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usonian

(19,765 posts)
Fri May 16, 2025, 12:37 AM May 2025

Repost from the past. It's Mariposa Lily time again. (Calochortus)

May 20, 2022
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1036101537

Copied here. (They really don’t change)

And they LOVE rocky terrain that is heck on shoes and ankles.

Beautiful wild flowers on very long, slender stalks.


One broke, so I put it in a bud vase.


Most are white, but some are pink or even purple


These are reduced from originals about 14 megabytes each.
Each one lasts only a couple of days. They seem to spring out of nowhere, since they resemble the local weed stalks, until they don't. Being lilies, they have bulbs, though they make seeds. The first photo shows the typical habitat.

Best viewed with monitor at full brightness.
Background info at Wikipedia. Yikes, tons more.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calochortus

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Repost from the past. It's Mariposa Lily time again. (Calochortus) (Original Post) usonian May 2025 OP
Excellent reposting of nature's beauty usonian. Rocky terrain notwithstanding. George McGovern May 2025 #1
I just did a morning photo run. (and rock clambering) usonian May 2025 #6
These are absolutely stunning! Gorgeous. And those slender stalks! Wow. Thanks, usonian. CaliforniaPeggy May 2025 #2
Nothing like them. usonian May 2025 #5
Gorgeous! ShazzieB May 2025 #3
I guess you don't have hilly and rocky soil in the midwest! usonian May 2025 #4
Great follow photo usonian! George McGovern May 2025 #7
There is hilly and rocky soil in some parts of the Midwest, but not where I live. ShazzieB May 2025 #8

usonian

(19,765 posts)
6. I just did a morning photo run. (and rock clambering)
Fri May 16, 2025, 02:08 PM
May 2025

I'm taking the rest of the day off.

One little wire to gently support the wobbly flowers, and a ski pole to support me.

But I'm a Capricorn, for what it's worth and almost a mountain goat.

usonian

(19,765 posts)
5. Nothing like them.
Fri May 16, 2025, 01:56 PM
May 2025

Trade secret:

They are so wobbly that I stick a wire plant stake into the ground next to them, and gently hold the flowers in place with twist-ties.

No harm done.

ShazzieB

(21,370 posts)
3. Gorgeous!
Fri May 16, 2025, 01:48 PM
May 2025

This is a flower that doesn't grow here in the Midwest, so it was a treat to see these!

usonian

(19,765 posts)
4. I guess you don't have hilly and rocky soil in the midwest!
Fri May 16, 2025, 01:54 PM
May 2025

Each place has its own delights. I have spent a lot of time on one coast or another.

This is as far "inland" as I have lived. But having mountains as a backdrop does wonders for my photos.

The central valley is not far and this might be more familiar to you.



Enjoy!

ShazzieB

(21,370 posts)
8. There is hilly and rocky soil in some parts of the Midwest, but not where I live.
Fri May 16, 2025, 03:13 PM
May 2025

I live in Illinois, so I'm east of the Missippi River. I looked at some range maps, and according to those, the mariposa lily is only found in states that are much farther west.

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