Early Spring Wildflowers Part 4

Here is the latest post in my quest to identify all the wildflowers that bloom along our hiking trail…little did I know how hard it would be. 🙂

Sigh. So pretty.

This flower is starting to bloom on the hillside on our daily hiking trail. Sunny spots and open areas are popping up with these delicate lavender colored flowers.

I have scoured our field guides but with no success.

Edit: We identified it this evening!!! It is a Blue Dick or Dichelostemma capitatum
or here is another description.

I see it in many spots in our county so I know it is something native. These photos were taken the first day I observed it and now it has four parts blooming on the end of the stem. The leaves are thin and pointed and close to the ground.

Another surprise flower that will be blooming soon. I don’t have any idea what it is so it will be a wonderful gift to see what is in store with this flower.
Edit: I now know this is a California Indian Pink.

Wow! Look at those pointy things on this plant! Here is another photo.

See the purple flowers there….those are on the ends of the pointy parts. (The white flowers are something else.) I feel so humbled by all the flowers and plants that I have never learned about before. What an amazing Creator we have that has all these interesting things for us to learn about.

Now, I know this is not a wildflower but this insect came flying by as I was taking photos and it startled me. It was really big and what an interesting shape.

The body looks like a yellow brain and the wings were really long with a green spot on the edge. Anyone have any idea what it is?
Edit: My hubby and I spent a few minutes with our field guide and then Google images and we identified this insect: Green Stigma Hangingfly.

This flower is blooming *everywhere* alongside the trail. So delicate and pretty and I love the color of this one. Still working on identifying it though.

This is definitely a work in progress.