Indian Paintbrush 🎕 Lassen Volcanic National Park 🎕 Northern California Wildflowers

There are several different variations of Indian Paintbrush that grow in Lassen Volcanic National Park, but I'm pretty sure this is the wavy-leaved type. Identifying wildflowers can be quite the challenge and I'm finding it to be very time-consuming, too. But, I'm enjoying learning the names of the pretty blooms I see when we're hiking. It's always nice to put a name to a face.

We spotted this little firecracker blooming all along the side of the mountain when we hiked to the top of Brokeoff Mountain in late August. Castilleja is also known as prairie-fire, an appropriate name in my opinion.

Can you spot the tiny little spider on the right of the flower? Nature's pretty incredible, isn't it?

Milk Thistle 🎕 Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge 🎕 Northern California Wildflowers

There's something about this flower that fascinates the heck out of me! First of all, it's purple which is my signature color. Second of all, look at those thorns! You do not want to mess around with a plant that has razor-sharp spikes. This flower is fierce and beautiful at the same time and I think those are some great qualities to have...

We spotted this Milk Thistle at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge in late April. Silybum marianum has other common names including cardus marianus, blessed milk thistle, Marian thistle, Mary thistle, Saint Mary's thistle, Mediterranean milk thistle, variegated thistle and Scotch thistle.

Marsh Grass-of-Parnassus 🎕 Lassen Volcanic National Park Wildflowers

During our series of late summer/autumn hikes last year, we spotted this little white flower on the Kings Creek Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park...

Marsh Grass-of-Parnassus

Late-August

Poppies for remembrance...

California Poppies

Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

Eschscholzia californica
Also known as: golden poppy, California sunlight, cup of gold.
Became the official state flower of California in 1903.

Mountain Coyote Mint 🎕 Lassen Volcanic National Park Wildflowers

We've seen this Monardella flower growing on several trails in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It took me a while to identify it because the blooms are usually purple and not white like the ones we've been seeing.

Figuring out the names of wildflowers has been an even bigger challenge than I thought it would be! There are so many variations in colors that sometimes it takes an amateur like me hours to match up a name to a face. But that feeling when you finally get it right makes it all worth it!

White Marsh Marigold 🎕 Lassen Volcanic National Park

White Marsh Marigold (Caltha leptosepala)

Early July

Paradise Meadow Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park
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We saw these happy blooms growing near the creek once we reached Paradise Meadow. They're in the buttercup family and whenever I hear the word buttercup, I automatically think of that scene in Three Amigos when they start singing "My Little Buttercup" and do that funny little dance number. The flower and the movie bring a smile to my face, so today's post is a win-win!

Have a great weekend!

Sierra corydalis 🎕 Lassen Volcanic National Park 🎕 Northern California Wildflowers

The hike to Ridge Lakes (in Lassen Volcanic National Park) was bursting with wildflowers in early August!

After some digging, I found that these pink beauties are called Sierra corydalis, also known as Brandegee's fumewort. I tell ya, sometimes the names of these flowers just don't do their beauty justice! Should the word "wort" be associated in any way with a flower of any kind? I didn't think so...