Early Bloomers

Its that time of year again that every photographer looks forward to. Winter is quickly receding and the first wildflowers of the season are start to appear on the hillsides here on the Front Range of Colorado. Pasque Flowers like these ones I photographed last week at Walker Ranch Open Space just west of Boulder are a sure sign more wildflowers will soon be on the way. Technical Details: Nikon D810, Nikkor 105mm Micro F2.8 ED AF VR
I always get a spring in my step this time of year, spring being the operative word. The first wildflowers blooms of the season are not happening in the foothills of Boulder and Rocky Mountain National Park. Pasque Flowers and Star Lily’s are starting to sprout along the slopes of the hillsides now.

Your not going to find fields of wildflowers just yet but if you head out you will find these small nondescript flowers growing the grasses under ponderosa pines or on rocky hillsides with good southern exposure. It’s a fun time to pull the macro lens out from the bag and work some close in compositions. Photographing these early season flowers can make for a nice change of pace as winter recedes from the hillsides.

With Pasque flowers now making an appearance here in Colorado we can expect other blooms to begin to follow in short succession. Mountain ball cactus, golden banner will soon begin to making appearances and then eventually the summer favorites like wild iris, paintbrush and columbine.

There is definite excitement in knowing summer is just around the corner. Take advantage of what’s blooming now because as is the case with all these wildflowers, theres a short window before they are gone for the season.