Summer's First Walk

It is fitting that the first walk of the summer should feature two of my favorite summer wildflowers.  Do you see the dots of yellow among the tall grasses?

The yellow sunflower-like flowers are Narrow-leafed Wyethia (Wyethia augustifolia). 

It's a pretty common wildflower in the west. It likes sunny meadows.

I've seen it with the Grand Teton mountains as a backdrop - stunning.

My family has always called it by one of its common names - Mule's Ears - after the shape of its long green leaves. 

I bought a plant at a sale this spring and we are going to see if we can grow it up at the house.

We've sited it in our sunniest flowerbed.

These will bloom for only a couple of weeks.

So enjoy - they are fleeting. 

The meadow also has a good stand of Bachelor's Buttons.

I don't know how they got there, but they are quite happy.

I also found Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) in bloom.

And a mystery plant with fine feathery foliage and tiny white blossoms.  

And here's the other wildflower that shouts "Summer!"

Oregon Sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum).

It's a great name for a wonderful native wildflower.

I hope you enjoyed today's summery yellow walk.