It becomes really hot in July in the Denver area and feels great to leave the city and find yourself somewhere above 8000 feet. Light breeze is cooling down the air and elevation makes a toasty Summer a bit more bearable. And the flowers... You always can find something nice, something you are not able to find downhill. Mariposa Lily, for example. Nice white flowers are poking through green rug here and there.
Aren't they beautiful? With their while bell-shaped flowers with bright yellow centers they are so attractive.
Tahoka Daisy - isn't is a great combination shape and color? Brightness and contrast?
Indian Paintbrush looks like a sparkle of red on the green background. And it is also another example of the flower that belongs to the mountains. Right, you can find it in the valleys too, but it looks more natural growing closer to the sun...
Red Dome Blanketflowers (or, probably, Common Blanketflower, it is hard to decide which one can be seen there) is another common flower to Rockies. Bright yellow petals make the landscape look like an Persian rug and they are another beauty of the mountains.
But walking here you have to watch your step! Small yellow stars can be found everywhere. Spearleaf Stonecrop is blooming ;) Native to western North America this small plant can be found everywhere from Alaska to Arizona and New Mexico and likes to grow in exposed, rocky mountain slopes.
Hairy Prairie Smoke (also known as Old Man's Whiskers) look just amazing. Honestly, I was stunned and cannot leave this spot, trying to figure out what am I seeing, the flowers, spider webs or some other kind of trap meant to catch some prey. But that were only wispy, feathery seed heads that replaced the flowers. Interesting look. I bet it is practical in some way, but looks very unusual from the point of view of the human.
And... just Bellflower. Simple and elegant. Its purplish-blue heads that add one more color to the palette of the mountain landscape. Common everywhere and still so lovely flower...
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