Cooper Mountain Nature Park - Mid July

We were last at Cooper Mountain Nature Park in early June. Now, about six weeks later, things are really drying out in the open meadows and forested areas alike. I spent about 90 minutes walking the loop trails looking for new blooms and then went back to the car and got my running gear on and made two more loops. It was a hot and humid day, with partial cloud cover, so it was a good day for pictures but a bad day for running, as I turned into a sweat ball. (7/16/2013).

The two most prevalent plants now blooming in the sunny meadows are Queen Anne's Lace and Clarkia. It's worth the trip, just to see these two!

Surprisingly, I did spot some other new flowers and there appear to be a few more getting ready to bloom. Also saw a small rabbit, several finches, and about two dozen kid day campers!

In the open meadows, there were hundreds of theses colorful flowers, each about the size
 of a 50 cent piece. Clarkia purpurea. (Native)

 

Deptford Pink (also Grass Pink) Dianthus armeria (non-native). We even have these at home!
Tiny flowers, about 1cm or less across!

Harvest Brodaea - Brodaea coronaria (native). Only saw one of these as most bloom in May/June

Pearly Everlasting - Anaphalis margaritacea. See my separate post on this one!

Queen Anne's Lace - Daucus carota. (non-native). See my separate post on this one!

Self Heal - Prunella vulgaris (native). See my separate post on this one!

 

 Centaury - Centaurium muehlenbergii. Native. Similar to the Deptford Pink above,

but color is darker and petals have white spots.