August wildflowers!

Along with floods and other challenges to the town of Beulah, the generous summer moisture has brought forth a wild abandon of wildflowers that typically dominate the latter part of summer. I walked but a few steps from my MPEC office a few moments ago to take these photos of stiff goldenrod (Solidago speciosa var. pallida) and smooth aster (Aster laevis var. geyeri). These and many other species, most of the Sunflower Family, are adding much color to the landscapes of Pueblo Mountain Park. Some of the spring flowers have produced ripe fruits (like the wax currant - Ribes cereum - below, also taken just outside the MPEC's door) that add to the harvest of color as we move towards the latter part of summer.