Starting in early May the meadows below the Flatirons will host a display of varying wildflowers. On a good year, the meadow seems to produce flowers in a near scheduled pattern. Yellow Golden Banner is usually the first flower to make their appearance in the park, followed next by Wild Iris and Arrowleaf. Purple Lupine will cover the fields by mid June and the season will start to wind down with the addition of Sweet Pea in the area near and around the Ranger cottage. While the Sweet Pea makes for a beautiful display when used to frame the Flatirons, it really shouldn’t be there. Sweet Pea is actually considered an invasive species and was planted by some of the first settlers in and around Boulder. Even though we’d prefer these magenta, pink and white flowers found other areas to habituate, they do make for a point of interest for the photographer. Throw in some screaming morning light, some high cirrus clouds, viola! you’ve got yourself an iconic image of the Flatirons.