You might be wondering why Nature Photo-Quotes has featured so many pictures of Pasqueflowers this past several weeks. First, they are the only major foothills wildflower in bloom, and they will retain that status for several more weeks. We do have some Spring-Beauties blossoming (which I've also featured), but they are tiny - only a half-inch across - and not as noticeable. For now, Pasqueflowers are the major source of plant color in a landscape of browns and greys. However, aside from this fact, I also find Pasqueflowers endlessly fascinating. Depending on the air temperature and the degree of sunlight present, their blossoms take numerous forms. On cloudy, rainy or snowy days, the flowers are closed and resemble a crocus. During these times, their hue is dark purple. When the sun begins to reappear from behind the clouds, they start to open and look somewhat like tulips, as they do here. With a bit more sunlight, they open a bit further and resemble an urn. Fully open on sunny, warm days, they look like a star, and their color changes mostly to white, with the purple fading to lavender. Another reason why I find Pasqueflowers so fascinating is because of the thick layer of fuzz covering the stems and flowers, especially noticeable because the leaves don't appear until later. This feature is prominent when the plants are backlit, giving them a halo-like glow!
Photo: Pasqueflowers blooming beneath Greyrock; Roosevelt National Forest, CO; April 6, 2013
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