Skip to content
naturalist perspective logo white
  • Plants
    • Native Plants
    • Trees
    • Shrubs
    • Herbaceous Plants
  • Birds
  • Mammals
  • Places
  • Naturalist Newsletter
  • About
  • Search

Great Plains Yucca

Denver, Mountain Forests, Native Plants, Prairie, Roxborough Park, Willow Spring Open Space

The Great Plains Yucca plant is easily recognized by its stiff, sword shaped leaves that all originate at the base of the plant in a rosette. Its white flowers are on tall stalks and the dry flowers remain throughout the rest of the year.

Great Plains Yucca Read More »

Small American Plum tree

American Plum Shrub

Denver, Native Plants, Roxborough Park, Spring, Willow Spring Open Space

The American Plum can grow in either small tree or shrub form. It has fragrant white blooms in the spring, edible plums in the summer and red leaves in the fall.

American Plum Shrub Read More »

Leafy shrub with small yellow flowers

Golden Currant Shrub

Denver, Native Plants, Willow Spring Open Space

The Golden Currant shrub can grow up to 9 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet across, growing best along streams and in open woods. In the spring, they have small golden flowers.

Golden Currant Shrub Read More »

Male mallard

128 Species of Birds in Willow Spring Open Space!

Birds, Willow Spring Open Space, Year-round

Due to the variety of habitats, there are many species of birds in the Willow Spring Open Space, both year-round and also those that are seasonal.

128 Species of Birds in Willow Spring Open Space! Read More »

bright gold rabbitbrush shrub

Common Rabbitbrush Shrub

Denver, Native Plants, Prairie, Roxborough Park, Willow Spring Open Space

The Common Rabbitbrush shrub is a beautiful gold shrub which gets its name by providing a good spot for rabbits to hide. It is recognized in most seasons by its globe shape dotting the dry landscape.

Common Rabbitbrush Shrub Read More »

Sandbar willow shrubs

Sandbar Willow Shrub

Denver, Mountain Forests, Native Plants, Riparian, Willow Spring Open Space

Sandbar Willow shrubs grow along the banks of streams and on floodplains in multi-stemmed thickets, with branches up to 8 feet tall.

Sandbar Willow Shrub Read More »

2 Small Russian Olive trees

Russian Olive Trees

Denver, Willow Spring Open Space

Russian Olive trees are considered invasive plants in Colorado. They are easily recognized by thin, silvery leaves and thorns on the branches coming out next to the leaf stalks.

Russian Olive Trees Read More »

green ash in autumn

Green Ash Trees

Denver, Willow Spring Open Space

Green Ash trees are fast-growing tall trees which turn gold in the fall. They can be recognized by the X pattern on the bark and the branches opposite each other.

Green Ash Trees Read More »

Rocky Mountain Juniper tree

Rocky Mountain Juniper Trees

Denver, Mountain Forests, Native Plants, Prairie, Roxborough Park, Willow Spring Open Space

Rocky Mountain Juniper trees are conifer trees with scale-like leaves that stay on year-round. They are very hardy and adapted to low moisture and dry clay conditions.

Rocky Mountain Juniper Trees Read More »

yellow flowers with orange centers

The Importance of Native Plants

Denver, Mountain Forests, Willow Spring Open Space

Native Plants are those plants that have evolved to live in a certain place and are important to the ecosystem. Here is a collection of Native Plants at Willow Spring Open Space, along with some noxious weeds found there.

The Importance of Native Plants Read More »

← Previous 1 … 3 4 5 Next →
willow creek

Thanks for visiting Naturalist Perspective! I’m Sharon, and I hope you find the information here makes going outside in Colorado more enjoyable. Read more ->

Naturalist Newsletter

  • Small town in valley between mountains
    The View at 9,000 feet – Fall 2024
    Fall at 9,000 feet elevation in the Colorado mountains is a beautiful time to see golden Aspen trees, a few remaining flowers and watch the birds.
  • icy creek with beaver dam across it on a gray day
    Signs of Life in Willow Spring Open Space – December, 2023
    Even in the cold winter, predator birds and mammals are out at Willow Spring Open Space.
  • 3 prairie dogs on the alert
    Willow Spring Open Space – September, 2021 – Signs of Fall, and checking in on the Prairie Dogs
    During a pleasant early fall visit to the Willow Spring Open Space in mid-September 2021, plants were starting to show signs of fall, and the Prairie Dogs were active.
  • black-crowned night heron on dam
    Willow Spring Open Space – Late June Birds and Heavy Rains
    The Willow Spring Open Space in late June 2021 was a birder's delight!
  • Yucca in bloom
    Willow Spring Open Space June 2021 – Lush green grass and blooms!
    The Willow Spring Open Space in June had many kinds of flowering plants and lush grasses.

Recent Posts

  • Roxborough Park
  • The View at 9,000 feet – Fall 2024
  • Signs of Life in Willow Spring Open Space – December, 2023
  • Yellow Blooms on the Colorado Plains
  • Wise and Wonderful Great Horned Owls
Copyright © 2026 Naturalist Perspective | Bringing you information on your local outdoors
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy