Forever Stamps 2022 Mountain Flora – Nature & Wildlife Series, First-Class Postage

Value:  First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  March 14, 2022
First Day City:  Alpine, Wyoming
Printed by:  Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method:  Offset
Format:  Double-sided Booklets of 20

Stamp’s Purpose: Showcasing the exquisite beauty of mountain flowers.

Stamp Design: Featuring a purple pasqueflower, the design captures the essence through a meticulous hand-drawn illustration, transformed into a block print-style aesthetic by the talented Lili Arnold.

Special Details: Also available in a coil format.

First Day City: Although no formal ceremony took place, the First Day of Issue cancellation occurred in Alpine, Wyoming—a town surrounded by diverse mountain habitats hosting various wildflowers.

Mountain Flora Set: Encompassing four distinct mountain flower designs—purple pasqueflower, orange-red wood lily, bright yellow alpine buttercup, and dark pink Woods’ rose. Each design originates from hand-drawn illustrations digitally transformed into block print-style masterpieces. Crafted by the artistic vision of Lili Arnold.

Historical Significance: Pasqueflowers, part of the genus Pulsatilla, are native to North America, Europe, and Asia. Named from the Hebrew word pasakh, signifying Passover, these flowers bloom in early spring, coinciding with Easter and Passover. Commonly known as wind flowers, prairie crocus, Easter flower, and meadow anemone, these flowers were classified by English botanist Philip Miller in 1754. Often considered a subgenus of Anemone, the pasqueflower is the provincial flower of Manitoba, Canada, and the state flower of South Dakota.

Thriving in cooler climates and alpine regions, pasqueflowers exhibit resilience, growing at altitudes up to 12,500 feet. They flourish in prairies, open hillsides, woodlands, and rocky areas. As hardy perennials, they return annually, showcasing their beauty during the flowering period and with fluffy seed heads. This stamp set captures the enduring charm of these mountain blooms.