Covid 19 has been a discovery process all in itself. Some folks have been learning healthier life skills. And others have been experimenting with new ways to share art. I decided to explore and record early spring desert wildflowers in a nearby canyon. I hiked into the same canyon, week after week, watching for signs of change. I continued to hike until the daytime temperature made it too risky to be in the direct sun. The flowers didn’t last very long. Most of them lasted only a few days. It was amazing to see their beauty when there was so little water. After getting a good sampling of different flowers I began the work of selecting shots that would make a good botanical show. And maybe if I am really lucky, I will find a name for each flower!
echinocereus coccineus, Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus
verbesina encelioides, Cowpen Daisy
castilleja sessiliflora, Paintbrush
berlandiera lyrata, chocolate daisy
echinocereus dasyacanthus, Texas Rainbow Cactus
heliomeris multiflora, Showy Goldeneye
prosopis glandulosa, Honey Mesquite
opuntia phaeacantha, Prickly Pear Cactus
Thicksepal cryptantha Borage (Boraginaceae)
cylindropuntia imbricata, Cholla
delphinium wootonii, Wooton”s Larkspur
Yucca faxoniana, Spanish dagger
Yucca torreyi, Torrey’s yucca
Choisya dumosa, Starleaf
Erodium cicutarium, filaree
Linum Berlandieri, Berlandier’s yellow flax, stiff stem flax
Chamaesaracha sordida, Hairy five eyes
Castilleja integra, Wholeleaf Paintbrush
Dalea formosa, Feather peabush
Delphinium Wootonii, Organ Mountain Larkspur
formerly Gaura coccinea, Scarlet beeblossom
Oenothera biennis, evening primrose
Penstemon Secundiflorus, Sidebells Penstemon
Ipomopsis longiflora, long flowered trumpet gilia
Physaria fendleri, fendler’s bladderpod