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May 8, 2016

Spring on Antelope Island

Lupine with the rock formation known as Elephant Head in the background
Antelope Island is a Utah State Park surrounded by the Great Salt Lake and reached via a causeway.  The first week of May, Antelope Island has turned green
Wildflowers are in bloom.
Indian Paintbrush
Sweet Fennel

Fleabane

Balsam Root

Cryptanth

 tiny, delicate Claytonia perfoliata

Claytonia perfoliata is also known as Miner's lettuce.  The leaves are edible and provide vitamin C.  Western gold miners ate it to prevent scurvy. 
Gooseberry bushes



Gooseberry branch with buds
Globemallow

Globemallow hill
Boss eating thistle buds VERY carefully.

Boss enjoying the plentiful grass

We saw antelope, buffalo, raptors and chukars.  Meadowlarks sang everywhere.  Spring has arrived on the island.  Biting flies and gnats have arrived, too, so it's a good idea to wipe down yourself and your horses with insect repellent!

8 comments:

  1. Antelope Island is beautiful any season, but Spring is absolutely glorious. Thanks for taking us along on your ride -- the insects didn't bother me at all!

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  2. Very special photos Janie, love these beautiful wildflowers and loved the scenery too.

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  3. What a beautiful place to explore. I enjoyed seeing all of those lovely plants you found. Only a couple of those grow naturally in my area, fleabane and globemallow.

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  4. Wow. Gorgeous. I'm heading out there next week. Do you a favorite trail -- trail name? -- that you'd suggest? Gotta see those flowers!

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  5. Love those wildflowers and beautiful scenes...:)

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  6. You have spring wildflowers! Love that hillside of globemallow. We're in UT (Cedar City) overnight on our way home from CA. VERY windy! Tell Boss I'd be careful, too!

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  7. Thank you for this post! We've had Miner's lettuce in my CSA for the last few weeks and I didn't know what it was. It doesn't have much of a flavor, but it's so beautiful it makes salads more delectable and it's a perfect garnish for my pho soups.

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