Just a glimmer of pink

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.

Mid-April arrivals

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

Northern Biscuitroot ~Lomatium farinosum

Shooting star ~ Dodecatheon pulchellum

Maiden blue eyed mary ~ Collinsia parviflora

Glacier Lily ~ Erythronium grandiflorum

Nuttall’s saxifrage ~ Saxifraga nuttallii

Spring Beauties and Stork’s Bills

Western Spring Beauty ~ Claytonia lanceolata

Redstem Stork’s Bill, Common Stork’s Bill ~ Erodium cicutarium