Nature and Wildlife

A Mariposa Lily photographed with a Nikon D300 with a 105mm lens atop a field in Big Sur, California. The Mariposa Lily, Calochortus venustus, means "charming grass" while the common name Mariposa is Spanish for "butterfly". Although mostly a white petal, you'll also observe a red, pink, purple, lilac and yellow variations. They are found from elevations between 2500- 9000ft. and were revered by indigenous groups as an edible gift of the gods.