pinnacles national monument

my annual wildflower trip to the pinnacles national monument occurred a couple of months later than it usually does, but the wildflowers were still a sight to behold! the fields of bright orange california poppies and pink shooting stars that are common in early april when i usually visit were replaced by elegant clarkia and butterfly mariposa lilies. 

 venus thistle (the native thistle!)

 larkspur

 lance-leaved dudlea

 elegant clarkia

 butterfly mariposa lily

puffball

i was also treated to a number of non-botanical sights - one coyote, a california condor, a swimming snake, lizards, a skink, and many checkerspot and swallowtail butterflies. 

 western fence lizard (i LOVE the blue belly)

checkerspot butterfly

and of course, all this beauty amid the fabulous geological formations that gave pinnacles its name. 

 western pinnacles

high peaks trail