Desert Plants, Alabama Hills

I was drawn to the wonderful color of the plants and their contrast with the granitic rocks of the Alabama Hills. This version is cropped from the bottom, but I think it might be better with a bit more of a crop of the light colored plant in the foreground. What do you think?

Question: Can anyone ID the red plants and the light colored plant in the foreground? I know that the yellow-flowered plant is green rabbit bush, but haven't a clue as to what the others are. Thanks!

Larger Version

Mamiya 645E
150mm Mamiya Lens
Astia 100-F

Your comments are always appreciated!

-PB

Preston, I have always known or have referenced to the red ones as a variety of desert buckwheat, but I could be totally off base. I agree on the others you mention, but do not know the white foreground one. Excellent colors whatever they all are.

Beautiful colors and scene. The plants blend great with the rock. For my tastes, I would prefer a top crop to more or less square. My eye wants to linger on the wonderful colors, but keeps drifting toward the URC and out of the picture.

Harley I see what you mean.... I've been testing the cropping of images
just by crolling the page on & off the page...
I think your eye wants to do that because we can't see the
entire BIG bloulder in the center top to anchor our eyes.
I, however, was agreeing more with Preston and my eye wants
to see a crop from the bottom right about an inch?
just to the bottom of that scruffy bush.
Beautiful colors & nice eye Preston...
thanks for sharing this beauty of high mountain dessert Fall foliage.
Truly shows that beauty is every where during every season.

In gratitude,
Nelcha

I'd say buckwheat and sage (besides the rabbit brush).

Hey Preston: I'd prefer it with a crop from the bottom up to near-square. The color palette here is great. The red is indeed buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum; post flower, entering dormancy) and I'm sorry to say that I don't know what the yellow specimen is (yet) even though I have it planted in my yard!! I suspect it is Amphipappus fremontii var. spinosus (spiny Fremont's chaffbush), but I have yet to nail that for sure. I also have Eriogonum in my yard.

Good photography, Preston!

A beatiful composition Preston. One which really transports me to the location. I love the quality of light too. It seems perfect for this type of photograph.

This exemplifies the eastern sierra for me Preston. I love the contrast of color and textures which the eastern sierra is all about. I wish I could've made it that weekend. Perhaps another time.