Mariposa — or “butterfly” in Spanish — is a fitting name for these ethereal flowers that thrive in harsh environments despite their delicate appearance. The mariposa lily is capable of surviving in hot, dry conditions, often on rocky outcrops where other plants cannot grow. These ones are clinging to the very edge of an erosion channel — it’s easy to surmise that many more washed away in the December rain when this section of the cliff collapsed.