We went fossil hunting and goldpanning in June with the grandkids and had fun on the day’s adventures.  We stopped to identify and enjoy the various flowering plants along the way.

Prickly pear cactus (opuntia fragilis) was blooming in quite a few spots.   The flower develops on the end of a short stem called a pericarpal.   Yellow petals surround red stamens and a  green style.

White clematis (c. ligusticifolia) was in bloom on vines climbing up various shrubs.   The flowers have no petals.   Clusters of stamens and styles are backed by white sepals.

Sagebrush mariposa lilies emerge over 2 weeks and are numerous in the dry hills.  (link to article)

On the dry hillside a few blazing stars (mentzelia laevicaulis) were in flower.  (link to article)

Quite a few clustered broomrape (orobanche fascitulata) was spotted on the bare hillsides, mostly past the blooming stage and producing seeds.   This one was the only one with flowers.

Closer to the river were many spreading dogbane (acocynum androsaemifolium) with their small pink flowers.

On the shores of the west side of the river was a crab apple tree with lots of fruit ripening.

Down on the floodbank of the river was an area dense in growth, including poison ivy.   We checked it out, but kept our distance.

From the shale slopes above we found a number of fossils, like this one.

As we returned to our vehicle, we spotted some clusters of prickly pear cactus in bloom, with many buds still emerging.

Another fun day with young people on a nature hike….