Humboldt Mountain and mariposa lilies

Went with a friend to Humboldt Peak and points along the way. I hoped to find the Calochortus buds that I saw two weeks ago in flower and was not disappointed. We found several populations of Calochortus kennedyi. Interestingly, they were in mixed populations of orange and yellow flowers, which the authors of the Flora of North America separate into varieties by color. I'm not convinced, given the mixed populations and the fourth photo of an intermediate here. But better minds than I etc.

It was a wonderful mid-spring morning, breezy and at times a bit too cool, especially at the top of the peak. I found a few species new to me and was able to pin names to most of them. This grasshopper blew us away with its perfect coloration match to the soil in the area. It took some work to convince my friend that it was even there. If I hadn't seen it move we'd have missed its presence entirely.

Posted on April 4, 2017 04:02 AM by stevejones