Rhododendron neoglandulosum

Western Labrador Tea. A member of the heath family with fragrant evergreen leaves and brilliant white clustered flowers. Traditionally the plant has been used as a tea, but its distinction for this use is perhaps irresponsible: ingested in high doses, it can cause tremors, paralysis, and even death. From the shores of Lake Mary in the Mammoth Lakes region.

This morning J and I took a field sketching class from John Muir Laws, which was our last workshop with the 2013 Bird Chautauqua. I've used Laws's field guide to the Sierra for years; he's a wonderful, vibrant man and one of the most enthusiastic proponents for nature I've ever met.