Took a short hike from Gregory Canyon trail-head to Crown Rock and back. Here are some early wildflowers and weeds I saw on the south facing slope to Crown Rock.
Nuttall’s Violet, Viola nuttalli, Violaceae (Violet). Native.
Oregon grape, Mahonia repens, Berberidaceae (Barberry) just starting to bloom. Native
Blue eyed mary, Collinsia parviflora, Scrophulariaceae (Figwort). Native
Small-flowered Alyssum, Alyssum parviflorum or Alyssum minus, Brassicaceae (Mustard). Weed.
RedstemFilaree or Stork’s Bill, Erodium cicutarium, Geraniaceae (Geranium). CO dept of Ag. List C noxious weed.
Myrtle spurge, Euphorbia myrsinites. CO Dept. of Ag. List A noxious weed. Picture on left shows male and female flowers. Picture on right shows typical growth.
Where is the flower? In this picture there are 4 yellow glands with little doggy ear-like protrusions. In the middle of the glands there is a single male flower. It is a very simplified flower consisting of a single anther. In this photo it appears brown.
Moth not Butterfly, but oddly very active during the day. These were fluttering all over the trail. Epirrhoe plebeculata. A member of Carpet Moths Subfamily Larentiinae.
Snow on the north slope of Gregory Canyon and last year’s poison ivy berries.
Boulder wildflowers 