Let me paint you the scene . . .

Castilleja miniata, May 31, 2022

C. miniata, upper Lost Man, 11,600’, July 7, 2022

Common & scientific name
Red paintbrush, Castilleja miniata

Family
Broomrape, Orobanchaceae

Location
Roadside, 9,200’

Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact

Paintbrushes owe their lovely coloring not to their flowers, but to their bracts, specialized leaves which in this case are red (or orange, or deep red, or . . . ).  This species of paintbrush is thought to be the second most widely distributed paintbrush in the world

C. miniata, Top Cut 12,100’, July 14, 2022