preservation and appreciation of wildflowers.
The Wildflower Festival began in 1986 through the efforts of a few insightful Crested Butte locals who envisioned a wildflower celebration in one of the most picturesque valleys in Colorado. The Festival has grown into a summer-long season with over 150 events offered by over 40 instructors, tour guides, and volunteers.
Driven by Passion
Meet the people who make it happen
Our small but dedicated team works year-round to make this Festival a platform for connection to nature, to community, and to one another. Whether you join a guided hike, take a photography class, or simply wander the meadows, we hope you leave with a greater sense of wonder and stewardship for the wildflowers that make Crested Butte so special.
Meet Our Team
Staff
Emmalee Walker
Emmalee has lived in Crested Butte since the spring of 2020. She has explored much of the trail system in …
Mazzy Hatch
Born in Springdale, Arkansas, Mazzy has always had a passion for the outdoors and sustainability. She fell in love with …
Caroline Kish
Caroline has been exploring and enjoying the trails and wildflowers in Colorado all her life. Whether it’s hiking, biking, or …
Dr. David Kish
After many years as a Festival participant, Member, Hike Assistant, CBWF Photography Contest winner, and workshop leader, David Kish is …
Olivia Murphy-Welconish
Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, Olivia has always been one for the outdoors and soaking in the abundant natural …
Board of Directors
Lynn Cudlip
Always about the plants, her friends say she always has her nose in the dirt. Lynn Cudlip, wetland scientist, started …
Kristi Bezler
Kristi Bezler has lived in Crested Butte since 2017 and fell in love with the community in 2010. She and …
Leanne Benton
Leanne is a recently retired National Park Service ranger, with a career in educating the public on the wonders of …
Peggy Langewisch
Peggy has been visiting since the early 90’s and living full-time in the Gunnison valley since 2000. She began her …
Ken Collins
Ken lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is a retired librarian who has always been interested in gardening and …
Nieset LeFevre
Born in Gunnison and raised in Crested Butte, Nieset is a sixth generation Coloradan. Nieset graduated in May of 2023 …
Dr. Luke Tembrock
Luke Tembrock was born in Delta, Colorado and grew up along the North Fork of the Gunnison where he first …
Workshop Leaders
Agustina Hein
Agustina is a landscape designer with a passion for native plants and has over ten years experience in the landscape …
Alex Lambro
Born and raised in Colorado, Alex moved to Crested Butte in 1986. Her academic background includes a B. A. in …
Alex Noriega
Alex Noriega is a full-time professional nature photographer and photography educator focused on the American West. After a prior career …
Annie Starr
Annie has been painting for 20 years and has led plein air watercolor tours for the Wildflower festival since 2018. …
David Kish
Our Executive Director, David has been photographing, hiking, and mountain biking in Crested Butte for nearly two decades. His nature …
David Snyder
David Snyder lives in Colorado Springs at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. He is married and has two children. …
Delaney Seaton
Delaney is a Colorado native with a passion for exploring natural habitats around the world. She has a degree in …
Drew Kelly
Drew Kelly has long been a lover of the outdoors, mostly through the lens of recreation in the mountains—often pursuits …
Elise Kish
Elise has been hiking, mountain biking, and studying the wildflowers in Crested Butte for twenty years, and she is looking …
Eric Phillips
Eric Phillips is a full-time photographer based in Crested Butte since 2016. With a degree in Recreation and Outdoor Education …
Greta Shoonover
Greta has lived in the Colorado Rocky Mountains since 1983. She currently resides in Crested Butte. Greta is an avid …
Jacque Fisher
Jacqueline Fisher, a Colorado native, has always enjoyed learning about the flora and fauna of the Rocky Mountains. In 1982, …
Jacquelyn Fitzgerald
Jacquelyn Fitzgerald is a PhD Candidate in the Plant Biology and Conservation Program at Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic …
Jeff Delaney
Jeff Delaney is a re-invented geologist and engineer who splits his time between Denver and Crested Butte. His interests include running, cycling, …
Jennifer Ackerfield
Jennifer Ackerfield is the Director of the Charles Maurer Herbarium and Assistant Professor of Botany at Colorado State University. There, …
Jeremy Johndrow
There is no better way to experience the splendor of the Gunnison Valley than from a Jeep or 4×4 vehicle! …
Karen Theel
Karen moved to Crested Butte a few years ago from Connecticut. When she retired from a software design career, she …
Ken Collins
Ken lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is a retired librarian who has always been interested in gardening and …
Leanne Benton
Leanne is a recently retired National Park Service ranger, with a career in educating the public on the wonders of …
Linsey Bachofer
Linsey is a practicing artist and outdoor enthusiast who is fortunate to call Crested Butte home. Linsey currently works at …
Luke Tembrock
Luke Tembrock was born in Delta, Colorado and grew up along the North Fork of the Gunnison where he first …
Mel Harte
Mel (Mary Ellen) Harte Ph.D., a summer biologist at the nearby Rocky Mountain Biological Lab since 1981, provided the photos …
Melinda Laz
Melinda Laz (She/her) is a visual artist, arts educator and arts administrators. She holds a BFA from Washington University in …
Meredith Wallace
Meri Wallace Is a horticulturist specializing in urban horticulture and sustainable landscape design. Based in Crested Butte since 2001, Meri …
Molly Murfee
Local wildflower guide Molly Murfee has logged hundreds of trail miles over three decades living in Colorado, predominately in Crested …
Morgan Tilton
Adventure Journalist Morgan Tilton covers outdoor narratives specializing in travel, history, human endurance, inclusivity, and industry news. She is a …
Owen Richmond
Owen is an avid hiker and loves to spend time on the trail amongst the wildflowers. Originally from Oregon, he …
Rick Reavis
Rick’s background is in horticulture, botany and agronomy. He has been exploring and identifying native and introduced plants around the …
Rick Williams
Rick Williams, Ph.D., is an emeritus professor and curator of botany at the Ray J. Davis Herbarium, Idaho Museum of …
Roxie Lypps
Roxie Lypps has lived in Crested Butte full time since 1976. She has hiked, skied, snowboarded, kayaked, and bicycled here …
Sara Simonson
Sara works as a Research Associate at Colorado State University’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, and she is a graduate student …
Sarah Marino
Sarah is a full-time nature photographer, photography educator, and writer based in southwestern Colorado. In addition to photographing grand landscapes, …