Beauty in the Forest

 The Harlequin Lupine, Lupinus stiversii, found near Rock Creek in the Feather River Canyon, while looking for orchids and milkweeds.

 Western Azalea, Rhododendron occidentale, found near the Feather River on Caribou Road while looking for orchids and milkweeds.

Everywhere I looked around Quincy area forests as well as down the canyon.  Our wild "lilac" that's not a lilac.  Our cultivated lilacs are in the Olive Family and are blooming profusely around Quincy.  These wild "lilacs" are actually in the Buckthorn Family along with Deerbrush, Whitethorn, Tobacco Brush, and many others that look more or less like Lilacs from a distance.