baby blue eyes ~ 03/19/09 ~ Fort Ord

baby blue eyes & unknown wasp
Nemophila menziesii
Boraginaceae (formerly Hydrophyllaceae)

Love the black spots in this baby blue-eyes; I've seen many without any spots whatsoever. Also, I'm fairly sure the insect is a Hymenoptera and not a Diptera due to the antennae. I'm guessing the white hind tibia may be an identifying trait. Does anyone know this wasp? His name is George, but I don't know which family he belongs (Thanks, Gary Larson!).

Johnny jump up ~ 03/14/09 ~ Fort Ord

Johnny jump up / California golden violet
Viola pedunculata
Violaceae

I found it interesting to see these in the same grassy spots as shooting stars.

coast paintbrush
Orobanchaceae (formerly Scrophulariaceae)

There are several different species of paintbrush in the area and I'm not familiar enough to know which one this is.

CA buttercup ~ 03/14/09 ~ Fort Ord

California buttercup
Ranunculus californicus
Ranunculaceae

I can't tell from this pic whether there was a sheen to the petals. I'm not absolutely positive about this ID since there seems to be so much variation among CA buttercups.