A friend and I saw dozens of these little butterflies at Bartlett Lake yesterday afternoon. In researching the identity, I think it is a Chlosyne commonly called Checkerspot. It was less than 2 inches wide. There were others that were about one half in wide with similar markings. Males and females maybe? My friend and I were just happy that it held still long enough for us both to get a photo!
Ambrosia deltoidea or Triangle Leaf Bursage as we know it, is one of the main culprits causing sneezing these days. Below is the large leafed version which is commonly called Canyon Ragweed. The flower heads were solid yellow a week ago and reminded me of sunflowers. We are now breathing all that pollen 🙁
This ant-like beetle is working hard collecting pollen from a Desert Chicory.
Follow-up…In looking at my other photos and trying to identify this beetle, I realized that he wasn’t collecting pollen. He was eating the plant and getting covered with pollen in the process!
Lensbaby shots are my favorites.
Wildflowers are still hanging on! Yesterday I concentrated on Lupine.
45 hikers enjoyed the hike through untouched Sonoran Desert to the Dixie Mine yesterday. A highlight of our MSC hike was a side trip to see Petroglyphs.
Leaves smell like carrots when crushed and roots are edible. (Daucus pusillus?)
Back out to the poppies yesterday morning with my friend Mary Ann. Like me, she hadn’t shot poppies in our area since film! It was an excellent morning 🙂
White and yellow poppies are surprisingly still out in force. My lensbaby is working overtime 🙂
Encelia farinosa is out in force in the McDowell Mountains and everywhere else too. Interesting clouds also caught my eye.