== Wildflowers == 

 Getting ready for new section: 

 Local soils consist of course gravel laid down by glacial runoff from the retreating glacial period about 10,000 years ago and summer rains are rare, thus most flowering plants bloom during early spring and summer as they take advantage of the moisture left by winter snows.  The first plants to bloom in spring include hedgehog cactus and pasque flower followed by Indian paintbrush, fairy trumpets, blue penstemon, and purple lupine.  Also common in dry soils are sulphurflower buckwheat, baby' breath, desert pincushion, common evening primrose, and Spanish bayonet (yucca).  Along moist creeks grow wild blue columbine, chiming bells (blue bells), and mariposa lilies.  Photos and Latin names are listed at the Colorado Wildflower link below. http://wildflowersofcolorado.com/index.html