2024
Front Range

Again this year we spent a couple of days in the Ft. Collins area. While the summer had not been as kind to the flowers this year as last, we still found plenty of photo opportunities. Several hours in Lory State Park were very rewarding as was drive up the Poudre Canyon.  We found four new species for the website.

Please contact us with comments and if you see errors in identification.

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NEW! Asclepias pumila
(Plains Milkweed) 7787
Common Name Plains Milkweed
Low Milkweed
Scientific Name Asclepias pumila
Family Apocynaceae (Dogbane)
Date July 22, 2024
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/16
Speed 1/200 sec.
ISO 800
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Clematis ligusticifolia
(Virgin’s Bower) 7996
Common Name Virgin's Bower,
Western White Clematis
Scientific Name Clematis ligusticifolia
Family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
Date July 22, 2024
Location Hewlett Gulch Trail, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 170 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 1600
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NEW! Dianthus armeria 
(Deptford Pink) 7819
Common Name Deptford Pink
Scientific Name Dianthus armeria
Family Caryophyllaceae (Pink)
Date July 22, 2024
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/16
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 800
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Glycyrrhiza lepidota
(Wild Licorice) 7883
Common Name Wild Licorice, American Licorice
Scientific Name Glycyrrhiza lepitoda
Family Fabaceae (Pea)
Date July 22, 2024
Location Lory State Park, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 95 mm
Aperture f/11
Speed 1/500 sec.
ISO 800
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NEW! Liatris punctata
(Dotted Blazing Star) 7817
Common Name Dotted Blazing Star, Dotted Gayfeather
Scientific Name Liatris punctata
(Liatris mucronata)
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 22, 2024
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/16
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 800
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Mulgedium oblongifolium
(Blue Lettuce) 7842
Common Name Blue Lettuce
Scientific Name Mulgedium oblongifolium
(Mulgedium pulchellum, Lactuca pulchella, Lactuca tatarica
var. pulchella)
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 22, 2024
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/16
Speed 1/500 sec.
ISO 800
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Nepeta cataria
(Catnip) 7936
Common Name Catnip
Scientific Name Nepeta cataria
Family Lamiaceae (Mint)
Date July 22, 2024
Location Hewlett Gulch Trail, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 1600
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Oenothera curtiflora
(Velvetweed) 7960
Common Name Velvetweed,
Velvet Butterfly-weed
Scientific Name Oenothera curtiflora
(Gaura parviflora)
Family Onagraceae (Evening Primrose)
Date July 22, 2024
Location Hewlett Gulch Trail, Poudre 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 1/1000 sec.
ISO 1600
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Penstemon virgatus var. asa-grayi
(Upland Blue Beardtongue) 7931
Common Name Upland Blue Beardtongue,
Beardless Sidebells Penstemon
Scientific Name Penstemon virgatus var. asa-grayi
(Penstemon unilateralis)
Family Plantaginaceae (Plantain)
Date July 22, 2024
Location Hewlett Gulch Trail, Poudre Canyon, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 140 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 800
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Psoralidium tenuifolium
(Slimflower Scurfpea) 7737
Common Name Slimflower Scurfpea
Scientific Name Psoralidium tenuiflorum
(Pediomelum tenuiflorum)
Family Plantaginaceae (Plantain)
Date July 22, 2024
Location Lory State Park, Larimer County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikon Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 160 mm
Aperture f/13
Speed 1/125 sec.
ISO 400
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NEW! Saponaria officinalis
(Common Soapwort) 7767
Common Name Common Soapwort, Bouncing Bet
Scientific Name Saponaria officinalis
Family Caryophyllaceae (Pink)
Date July 22, 2024
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 1/250 sec.
ISO 800
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Symphoricarpos occidentalis
(Western Snowberry) 7774
Common Name Western Snowberry, Wolfberry
Scientific Name Symphoricarpos occidentalis
Family Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle)
Date July 22, 2024
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/16
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 800

© Tom Lebsack 2024

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