The Best of 2008

The Best of 2008

All images Copyright 2008 B. Nelson
No image may reproduced without
prior approval.

Canyonlands National Park

California Poppy
Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve

The poppies only open in late morning
and stay open only for a few hours
They close up on windy, overcast, or stormy days

Red Maids
Calandrinia ciliata
Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve

California Poppy and Goldfields
Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve
Near Lancaster, California

Close up of Lupine
Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve

California Poppy
Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve

Paintbrush
Arches National Park

Rough Mule's Ears
Arches National Park

Prairie Wild Onion
Allium textile
North of Moab

Cisco Woolyaster
North of Moab

Monument Valley
Navajo Nation
Utah/Arizona Border

Utah Daisy
Capitol Gorge
Capitol Reef National Park

Chukar
Alectoris chukar
Partridge Family

Found in Capitol Gorge
Capitol Reef National Park

Gray Thistle
Capitol Gorge
Capitol Reef National Park

Claret Cup Cactus
Along State Route 24
Near Torrey, Utah

Mount Grand Teton is 4197 meters (13,770 feet) tall
Grand Teton National Park

Lake Taggart
Teton Range in Background
Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton Peak
from Lake Taggart Trail
Grand Teton National Park

Silver Lupine
Near Gros Ventre Junction
Grand Teton National Park

Balsamorhiza macrophylla
better known as Cutleaf Balsamroot seems to glow here
Tony Grove Lake Road
Logan Canyon

Cutleaf Balsamroot can be identified by its large size with
the main subject here being wider than my hand.
Also when the leaves are crushed a strong menthol odor can be detected.
Tony Grove Lake Road
Logan Canyon

Western Wallflower is a member of the Mustard Family
Lake Solitude Trail
Big Cottonwood Canyon

The common name for this is
Old Man Whiskers or Prairie Smoke
Yellowstone National Park

Harebell
Along the Petrified Tree Turnoff
Yellowstone National Park

Elk Thistle
Cirsium foliosum
Yellowstone National Park

The Elk Thistle blooms in early summer along mountain streams and
in wet meadows. The young plants are eaten by elk and bear; the peeled
stems are edible for humans. The plants are easily identifed by their size
(it is our largest native thistle), by its many prickly pinnate leaves
(foliosum means "leafy"), and by bracts (specialized leaves that
cup the flower parts) that extened well above a pinkish flower head
that turns brown as the plant matures.
Idaho Mountain Wildflowers p. 53