The other day I saw a yellow flash land in a nice cedar tree. Thinking it was an unusual insect I quickly went over to get a look. Alas, it was not a new insect but a Honey Bee and to say this one was covered in pollen might be an understatement. This little bee could hard fly with the load they had acquired. After a few minutes of rest they slowly lifted off and headed back to the hive. A job well done.
We typically see only a few Preying Mantis each summer either while out hiking or in our garden. Last week, while out on a hike, we saw numerous Mantids and each one matched the specific grasses they resided in. The Mantid above was in grasses that were a mix of green and brown and the Mantid was green and brown.
While the Mantid above resided in fresh green grass.
This Mantids above were right at home in a field of brown.
We even got a look at one Mantid hanging upside down.
Photographed in Denver, CO
The coneflowers are one of the later bloomers in our area and provide a snack for some of the other late season visitors. In this case it’s a cabbage white butterfly getting a sip of nectar on late summer afternoon.
A peculiar looking green-eyed bee/wasp enjoys a bit of time on the coneflowers.
Western Moss-heather is a beautiful plant that grows high up in the alpine environment in northwestern United States, Alaska and Canada. We happened across a nice patch flowering a few weeks ago.
Beautiful little bells hanging from redish stems with the plants growing about 4-5 inches tall at most.
Some patches almost seems to be growing directly out of the rocks along this wind whipped slope.
A flower we don’t encounter every summer on our hikes but one we will always remember.
A few weeks ago we we lucky enough to take a hike along a ridge above tree-line once again filled with alpine wildflower. Most growing only inches tall yet the display of color was stunning.
Carefully stepping from rock to rock to avoid smashing these fragile flowers that somehow thrive in a cold and windy environment.
Where sunflowers and lupine grown only inches tall.
While other flower grew as if they were the earth itself.
Happy Friday and wishing you a wonderful weekend.
A Milbert’s Tortoiseshell Butterfly sips sweet nectar on an August afternoon. While many of the butterflies we see are present in great numbers through the summer there are some we only see a handful of and then only for a few weeks at the most. The Milbert’s is one of them.
Another not so frequent observation is the Red Admiral.
The Pink-Edged Sulphur is always one of the most skittish and elusive of butterflies for us to photograph each summer. They seem to have that sixth sense and fly away even before we can get within range.
Another butterfly we only see a handful of each summer is not a butterfly at all but a moth. The Police-car Moth to be exact.
Seeing eye to eye with a dragonfly.
A fine way to start the day.
Although we see a couple every summer the Lorquin’s Admiral not as abundant as many of the other butterflies we see. This individual was resting, wings spend, on a wonderful lichen covered tree. The red wings spots and bright red eye make this a unique sight and one we never tire of.
Rocky Mountain Penstemon.
Are they Blue?
Are they Purple?
Oh Heck, let’s just call them Blurple. Seeing them growing wild in the fields or in the garden around they house always bring a smile to our faces.
We are not sure there can be a more saturated color and the sculptural beauty just leaves one shaking their head.
Blowing on the breeze as summer lingers on.
And the bees dig them as well.
Happy Monday and have a great week ahead.
nature has no boss 
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