Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 27, 2005. 

Foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring.
Mesa Verde National Park, April 26, 2007.

Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring.
Top of Yellow Jacket Canyon, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 4, 2007.

The rose-purple tinge of the phyllaries is sometimes not present and at other times is even more extensive and obvious than shown in this photo, but other Townsendia can also have this coloring.  The hairiness of the phyllaries and tufts of hair at their tips can be a distinguishing factor among the Townsendia species, but, again, these characteristics vary and are shared by a number of Townsendia.  This photograph shows three different length phyllaries.  Some Townsendia have only one rank of phyllaries, some have up to seven.

Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands, openings. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 13, 2004.

The common name "Easter Daisy" was given because someone saw the plant blooming at Easter, but its dates of blooming depend, of course, on spring rains, altitude, etc., not on the advent of Easter which varies with the coming of the full moon.  This is another example of the problem with common names.  

The plant is commonly found in bloom from March through June.  I have also found Townsendia incana blooming in the fall and early winter, as late as December.

Foothills to alpine. Woodlands, openings. Spring, summer.
Lone Mesa State Park, June 11, 2008.

Foothills to alpine. Woodlands, openings. Spring, summer.
Lone Mesa State Park, June 11, 2008.

Phyllaries are in 3-5 rows and often, as here, suffused with or bordered with the reds of anthocyanin.