Early Spring wildflowers

California Waterleaf,Hydrophyllum_occidentale,Hydrophyllaceae

The season begins as winter turns to spring. The first wildflowers appear around the vernal equinox as sunny days and cold nights alternate with rain and occasional snowfall. Young plants push up from the warming soft ground in an burst of vivid green hues, creating a lush backdrop for the colorful blooms of early spring.

Orchidaceae

Calypso Orchid

Calypso bulbosa

Buttercup, Ranunculaceae

Buttercup

Ranunculus occidentalis

Scrophulariaceae

Indian warrior

Pedicularis densiflora

Brassicaceae

Milk maid

Cardamine californica

Liliaceae

Scarlet fritillary

Fritillaria recurva

Melanthiaceae

Trillium in the oaks

Boraginaceae

Calypso Orchid

Calypso bulbosa

Liliaceae

Giant white trillium

Trillium albidum

Primulaceae

Shooting star

Primula hendersonii

Scrophularaceae

Spinster's blue eyed mary

Collinsia sparsiflora

Hydrophyllaceae

California waterleaf

Hydrophyllum occidentale

Polygonaceae

Sheeps Sorrel

Rumex lacetosella

Plantaginaceae

Small-flowered Tonella

Tonella tenella

Ranunculaceae

Canyon larkspur

Delphinium nudicaule

Lily,Liliaceae

Fawn lily

Liliaceae

Fawn lily

Erythronium californicum

Boraginaceae

Hound's tongue

Adelinia grandis

Compositae

Spring gold

Crocidium multicaule

Boraginaceae

Popcorn flower

Plagiobothrys nothofulvus

Asteraceae

Mountain Dandelion,

Agoseris heterophylla

Montiaceae

Redmaids

Calandrinia ciliata

Asteracea

Common Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Apiaceae

Coast sanicle

Sanicula laciniata

Umbelliferae

Purple sanicle

Sanicula bipinnatifida

Woodland nemophila,Hydrophyllaciae

Woodland nemophila

Nemophila parviflor

Polemoniaceae

Slender phlox

Microsteris gracilis

Brassicaceae

Whitlow grass

Draba verna

Violaceae

Two-eyed violet

Viola ocellata

Violaceae

Shelton's yellow violet

Viola sheltonii

Montiaceae

Miner's lettuce

Claytonia perfoliata

Montiaceae

Streambank beauty

Claytonia parviflora

Montiaceae

Spring beauty

Claytonia saxosa

Fabaceae

California tule pea

Lathyrus jepsonii

Vicia americana,Fabaceae

American vetch

Vicia americana

Foothill Clover

Foothill Clover

Trifolium_ciliolatum

Fabaceae

Hill lotus

Acmispon parviflorus

Fabaceae

Lotus

Acmispon wrangelianu

Redwood Pea

Lathyrus torrey

Saxifragaceae

California saxifrage

Micranthes californica

Saxifraga

Smooth leaf saxifrage

Saxifraga integrifolia

Fabceae

Loco weed

Astragalus gambelianus

California Mistmaiden,Hydrophyllaciae

California Mistmaiden

Romanzoffia californica

Scrophulariaceae

Monkey flower

Mimulus Kelloggii

Hydrophyllaceae

Baby blue eyes

Nemophila menziesii

Rosaceae

Oso berry or Indian plum

Oemleria cerasiformis

Cruciferae

Wallflower

Erysimum capitatum

Grossulariaceae

Gooseberry

Ribes roezlii

Ericaceae

Manzanita

Arctostaphylos manzanita

Lauraceae

Bay laurel

Laurus nobilis

Aceraceae

Bigleaf maple

Acer macrophyllum

Fagaceae

Black oak catkins

Quercus kelloggii

Ericaceae

Pacific madrone

Arbutus menziesii

Geramoaceae

Cut-leaved geranium

Geranium dissectum

Geramoaceae

Roundleaf geranium

Geranium rotundifolium

Geramoaceae

Longbeak stork's bill

Erodium botrys

Geramoaceae

Storksbill geranium

Erodium cicutarium


 


 
 

All photographs copyrighted. © Doug Zimmerman