{"id":47223,"date":"2017-06-10T05:20:58","date_gmt":"2017-06-10T11:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=47223"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:08:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T16:08:59","slug":"blooming-lewiss-flax-in-the-wasatch-mountains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/06\/10\/blooming-lewiss-flax-in-the-wasatch-mountains\/","title":{"rendered":"Blooming Lewis’s Flax in the Wasatch Mountains"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BirdBird Hoverfly on Lewis’s Flax – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Spring has almost given way to summer in the Salt Lake Valley but in some areas of the mountains that surround the valley spring is still on going and at the highest elevations it has only just begun. I love that I can escape the heat of the valley simply by going up into the mountains and I also love seeing the wildflowers that bloom up there.<\/p>\n

Long before I became a bird photographer one of my passions was photographing flowers whether they were cultivated or wild, some of my first digital images taken with my Sony Mavica were of flowers and flowering shrubs that I grew in my backyard. That seems so very long ago.<\/p>\n

Now my primary focus is on birds but I still can’t resist photographing wildflowers and if the wildflowers have insects on them that is even better.<\/p>\n

One of my favorite wildflowers is Lewis’s Flax, I love how the blossoms move in a breeze because it seems like they are dancing and their blue color is appealing to my eyes.<\/p>\n

\"SingleSingle Lewis’s Flax bloom – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1000, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

So yesterday when I saw some Lewis’s Flax not far from a creek in the Wasatch Mountains<\/span><\/a> I aimed my lens at them and took some photos because they won’t be blooming for very long and because they are so beautiful. Lewis’s Flax is also called Prairie Flax and Wild Blue Flax and the scientific name is Linum lewisii<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Lewis'sLewis’s Flax in Morgan County, Utah – Nikon D500, f10, 1\/640, ISO 320, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis’s Flax can be found in roughly 3\/4 of North America from Alaska and subarctic Canada south to northern Mexico. The plants are drought tolerant and are beneficial because the flowers attract large numbers of native bees.<\/p>\n

I’m always happy to see Lewis’s Flax in bloom dancing in the breeze.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my wildflower photos along with shrubs and trees.<\/p>\n

The hoverfly in the first photo is a Bird Hoverfly also known as Large-tailed Aphideater – Eupeodes volucris<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of my favorite wildflowers is Lewis’s Flax, I love how the blossoms move in a breeze because it seems like they are dancing and their blue color is appealing to my eyes. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":172082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17262,4594,26,773,5347],"tags":[5914,5913,2559,5912,2521,3896,4307],"class_list":["post-47223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hoverflies","category-morgan-county","category-utah","category-wasatch-mountains","category-wildflowers","tag-american-hoverfly","tag-lewiss-flax","tag-linum-lewisii","tag-prairie-flax","tag-wild-blue-flax","tag-wildflower","tag-wildflowers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/wild-blue-flax-hoverfly-mia-mcpherson-7719.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-chF","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":103847,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/07\/04\/lewiss-flax-feeling-the-blues\/","url_meta":{"origin":47223,"position":0},"title":"Lewis’s Flax – Feeling The Blues","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"While I was up in the Wasatch Mountains last week I saw several clumps of blooming Lewis's Flax and I stopped to take a few photos of these lovely wildflowers.","rel":"","context":"In "Lewis\u2019s Flax"","block_context":{"text":"Lewis\u2019s Flax","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/trees-shrubs-and-flowers\/wildflowers\/lewiss-flax\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lewis's Flax blossoms, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lewiss-flax-bloom-mia-mcpherson-2364.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lewiss-flax-bloom-mia-mcpherson-2364.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lewiss-flax-bloom-mia-mcpherson-2364.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/lewiss-flax-bloom-mia-mcpherson-2364.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":57799,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/05\/14\/wildflower-season-has-started-in-northern-utah-lewiss-flax\/","url_meta":{"origin":47223,"position":1},"title":"Wildflower Season Has Started In Northern Utah – Lewis’s Flax","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 14, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Everywhere I go in the lower elevations of northern Utah I can see wildflowers blooming now.","rel":"","context":"In "Summit County"","block_context":{"text":"Summit County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/summit-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lewis's Flax in shade, Wasatch Mountains, 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blooming wildflowers and me taking photos of them in the field so it seemed appropriate to share a few wildflower photos this morning.","rel":"","context":"In "Summit County"","block_context":{"text":"Summit County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/summit-county-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bluebells in the Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/mountain-bluebells-in-bloom-mia-mpcherson-1401.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/mountain-bluebells-in-bloom-mia-mpcherson-1401.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/mountain-bluebells-in-bloom-mia-mpcherson-1401.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/mountain-bluebells-in-bloom-mia-mpcherson-1401.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":89963,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/06\/06\/blooming-lewiss-flax\/","url_meta":{"origin":47223,"position":3},"title":"Blooming Lewis’s Flax","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 6, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"I wanted to follow my post about a blue bird with blue wildflowers so here are some photos I took last week of Lewis\u2019s Flax which are also known as Wild Blue Flax.","rel":"","context":"In "Tooele County"","block_context":{"text":"Tooele County","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/tooele-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blooming Lewis's Flax with a tiny beetle, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/lewiss-flax-in-bloom-beetle-mia-mcpherson-3540.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/lewiss-flax-in-bloom-beetle-mia-mcpherson-3540.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/lewiss-flax-in-bloom-beetle-mia-mcpherson-3540.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14841,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/04\/27\/wild-blue-flax-in-the-high-uintas\/","url_meta":{"origin":47223,"position":4},"title":"Wild Blue Flax in the High Uintas","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I adore the delicacy of the Wild Blue Flax and the sage-green color of the foliage and how they move so gracefully in a breeze.","rel":"","context":"In "High Uintas"","block_context":{"text":"High Uintas","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/high-uintas-utah\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wild Blue Flax in the High Uintas, Uintah Mountains, High Uintas, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/wild-blue-flax-mia-mcpherson-1639.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/wild-blue-flax-mia-mcpherson-1639.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/wild-blue-flax-mia-mcpherson-1639.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/wild-blue-flax-mia-mcpherson-1639.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":102220,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/05\/08\/happy-mothers-day-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":47223,"position":5},"title":"Happy Mother’s Day 2022","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 8, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I wanted to wish all moms a Happy Mother's Day with a wildflower that I see blooming at this time of year in northern Utah. This is a blooming Lewis's Flax.","rel":"","context":"In "Lewis\u2019s Flax"","block_context":{"text":"Lewis\u2019s Flax","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/trees-shrubs-and-flowers\/wildflowers\/lewiss-flax\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Lewis's Flax single bloom, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/happy-mothers-day-2022-mia-mcpherson-3526.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/happy-mothers-day-2022-mia-mcpherson-3526.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/happy-mothers-day-2022-mia-mcpherson-3526.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/happy-mothers-day-2022-mia-mcpherson-3526.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47223","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47223"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47223\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/172082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47223"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47223"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47223"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}