Flirting with Mariposas

Mariposas were a frequent sight among the wildflowers of California; they don't tolerate moisture during the winter, when they are dormant. That's why most of them turn up where they do - about 40 species in California, 30 of which occur nowhere else.

Of those many species listed above, I saw several. Those I'm pretty certain I identified were Square Mariposa Tulips, Rose Fairy Lanterns, Golden Fairy Lanterns, Gold Nuggets, Leichtlin's Mariposa Tulips, and Elegant Cat's Ears. And who knows how many others that I couldn't identify, or misidentified?

I've gone on and on about some magnificent places and wildflowers. California was certainly one of the best, and the Mariposas were among the most beautiful of the most beautiful. But they were so annoyingly difficult to identify. Was I infatuated, or merely batting my eyelashes flirtatiously?

It doesn't really matter, does it?

"Flirting with Mariposas" (c) 2005 Gregg M. Pasterick - All Rights Reserved.

All Photographs (c) Gregg M. Pasterick - All Rights Reserved.

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