A little inspiration provided by a silent yet strong tree growing in the barren dry hills of western Colorado near the Utah border. When the going gets tough the tough keep growing.
Tag: landscape
On the forest floor
After a mile or two of a hike that began in tall grassland and meadows we suddenly entered a stretch of trail that wound it’s way through a luxuriant forest filled with treasures of all kind. From beautiful Woodland Pinedrops to what seemed an unending variety of ground covers, the landscape was transformed. From dry to wet, from brown to green, you never know what you’ll find on the forest floor.
Unusual fungi and tiny white bells.
Life took many forms and all play a part in the ecosystem of the forest floor.
Wishing you a wonderful week and perhaps some time to explore.
Good as Gold
The Aspen tress are doing their thing and a day spent soaking it up is an experience as good as gold.
Whispering
Dramatic skies contrast with gentle golden grasses whispering change is on the way.
Just Rosy
After 4 days of drizzle, rain, drizzle, rain..a rosy sunset was well…just rosy.
Woodland Pinedrops: Pterospora andromedea
Earlier this summer we ran across a peculiar plant making its way up through the earth in the forest. A strange striped asparagus? No Woodland Pinedrops: Pterospora andromeda.
According to Wikipedia “Like all members of the Monotriopoidiae , Pterospora andromedea lacks chlorophyll (trace amounts have been identified, but not enough to provide energy for the plant or to color it. Plants exist for most of their life as a mass of brittle, but fleshy, roots. They live in a parasitic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, in which plants derive all their carbon from their associated fungus, but the relationship is not yet well understood.”
This makes it similar to several of the orchids we have encountered along the trail.
Now that summer has passed and fall is in the air the plant looks like this.
Somewhat like a small tree full of small pumpkins decorating the autumn forest.
Late Summer Afternoon
As the grass now turns to brown the insects follow suit. Once a succulent green a mantis turns to brown.
Moths stay hidden beneath a golden cloak.
And while most flowers have gone to seed a few beautiful prairie coneflowers remain to brighten the fields.
Simple sights on a late summers afternoon.
Morning Drink
Female Moose enjoying an early morning drink on the snake river. Grand Teton National Park, WY.
Shady rest
The green grasses and fields of wildflowers of summer have long turned to brown yet the heat seems to have remained as a mule deer doe finds a bit of a shady rest under a lonesome juniper tree.
Still Summer
Alas, while most of the summers wildflowers have come and gone there is still a bit of color to be found. The Dotted Gayfeather have done well this year and are in full bloom in the fields and along the roadside near our home and it looks like other besides ourselves are enjoying them as a little Skipper Butterfly enjoys a late summers sip of nectar.
nature has no boss 
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