Mariposa Lily 20 x 16 in

Mariposa Lily 20 x 16 inWith long narrow leaves that easily blend in with the leaves of grasses, this beautiful native plant is difficult to notice until it bursts into bloom in mid summer. During one exceptional year for this species, I saw mariposa flowers scattered widely in many places in the foothills where I had never noticed them in previous years. The unusual multitude of flowers blooming close together inspired this painting. Original" 20 x 16 in acrylic on canvas

Dark-eyed Juncos are among the most common winter visitors in Colorado and many of the Lower 48 states

and the cobalt blue flight of a Steller's Jay

lupine and purple asters and penstemons

processed without chlorine

and showy milkweed come into bloom

undersides and tail

nature enthusiasts and conservation advocates seeking to share the beauty and benefits of planting native wildflowers

Accompanying brochure describes the birds and their natural history with bird-feeding tips

the naturalist who first described the species while accompanying Vitus Bering on his initial voyage of discovery to the lands now known as Alaska

A male rufous hummingbird rests on a branch as it passes through

but I love to have firecracker penstemon around mainly because this plant’s bright red flowers bloom in late spring and early summer just as Broad-tailed Hummingbirds are arriving from their wintering areas in Mexico and Central America

prairie clover