Storksbill, aka Red-Stemmed Filaree

Storksbill, aka Red-Stemmed Filaree Wildflower
Storksbill

This is one of the weirdest wildflowers I’ve ever come across (although birdsbill dayflower is even stranger). You can see how this flower got its name (more or less) on the right. On the left, you can see one of the “stork’s” bills starting. I will also complain and say it grows very, very close to the ground … so getting a shot of it required a few calisthenics on my part.

Here are the flowers in more detail:

Detail of Storksbill/Red-Stemmed Filaree
Storksbill

Tumbleweed Flowers

Pink Tumbleweed Flowers
Pink Tumbleweed Flowers

I’ve lived in the desert southwest for well over three decades, and I never ever knew until this year that tumbleweeds have flowers. They’re teeny tiny, and of course you wouldn’t want to get too close to them because they’re very prickly. Turns out another name for them is Russian Thistle. As you might guess from their name, they actually are not native to the US, and they’re considered invasive. I was finally able to get a decent shot of them, thanks to a rented macro lens (I think they’re really pretty — up close, anyway).