High Country Daisies



More blossoms from the Sierra Scenic Byway.

Whisker Brush



Yet another case of lingering wildflowers, linanthus ciliatus floats in a sea of dead grass.

Clarkia's Last Stand



I'm still finding a few pockets of Farewell-to-Spring in the shade. These are under the shade of the Yerba Santa.

Herald of Summer



A few last stragglers, incongruous among the dead grass.

Canchalagua, Another Late Bloomer



Centaurium Venustum, also known as Charming Centaury is found in meadows late in the season.

The Last Bloom



Great to see these from my window. They are so large in scale with intricate centers and insects swarming over them.

Masses of Clematis



All these "mopheads" on the vine present an illusion of bloom from a distance.

Clematis Lasiantha Gone to Seed



Another beautiful after blooming flower, these clematis seedpods decorate the trees as the vines die.

Last Unidentified Plant



Starting to dry up in the summer heat, this ground cover has a delicate pale pink flower. My guess is that it's in the pea family.

Unidentified Wildflower



Another flower I can't identify spring up at the end of the season. Very difficult to photograph as it's so delicate and always swaying in the wind.

One Last Penstemon



Adding color to the early summer, the penstemons still bloom.

Brodiaea After Blooming



The vivid blue-purple blossoms have faded to only a hint of their former color. These skeletons of former brodiaea can be seen everywhere.

Yarrow Close Up



Spread by rhizomes, attracting lots of bees and butterflies, blooming into the summer, what could be better?

Yarrow in the Yard



Achillea millefolium, yarrow, established an outpost at the edge of the garden. I vaguely remember scattering some seeds from a packet someone had given me -- and look what happened.

Foothill Penstemon



Lots of new Penstemon Heterophylla in the area that was cleared. Beautiful blue-purple flower.

One Last Mariposa Lily



The last of the season for Mariposa lilies (Calochortus), one of the most beautiful of the foothill wildflowers. Not as many to be seen this year, making this one all the more precious.

Soap Plant




Chlorogalum pomeridianum is known for its evening flower display. The bulbs of this relative of the onion were used by the Indians for cleaning.

Golden Yarrow's Last Stand



Eriophyllum Confertiflorum of the sunflower family still blooms amid a pile of dead sticks. It may not have lush foliage, but still it blooms defying the summer heat.

Unidentified Purple Clover



This clover-like plant now carpets the formerly wet marshes.

Williamson's Clarkia Again



There are 72 species of clarkia with their distinctive four petals. The genus Clarkia is named for Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition to the mouth of the Columbia River.

This variety always makes me think of candy canes.