BABY BLUE EYES

Early spring brings this baby-blue flower to the foothills and and grasslands of the western coasts of the United States. The genus name “Nemophilia” comes from the Latin words for “woodland loving.” The species name “menziesii” honors Archibald Menzies, the appointed naturalist of several extended voyages in the late 18th century. Menzies brought back a number of new species, including this wildflower.