Many wildflowers look alike. Many of us learn how to identify a dandelion (Taraxicum officinale) by identifying the familiar soft, yellow flower heads - or perhaps the mature puffball of seeds (I think they look like photographs of fireworks). We develop a "search image" in our head, that picture of the yellow flower, so we easily see it in other plants.

In this case, the taller plant with dandelion-like flowers is probably a Goats-beard (Tragopogon). It's flower IS VERY similar to dandelion. They share common ancestry. Both share the same reproductive structures (composite flowers) are both introduced form Eurasia.

It is good to be "confused" sometimes, it may force you to be more observant about plant anatomy and habitat (one is a rosette on the ground, the other spindly, multi-branched, and tall) rather than relying on your search image that suggests all yellow flowers are the same. Field guides (old school books or phone apps) are a great resource to use to start delving into the mysteries of nature.

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