ABC Wednesday

Back to the mountain, back to summer for my C pictures this week. This is Cliff Paintbrush, which distinguishes itself from Scarlet Paintbrush with spikier bracts and the fact that it--well--grows on the cliff.

Aha, this little guy is a feisty one indeed. His proper common name is Clark's Nutcracker, but deary me he is well known to many as the Camp Robber. He gains that nickname honestly. This last summer one swiped a strip of bacon from our campground table and took off with it, and I have reason to believe that they are also fond of grapes. I know from experience and lost grapes. Even in the winter they hang about to see what they can get their beaks on.

The California Calico --hey, a double C--ranges obviously beyond California.

Not very showy, the Western Coralroot has its own charm.

This chipmunk stopped to enjoy a snack that was not actually provided by campers. At camp, his cousins were found gazing hungrily at our jar of trail mix, trying to figure out its method of entry.

Cinquefoil petals are a slightly different shape at the end than the Western buttercup, but otherwise theya re very similar.