2023
Front Range

We spent a couple of days in the Ft. Collins area and found plenty of photo opportunities. Several hours in Lory State Park were very rewarding as was drive up Rist Canyon Road. We found nine new species for the website. Please contact us with comments and if you see errors in identification.

D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Artemisia dracunculus
(Tarragon)
1886
Photo Details
Common Name Tarragon,
Dragon Sagewort
Scientific Name Artemisia dracunculus
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 27, 2023
Location Lory State Park, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 90 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Dalea purpurea
(Purple Prairie Clover)
1853
Photo Details
Common Name Purple Prairie Clover
Scientific Name Dalea purpurea
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 27, 2023
Location Lory State Park, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
Erigeron speciosus
(Showy Daisy)
2116
Photo Details
Common Name Showy Daisy,
Aspen Fleabane
Scientific Name Erigeron speciosus
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 28, 2023
Location Along Rist Canyon Road, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 70 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/80 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
Gaillardia aristata
(Blanketflower)
2063
Photo Details
Common Name Blanketflower,
Great Blanketflower
Scientific Name Gaillardia aristata
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 28, 2023
Location Along Rist Canyon Road, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 122 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Grindelia subalpina
(Subalpine Gumweed)
2285
Photo Details
Common Name Subalpine Gumweed
Scientific Name Grindelia subalpina
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date August 2, 2023
Location George Stadler Road, Rist Canyon, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 135 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Helianthus pumilus
(Little Sunflower)
2334
Photo Details
Common Name Little Sunflower
Scientific Name Helianthus pumilus
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date August 2, 2023
Location George Stadler Road, Rist Canyon, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 122 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Heterotheca villosa var. foliosa
(Foliose False Goldenaster)
2074
Photo Details
Common Name Foliose False Goldenaster
Scientific Name Heterotheca villosa var. foliosa
(Heterotheca foliosa)
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 28, 2023
Location Rist Canyon Road, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 170 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
Heterotheca villosa var. nana
(Hairy False Goldenaster)
2247
Photo Details
Common Name Hairy False Goldenaster
Scientific Name Heterotheca villosa var. nana
(Heterotheca horrida)
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date August 1, 2023
Location George Stadler Rd., Rist Canyon, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/80 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
Mirabils linearis
(Narrow-leaf Four O’clock)
1906
Photo Details
Common Name Narrow-leaf Four O'clock
Scientific Name Mirabilis linearis
Family Nyctaginaceae (Four O'clock)
Date July 27, 2023
Location Lory State Park, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 150 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Monarda fistulosa var. menthifolia
(Wild Bergamot)
1961
Photo Details
Common Name Wild Bergamot,
Mint-leaf Bergamot
Scientific Name Monarda fistulosa var. menthifolia
Family Lamiaceae (Mint)
Date July 27, 2023
Location Lory State Park, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 70 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/15 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Nepeta cataria
(Catnip)
1982
Photo Details
Common Name Catnip
Scientific Name Nepeta cataria
Family Lamiaceae (Mint)
Date July 27, 2023
Location Lory State Park, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 130 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/30 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
Phacelia hastata
(Silverleaf Phacelia)
2012
Photo Details
Common Name Silverleaf Phacelia
Scientific Name Phacelia hastata
Family Boraginaceae (Forget-me-not)
Date July 27, 2023
Location Lory State Park, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/20 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
Potentilla effusa
(Branched Cinquefoil)
2213
Photo Details
Common Name Branched Cinquefoil
Scientific Name Potentilla effusa
(Potentilla hippiana var. effusa)
Family Rosaceae (Rose)
Date July 28, 2023
Location Along Rist Canyon Rd., Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 170 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
Rudbeckia hirta
(Black-eyed Susan)
2050
Photo Details
Common Name Black-eyed Susan
Scientific Name Rudbeckia hirta
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 28, 2023
Location Along Rist Canyon Rd., Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 116 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/125 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Symphyotrichum laeve var. geyeri
(Geyer’s Aster)
2169
Photo Details
Common Name Geyer's Aster,
Smooth Blue Aster
Scientific Name Symphyotrichum laeve var. geyeri
(Aster laevus var. geyeri)
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 28, 2023
Location Along Rist Canyon Road, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
D81_6660%20Small
NEW! Symphyotrichum porteri
(Smooth White Aster)
2304
Photo Details
Common Name Smooth White Aster,
Porter Aster
Scientific Name Symphyotrichum porteri
(Aster porteri)
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date August 1, 2023
Location George Stadler Rd., Rist Canyon, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/13
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details

© Tom Lebsack 2025

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains

 I try to provide accurate, up-to-date, and relevant information, but cannot guarantee the completeness or accuracy of any information presented on this website. I use authoritative references to insure high standards of accuracy and review and update the information frequently.