A few days ago, near the end of my driveway, I noticed just a slight glimmer of pink hugging the ground, nearly imperceptible from a distance of six feet. I thought of it today and looked at it a little closer, from a few inches, and through a lens. The flecks of pink are flower buds of Stork’s Bill (Erodium cicutarium) daring to bloom right on the very edge of winter.
As the weather here has warmed a bit more toward a more normal April, more species of wildflowers have begun to appear. Here are a few more species making their appearance, including one that I have not before noticed or identified; another member of the Saxifrage family (sure wish these were larger).
Oregon grape ~ Berberis aquifolium
Redstem Stork’s bill, Common Stork’s Bill ~ Erodium cicutarium