Spring Wildflowers

The desert is waking up with bright dashes of color here and there. Tiny lavender flowers, filaree (Erodium circutariam) are carpeting large swaths next to the roads.

The white and purple flowers of Nevada biscuitroot (Lomatium nevadense) are peeking out in sagebrush and pinyon/juniper areas. 

The brilliant red of desert Indian paintbrush (Castilleja angustifolia) captures the eye immediately.

And here's a purple flower that I thought was particularly pretty, but it turns out to be a nonnative. I guess one of the reasons the nonnatives do so well is they get a head start on the natives! This is blue mustard (Chorispora tenella). For more on these and other plants, visit A Plant a Day.

I hope you get to see some bright colors where you live!