This year the spring rains have been generous and brought an abundance of Wild Iris to the high arid grasslands of Northern Colorado. Will the wet summer continue or will things dry out. Only time will tell.
Tag: wildflower
Pasque morning
This is the time of year for the magnificent Pasqueflowers to bloom and brighten the hillsides, forests and meadows near town.
These flowers are part of the genus Pulsitilla family which contains numerous species spread across the globe and are the state flower of South Dakota. We noticed two distinct species while on a recent walk with both growing along the sunny hillsides and one growing just about everywhere in both sun and shade.
Hope we can get back out before they are done blooming and wishing you all a Pasque morning.
Like Caterpillars
Catkins emerge like caterpillars crawling from a tree. One after another glowing in the forest light.
One after another springing to life.
Another sign spring has sprung.
Jazz
Miles, Coltrane, Evans…..or as Louie Armstrong once said…man if you gotta ask you don’t know.
Finally
Each fall we leave the coneflowers alone in the garden hoping that finches will come by and get a nice meal. Until last week we had not had a finch visit. Well that all changed as a lone American Goldfinch wandered by and quickly took a liking to dried, but full of seeds, Coneflowers.
Decembers Light
The mid-December sun, traveling low across southern sky casts long shadows on the icey blue face of a small pond and gently lights the landscape beyond. Decembers light is like no other and helps me keep track of the time like no wall calendar or wristwatch can.
Everybody loves Rabbit Brush
Just a few weeks ago the Rabbit Brush was in full bloom and hosting quite a party where everyone was invited. Rabbit Brush is a native plant found over much of the western United States that blooms in late fall providing one final burst of color before winter arrives. According to the USDA, Rabbit Brush:Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, provides both nesting habitat and forage for a wide variety of birds, insects and small mammals. One of the more frequent visitors to the party were White Crowned Sparrows.
In this case an immature White-Crowned Sparrow seemed to be foraging for insects.
Another visitor we noticed on more than one occasion was the Monarch Butterly stopping by for a sip of nectar as they migrate south for the winter.
Last but not least the Ruby-crowned Kinglets found the party too good to ignore and we frequently saw them foraging through the bushes in each of a meal.
A beautiful plant and a welcome splash of color as snow is forecast for the weekend.
And speaking of weekends, have a great one.
Leaves and Lake
Golden fall colors reflecting upon a very calm lake. Silence is golden.
Sights and sounds
The golden glow of the Aspens in the morning light.
Two chickadees singing a-dee-dee-dee with a nuthatch honking as the leaves rustle in the breeze.
The crows gurgling and woodpeckers pecking in the distance.
Sights and sounds of the forest on a morning hike.
Letting Loose
Almost like a drip from a leaky faucet this plant was sowing seeds slow and one at a time on a windless afternoon. One let loose and another follows. A wonderful display of flow in slow motion.
