A member of the mustard family, the Western Wallflower ( Erysimum capitatium ) is a brightly colored yellow flower which is quite common across the western United States, including Arizona, Utah and Nevada.. In European countries, the wallflower earned its name from a habit of growing on… you guess it, walls. More specifically stone, masonry or wooden fences. The name was transposed to the American species despite the fact the plants have no preference for walls.
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Wildflowers paint the landscape with a vibrant tapestry of colors, their delicate petals swaying gently in the breeze like nature’s own brushstrokes. Each bloom tells a story of resilience and adaptation, thriving in meadows, forests, and along mountain slopes. From the cheerful yellows of daisies and buttercups to the serene blues of forget-me-nots and lupines, wildflowers offer a fleeting yet profound beauty, attracting bees and butterflies in a dance of pollination. Their presence not only enriches the scenery but also symbolizes the untamed spirit of the natural world, reminding us of the intricate balance and harmony found in ecosystems worldwide.
Common Fiddleneck ( Amsinckia intermedia )
The Common Fiddleneck ( Amsinckia intermedia ) is a wildflower common across the United States and a member of the forget-me-not-family. Also known as the Intermediate Fiddleneck, the name is derived from the flower stems which are formed in the appearance of a violin or fiddle.
Continue Reading →Notch-leaved phacelia ( phacelia crenulata )
Notch-leaved phacelia ( phacelia crenulata ) is a lovely little purple wild flower which grows across the desert southwest from California to Texas. The plant is typically between three to twenty-four inches in height. The flower is also known by several different names including, notch-leaf scorpion-weed, notch-leaved phacelia, cleftleaf wildheliotrope, and heliotrope phacelia.
Continue Reading →Palmers Penstemon ( penstemon palmeri )
In the spring on 2020 I was photographing along the Morning Star Mine Road, we happened upon Palmers Penstemon ( penstemon palmeri ). This species is the most surprising and beautiful wild flowers I have seen in the Mojave Desert.
Continue Reading →Arizona Thistle ( Cirsium arizonicum )
Arizona Thistle ( Cirsium arizonicum ) is a member of the sunflower family and common across the south west. The thistle has a two year live span. For the first year, it thrives as a low lying rosette of thorns. The second year of life, the plant springs into action and can grow up to four feet tall and grows a flower stalk to hold a purple colored flower head high into the air. The flower is known to bloom in red, pink and purple in color.
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