Growing next to a stream I noticed leaves that were a notched semi-circle with even dentations all around the edge. Rising from these leaves was a slender stalk and delicate, small flowers. This was brook saxifrage (Saxifraga odontoloma), also called streamside saxifrage. It is native to western North America.
The flowers have five petals with a two-beaked pistil and ten reddish anthers.
This large plant growing next to a stream was a little bit of a mystery at first, because it had already flowered and only had strange looking fruits on it. The leaves were large and split in three leaflets. A little searching showed it was a member of the Rose Family (Rosaceae) called largeleaf avens (Geum macrophyllum). It's native to western and northern North America.
Flowers appear in June and July, but by August only the seed is left.
Unless you get lucky and catch a few petals still clinging on!
The flowers on this two-foot tall plant are small, so they might not attract your attention at first, but they are one of the few pink flowers blooming this time of year. They arise from a basal rosette of leaves that help identify this plant as a member of the Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae). This is redroot buckwheat (Eriogonum racemosum), with many other common names, such as wild buckwheat. It's found in the desert southwest.
The flowers have six petals and are close to the stem.
Growing up to six feet tall in moist area and producing dark purple flowers is Columbian monkshood (Aconitum columbianum). It's a member of the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae), although the lower leaves on the plant look almost maple-like.
The flowers supposedly resemble monk's hoods, hence the common name.
The petals of the plant are actually inside the protective covering formed by the sepals, along with the reproductive parts. A bee pollinates this highly specialized flower.
I saw buds, flowers, and seed pods all in the same area, showing the different stages all at one time.
Only one species of Aconitum grows in this area, making it fairly easy to identify. It also can form short vines, making it more distinctive.
The tall, purplish colored flowers that decorate roadsides and other disturbed locations late in summer is Rocky Mountain beeplant (Cleome serrulata). Despite its common name, this plant is found throughout most of North America, although in some areas it's considered weedy or invasive. It's a member of the Caper Family (Capparaceae), and also goes by the name bee spiderflower. 
Clusters of flowers with four petals and six stamens are found at the end of the stalk. Seed pods are elongated. 
Intermixed with the purplish flowers were a few white ones. I'm not sure what causes the color change.
The flowers look exactly the same except for a different color.
This pretty yellow flower growing on a small shrub immediately appears to be part of the Rose Family (Rosaceae) with its flower parts in fives. It is called shrubby cinquefoil or bush cinquefoil (Dasiphora fruticosa), previously called Potentilla fruticosa and Pentaphylloides fruticosa. It is easy to distinguish from other potentillas because it is the only woody one.
The colorful shrub usually grows above 6,000 feet in moist places.
This cute flower with the powder-puff flowers is not easy to find--in fact, it is endemic to just one mountain range in the world. It's called the Snake Range Buckwheat or Holmgrem's Buckwheat (Eriogonum holmgrenii), and is only found in eastern Nevada. It's a member of the Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae). 
Pink flowers are pistillate (female) while white flowers are staminate (male). 
The flowers generally bloom in July and August and grow above 9,500 feet.
They are found on limestone and metamorphic rock, and often grow in colorful patches. For more information about Snake Range buckwheat, click here.
