August 14, 2021 - Rangers in Yosemite Valley have spotted the first sign that fall is coming: Sierra lessingia. With delicate lavender blossoms, Sierra lessingia blooms appear like tiny floral constellations along many trails, roads, and talus slopes at the end of summer signaling the upcoming shift of seasons.

From the daisy family, this endemic species is native to the Sierra Nevada tends to bloom late in the wildflower season so when the spring and summer flowers have dried up into golden hay piles, the purple florets of Sierra lessingia offer a pop of color.

What signs of fall do you look for in your own backyard? Visit Yosemite National Park Facebook page to answer this question.