Plantain flower

Some of the weeds have the most interesting flowers. This is of the common narrow-leaf plantain, Buckhorn plantain, Plantago lanceolata. The tan skirt which forms the under part of the flower is actually the spent dried stamens. Click on photo to englarge.

Here's a good University of California website with extensive information on the two most common kinds of plantain - not to be confused with the banana relative.

A bed of poppies and other wildflowers

Lupines

I think these lupines came in a box of wildflower seeds because I don't remember planting any where they are located. The seeds were planted many years ago but the flowers still appear every year.

Water lily, hardy Nymphea

This is a cold hardy water lily, probably Nymphaea alba, a common but beautiful water plant. It over-winters in our pond which has frozen over to a depth of about 8" thick. The fish and water lilies survive under the ice.

Rhododendron

Buttercup, Ranunculus repens

I found this Buttercup in an empty lot and dug it up for our garden where it is thriving, almost too well. The flowers have a very shiny sheen.

Dandelion