Goldfields: The 37th Flower of Spring!

[best appreciated at full size against black]

Down in our granite valley, the mushrooms are all gone. The tiny monkeyflowers have been joined by their larger cousin, the Seep-Spring Monkeyflower, and at the same time, the whole area is turning yellow with the addition of an enormous carpet of these sunny Goldfields! Aren't they bright and cheery?! I'll be showing more pictures of how they're covering this part of our meadow, but here's a taste to get you started! :)

There are 18 species of Goldfields, 17 of which are native to the western United States, and all 17 can be found in California! I have a dear friend here on Flickr, would you please raise your hand, ALVARO!! The 18th species lives in his beautiful country of CHILE!!! Ok, Alvaro, it's your job to find me the Chilean Goldfield! :D Goldfields an annual herb, and are found in many habitats, especially meadows and vernal pools, but also very dry areas. They flower from February through June depending on the species; ours bloom from March-June or July! :)

If you would like to know more about lawn grass, Wiki has a great page here: Wiki: Goldfields (Lasthenia)

This image was taken in April, 2012.