Blooming Mountain Wildflowers

What can be more beautiful than a mountain "painted" in colors of purple, blue, yellow, white, red and orange wildflowers?

 Most of the wildflowers are found in small clusters which dot the landscape with color.

Showy Penstemon

California Rose

Phacelia distans

 Returning to Apple Canyon Road where the Mountain Fire of 2013 hopscotched the

road, I was happy to see that wildflowers were growing once again out of the previous ash.

I have quickly discovered that identifying birds is a lot easier than identifying plants. Common names are a whole lot easier to remember than the Latin scientific name. In trying to name this flower, I found the scientific name,Phacelia minor, with two common names, California Bluebell and Wild Canterbury Bell.Take your pick!

California Poppy

 A couple of friends knowing my love of capturing scenes in nature shared their surprise discovery with me.

 Not knowing quite what to expect, I was totally captivated by the beauty of a mountain slope covered in bright orange California Poppies and purple Lupine. I have never seen so many vibrant colors in one place!

An extra bonus was being able to observe the birds that made this meadow, a painter's dream, their home for the summer.

 Knowing these blooms would not be here much longer, we returned another day. This time our backpacks were loaded with colored pencils and drawing pads and our hearts filled with peace and gratitude.

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees."  
John Muir