Future flowers and fall colors

Some Minnesotan has spotted strange red things growing in his yard. Unfortunately, this Californian is currently cursed with a yard that is nearly 100% grass, and thus I have few similarly pretty things poking up at me. Yesterday we started changing that by spraying about a quarter of our front yard with herbicide so we can make a few planting beds, but progress is going to be slow. In the meanwhile, I'll be envious of the evil red creatures Pharyngula gets to look at every morning.

Since my readers should have something pretty to look at, in lieu of California flower pictures here's a picture from a trip to Utah last fall:


This image also serves as a late entry into this week's Photo Friday contest, "natural".