asclepias-milkweed

A green-flowered, sprawling milkweed species (Asclepias sp.).

allium-sp

These alliums vary in color from white to deep pink.

delphinium-sp

This extravagant Delphinium species caught my eye.

corallorhiza-wisteriana

I revisited some of the spring coralroots (Corallorhiza wisteriana) Brian and I had seen earlier. A few flowers were still alive.

opuntia-prickly-pear

Think cacti don't have leaves? Wrong! The emerging pad on this prickly pear (Opuntia sp.) has small leaves, but they will drop away as the pad matures.

escobaria-missouriensis

The Escobaria missouriensis cacti that Brian and I found are confirmed as the first record in the preserve. Read more: Red eyes and orange crowns.

toxicodendron-poison-ivy

Even poison ivy (Toxicodendron sp.) has flowers in the spring. This menacing plant grows thickly along the paths in the preserve -- stick to marked trails indeed!

cedar-brake-trail

The forest is lush and green now, despite the chilly breeze that was blowing today. Read more: Red eyes and orange crowns.

castilleja-purpurea-4

There was even an ivory-colored paintbrush (Castilleja purpurea).

castilleja-purpurea-3

Downy indian paintbrushes (Castilleja purpurea).