El Paso County Wildflower Project

07/22/2026

After what feels like a run of purple wildflowers, I thought today could use a little sunshine.

So here's a collection of some of Colorado's yellow blooms.

🌼 Balkan Toadflax
🌼 Meadow Buttercup
🌼 Golden Columbine
🌼 Yellow Lady's Slipper Orchid
🌼 Western Wallflower

It's easy to think of "yellow" as just... yellow. But spend a little time looking, and you'll find buttery yellows, brilliant golds, soft lemon tones, and everything in between. Each flower has its own "personality," even when they share the same color palette.

Which one is your favorite?

07/21/2026

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁.

Over the course of two mornings and about six hours on the trail, I found exactly one Felwort.

It wasn't standing proudly above the surrounding vegetation. Instead, it was quietly tucked beneath taller plants, growing in the shade where it would have been incredibly easy to miss.

Maybe I was there early in its blooming season.

Maybe there just weren't many around.

I don't know.

What I do know is that if I had been hiking with my usual "get to the next spot" mindset, I almost certainly would have walked right past it.

Instead, I slowed down.

I stopped.

I looked.

And there it was.

Moments like this are one of the reasons I started the El Paso County Wildflower Project. It's not just about identifying wildflowers. It's about learning to notice the incredible things that are already around us, quietly waiting to be discovered.

How many beautiful things do we miss simply because we're moving too fast?

Have you ever found something unexpected because you took the time to slow down? I'd love to hear your story.

07/18/2026

For your bloomscrolling pleasure...

via Jason Fazio Photography

07/17/2026

Beautiful. Unusual. Best Appreciated from a Distance.

This flower is part of the El Paso County Wildflower Project. www.JasonFazioPhotography.com/wildflowers/columbian-monkshood

At first glance, Columbian Monkshood almost looks like it belongs underwater rather than on a mountainside. Those folded, hood-like petals give it one of the most unusual flowers you'll find in Colorado.

It's also one of our most toxic native wildflowers. Every part of the plant contains potent toxins, making it a flower to admire, not touch.

These three photos feature the same pair of blossoms. Rather than trying to keep both flowers sharp, I focused on one at a time. It's a simple reminder that changing your point of focus can completely change the feel of an image, even when the composition barely changes.

Which image is your favorite: 1, 2, or 3?

As always, no picking required. Just a little curiosity and appreciation for one of Colorado's most fascinating wildflowers.

07/17/2026

In The News

Bradley Davis KRDO of KRDO13 met me behind Mt Herman for some morning wildflower and wildlife. It turned out to be a great morning!

Local photographer creates 'wildflower project' to help people explore Colorado's native flowers | KRDO

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - A local photographer has created a new portfolio, but it's less about his camera and more about identifying the images

07/15/2026

Some flowers save their best display for after dark.

While many wildflowers open their blossoms during the day to attract bees and butterflies, the Bractless Blazing Star has a different strategy. Its flowers often remain closed through much of the day before opening in the evening, attracting moths and other nocturnal pollinators that take over the night shift.

It's a fascinating reminder that wildflower viewing doesn't always end at sunset.

Today's featured photograph was generously submitted by David Bowers, a fellow El Paso County resident. Thank you, David, for contributing to the El Paso County Wildflower Project and helping us build a community-powered wildflower index.

The goal of this project is simple: document and celebrate the incredible diversity of wildflowers growing throughout El Paso County while creating a resource anyone can explore and learn from.
Have you ever noticed flowers changing throughout the day? We'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments.

If you'd like to contribute your own El Paso County wildflower photos, you can learn more and submit them through the project website. (Link in comments 👇)

📷 Photo courtesy of David Bowers
(Facebook: Red.Cliff.35)

07/08/2026

𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀:

The El Paso County Wildflower Project is in the news! 👇

A Southern Colorado landscape photographer started a wildflower database for El Paso County.

07/07/2026

𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀

Check out the variety in this beautiful El Paso County Wildflower!

New images of this ghostly beauty were added to the Project's website today! Link in comments...

07/06/2026

🌼 Welcome to the El Paso County Wildflower Project!

This is a community-built field guide dedicated to exploring, photographing, and documenting the wildflowers of El Paso County, Colorado.

Whether you're a photographer, hiker, gardener, or simply enjoy spending time outdoors, you're invited to be part of the project.

🌿 Discover local wildflowers.
📸 Share your photographs.
🌼 Help grow the collection one bloom at a time.

Participate 👇
https://www.jasonfaziophotography.com/epc-wildflower-project

Follow along as we highlight the incredible variety of wildflowers growing right here in El Paso County, and visit the website to explore the field guide or submit your own discoveries.