John's Nature Pictures john-pix.com

Spring Bloom


What a windy place. Trying to photograph flowers here is like trying to catch a greased pig. Many of you will recognize the very orange California Poppy.   Eschscholzia californica  (Poppy family)

But do you know what the purple plant with the little white flowers is? It is Purple Owl's Clover,  Orthocarpus purpurascens  (Snapdragon family)   The lower leaves are green to provide some photosynthesis if necessary. Otherwise it is parasitic on other plants for nourishment. That is why it can get away with being purple.

Picture #174 -  copyright © 1995 by John Sherman



          

























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