I went to Anza Borrego Desert State Park last month looking for early spring wildflowers. I found a few plants in bloom, but I was really too early by several weeks. This Fairy Duster bloom is in the watered garden around the Visitor Center. For some reason I always want to call it Feather Duster…but it is Fairy.

Canon SX50HS. Program with iContrast and Auto Shadow Fill. –1/3EV exposure compensation. 24mm macro, plus 1.5x digital tel-converter. f4 @ 1/640th @ ISO 160. Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.