Mariposa lily

I found these beauties on my morning walk growing on the side of the road. I had never seen this plant locally-only in the High Sierras. What a treat and a total surprise.

Oh, those are beautiful. I just planted three varieties of Calochortus bulbs, but what a joy to just stumble across them in the wild! I should have said "in nature." I'm not implying Ukiah is a wilderness.

There are at least four species that grow around here, including C obispoensis, a rare and endangered one that is quite different. I will have to go check a place that it grows and see if it is blooming yet this year. It usually blooms late.

I love mariposa lilies! :-)