Sego Lily Flower; Utah State Flower

Apart of Erica Catherine's US State Flower Collection, the Sego Lily Flower represents the State of Utah. The unique flower is shown on top of a blue grey color background.

The Sego Lily was adopted as the state flower of Utah in 1911. Due to a cricket infestation crops were scarce and Mormon pioneers turned to the sego lily bulbs for food and survival during the 1840s. With the very heavy historical role the Sego Lily played, the Utah legislation named the Sego Lily as the floral emblem. The specific species of Sego Lily "Calochortus nuttalli" was named for Thomas Nuttall who was a self-taught naturalist. The Sego lily can be found blooming in May and June, boasting three ivory colored petals that form a tulip like shape before fully open. Once open they show the inner red or purple colored crescent shaped markings and yellow centers at the inner base of the flower. The small flowers normally grow to about 3 inches across and grow on single stems from grass like foliage. The Sego Lily can be found throughout the state but is most prominent in Sagebrush foothills and valleys, such as in the Great Basin, Salt Lake, Provo, and West Valley City.

Inspired by the natural and antique details that call to Erica's Old soul, she aims to bring that special spirit to all of her designs. Each drawing is created by hand using a mixture of graphite drawing with watercolor layering over the top to create the ethereal and vintage inspired work that harks back to turn of the century botanical illustration.