Although Apache plume blooms from spring throughout the summer and into early fall, the flowers and plumes are always most abundant in May. They cover the foothills with a soft pink glow.
I love the way Apache plume looks up close as well. I tried something new in the photo below: Instead of creating contrast with light or color between the plume and its background, I used focus as the only point of contrast.
It occurs to me that I may not be any more subtle as a photographer than I am personally.