Wildflower Summer

Sego Lilies

It's raining today, our temperatures have dropped below 100, and the maple leaves are the first to record autumn in the foothills of the Wasatch.  The wildflowers have changed from glorious petals to dry seedpods.  We live on a south facing slope, vegetated with sagebrush, prickly pear cactus and juniper. Despite this summer's heat, the sego lilies sprouted in abundance in this hostile environ, with their clean white petals almost glowing against the contrast of  dry dusty soil.  Although the sego lily is the state flower of Utah, many residents have never seen the rare flowers that seem to prefer poor growing conditions over well-tended gardens.They are an elusive delight.