It is wildflower season here in the desert. Wildflowers only last a few weeks and are most abundant if there has been at least one inch of rain the previous Fall before it turns cold. Like the microclimates of Spring itself, they are fleeting. Temperatures hover at frost level for just a few hours in the morning. Afternoon sunshine is strong for a short interval before sunset when the temperatures rapidly cool down. The vibrant oranges of Mexican poppies and purples of fiesta flowers contrast with the green stems and leaves, painting the desert landscape in colors it lacks most of the year. My favorite thing about wildflowers is the way they close up at night, then open up in the morning at first light. It is a reminder of the strong tie to the sun cycle of the day that is lacking in the mechanics of our modern lives.