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🌻Mule & Magpie’s Colorado Wildflower Guide🌻

Colorado’s high deserts, prairies, hills and mountains~ there’s so much here to explore! I’m a slow hiker though, and stop to look at, and photograph, every interesting and pretty little thing along the way. I find connection and creative inspiration in native wildflowers, and have illustrated many as Wildflower Women.

The land where I live is the territory and homelands of the Núuchiu (Ute), Hinono’ei (Arapaho), and Tsistsistas (Cheyenne) peoples. They were, and still are, the original stewards and caretakers of this land, the waters and air, and all living beings within it. In acknowledgement of their importance in the story of this land, the original, Indigenous names of many wildflowers are included here. Widely available ecological and medical knowledge is shared here, but the deeper cultural meanings, uses, and teachings connected to these plants belong to the Indigenous communities who hold them. I encourage learning directly from Indigenous voices, educators, and community resources for deeper cultural understanding. Where cultural elements are referenced here, they are approached with respect and an awareness of my position as a learner.

Through learning the names and characteristics of the small beauties around us, her role in her ecosystem, her stories and medicine, we can recognize her each time we meet outside or on a trail ~ not just as a familiar face, but as a friend, sister, kin ~ and in gratitude to the land and home that we share.

This collection is far from complete (and always ongoing), but all are wildflowers and blooming shrubs I’ve found and photographed, native to Colorado’s Front Range. Flowers are categorized by color in the galleries below. Select a color, then click on each wildflower to see and learn more. Let’s go for a hike! 🌾🌲👣🌲🌾

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