Tiny white wildflowers gracing the forest floor measuring no more than a quarter inch in diameter become a great big world to this tiny mantis that I did not even notice in the photograph until I downloaded the photos. just another reminder that the abundance of life one our wonderful planet is small and sometimes even smaller than we see.
Although spring had a calendar date of March 20th we have had an extended winter and this year earth day was the day that felt like spring had actually sprung.
The sun had been out for several days in a row without a flake of snow falling and the temperatures were downright warm. The snow was receding at a rapid pace and the earth became exposed. Flowers were budding and blooming all of which were no more than several inches high.
The promise of spring seemed fulfilled at last.
Flowers blooming with life inviting the early season pollinators in for a drink.
Pine cones alive on the forest floor and glow in the morning light.
Not more than an inch in height the flowers came in yellow and white.
The state butterfly Nymphalis antiopa “Mourning Cloak” basks in the sunlight on a road which only a day or two ago was covered in snow.
And then came the day after earth day…
aspens and willows
embrace in delight
cottonwoods drink from the stream
A splash of spring colors. No flowers this early but the blue, blue skies and red and orange willows make it feel like winter is a thing of the past even with snow covering the ground and ice on the creek.
Happy spring to you all.
Or Autumn for you all down south of the equator.
Although the calendar says otherwise the third week of January always feels like mid-winter to me. Yes, the cold and snow will hang for a few months, maybe more, there is just something about this time that portends a turning point somewhere deep inside.
So today it’s time to take a break and remember that sweet summer air will return again.
It is easy to feel the connectedness when the sun rises over the vast expanse of grasslands. Getting the opportunity to experience the prairie sunrise is a wonderful opportunity and this project to provide a hut-to-hut experience out in the grasslands is worth supporting.
https://www.americanprairie.org/project/hut-to-hut-system
‘Infinite Landscape’ exhibit benefits American Prairie Reserve
I have always found mushrooms fascinating life forms. Not plant, not animal yet vitally important for the health of both plants and animals. However, they are a bugger to photograph yet I never stop trying.
Paul Stamets wrote a great book on Fungus call Mycellium running and delivered this inserting TED talk several years ago:
When the seasons change there is nothing more to do do but sit and watch the show. Because the show must go on.
Near Leadville, CO.
A bit of blue still lingering as snows have come and gone this fall. The beauty of the summer flowers dressed in fall colors never ceases to delight the eyes. Photographed near Crested Butte, CO several weeks ago.
Fall colors on display as the sun close out another beautiful day.
nature has no boss 
You must be logged in to post a comment.