Calochortus Gunnisonii
This lovely lily can be found at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.
I ran across this lovely little “butterfly lily” in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of my regular hiking haunts. When I researched it, I found conflicting information on how many species of this lily exist. There are thousands, but this particular one, Calochortus gunnisonii, is native to the western US, in the Rocky Mountains and Black Hills.
Alternatively known as the Sego Lily, its colors–white, avocado green, purple, violet, and yellow–can show up in various patterns. Some have purple petals, and some have more bold, less intricate patterns in the center. I enjoyed deciphering the balance and symmetry as I focused in on its details, which first appeared irregular, but grew more and more symmetrical the closer I looked!
The mosaic is made of stained glass with one freshwater pearl over a foam, fiberglass, and cement water resistant substrate.