Iris douglasiana, China Camp State Park, 2011.

Spring camping at China Camp was very rewarding this year. No one was in the campground except for the loyal camp hosts. Morning sun made for great photo opportunities among the wildflowers.

These are the leaf blades of the marvelous Douglas iris (Iris douglasiana). The faded leaves from last year have a warm  coppery tone with a distinctive sheen. Next to poppy, it's probably the best known wildflower in the state of California* because it grows in many places, can handle lots of disturbance, and it has a marvelous violet bloom.

The intense morning sun on the leaves has burned off most of the dew, and seems a harbinger of a scorching day. It was -- I think it got to -- 60 degrees.

*I am making this up! But it might be true.