Tag: nature journal

Orobanche uniflora

On By Mike and Christy6 Comments

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I can’t say it better than it is stated in this NY Times article “There’s simply no way to talk about the beauty of Orobanche uniflora without raising a lot of eyebrows.”

Commonly called Naked Broomrape or sometimes Flowered Cancer Root this wonderful flower with unflattering common names was a new one to us when we came across it in meadow on a recent hike.

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It is a short leafless plant unable to photosynthsize thus gaining it’s nutrients by parasitism. Often using sedum, saxifrages and asters as a host plant. Typically growing only up to 3 inches tall we found this cluster buried deep in the grass.

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It is a beautiful little flower and very unique to say the least.

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Across open spaces

On By Mike and Christy19 Comments

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A day spent winding your way through open spaces is indeed a day well spent. From morning encounters with resting Elk to views of the mountains beyond.

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The mid-day sun shines bright but a gentle breeze blows to cool things down.

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As mid-day passes to afternoon the clouds begin to build and signal it’s time to go down.

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Wishing you a wonderful weekend and perhaps some time in your favorite space.

Todays Flavor: Orange

On By Mike and Christy14 Comments

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Painted Brush also called Indian Paint Brush has been blooming thick this summer in mountain meadows and sage-lands alike. It is one of our favorite wildflowers and comes in so many colors it begs the question of which we like best. Todays flavor is orange but that is certainly subject to change.

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An even bigger question is do you order a single scoop, a double scoop or….
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just sit down at the edge of the meadow and and enjoy the whole carton.
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Blue and green

On By Mike and Christy10 Comments

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A blue dragonfly perched and overlooking the greenest of summers green.

Welcome to August. The month that seems ruled by dragonflies and where the birds have ceased their songs. In August the the summer sun still sines bright and burns hot yet the green slowly slips to brown. The dog days of summer some say yet the wildflowers still bloom, insects buzz about and plenty of time left to enjoy bounty that summer brings. Still time to hike, swim or just laze around and enjoy the summer sun. Overall August is not so bad.

Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel

On By Mike and Christy9 Comments

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Cute like a Chipmunk only bigger. The Golden Mantled Group Squirrel is a resident of mountain and coniferous forest regions across the western United State and Canada.

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We spent some time observing this guy/gal while on a recent hike. They were busy scurrying about and not too concerned about us hanging out watching them. They moved about nimbly in the rocky terrain where we found them that afternoon.

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Before we left they collected a nice big piece of moss presumably for their den.

So, if you see a giant chipmunk running around it is probably a Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel.

A Marvel or Marvelous?

On By Mike and Christy6 Comments

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A male Red Veined Meadow-Hawk dragonfly perches on an old branch just above eye level. Perched facing right, he took a quick flight, then perched on the same branch facing left. He provided us a wonderful view of what has to be considered a marvel of engineering and biomechanical design from his amazing exoskeleton right down to the structure of his wings.

Truly a marvel as well as marvelous to observe. Beauty, form and function all wrapped up in one fine package.

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The Yellow-headed butterfly

On By Mike and Christy3 Comments

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We see this butterfly at least once per summer and usually on the same week in mid-July. I am having a difficult time correctly identifying the species. Looks a bit like a form of white or a form of a sulphur. It is beautiful regardless the specific species and we always enjoy finding and observing one on our mid-summer hikes.