An Ornate Checkered Beetle climbs the milkweed in search of pollen and his efforts are fully rewarded.
Denver, CO.
Tag: wildflowers
Elephants on Parade
Shortly after the snow melts and the boggy grassy areas are still wet the Elephant Head Lousewort Flowers (Pedicularis Groenlandica) come into full bloom. Their blooms always seem short lived but this year we were lucky enough to stumble across fields full of them in their prime on a recent hike in the Colorado high country.
Elephants on Parade in the Mt Zirkel Wilderness, CO.
Simply Summer
It’s mid-July and the forest near my home has quieted down. On our daily walk we begin to pay more attention to those things that define a July day. Most are simple and I often overlook them.
Like the fascinating home of a spittle worm.
or a Dragonfly resting on a branch.
And how many times I walk right past a dandelion going to seed without stopping to take its photo. A true disservice to that dandelion which has put a lifetime into become such a beautiful thing.
Sometimes it is the simple things that make you say it’s simply summer today.
On the Yarrow
For the last few weeks the yarrow has been attracting quite a large variety of insects. This week was no exception and a new visitor we noticed was this small Hoverfly (Eristialis Anthophorina). They have a very bee like appearance that screams don’t mess with me or I will sting you. Mimicry at it’s best.
A Hop and a Jump
This time the jump got the better of the hop as a Bold Jumping Spider makes a meal of the grasshopper.
Denver, CO.
Green and Purple
The shapes and colors of summer perfectly displayed by the dance of flower and butterfly.
Denver, Co.
July
July
The water on the pond is just a bit stiller.
The dragonflies are out in force and the water lilies are in bloom.
Summer delivered.
The Assassin
While checking out the Coneflowers the other day we came across this really cool insect called an Assassin bug.
At one point we found them stalking prey in their world of flowers. The other insect noticed the Assassin on their trail and quickly hopped away avoiding becoming a meal.
Assassin Bugs are ambush hunters that use their long rostrum to inject digestive enzymes into their prey. Their bite is said to be quite painful yet without long term consequences.
So from now on I will be keeping my eyes open and hands a safe distance from this guys home in the coneflowers as summer carries on.
Prairie Smoke
One of our favorite wildflower is Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum). Gazing into a field of these flowers is like watching a full on action movie yet motion is only implied.
Milk Weed Portrait
Milk Weed, from bud to flower, posing nicely in the evening sunlight.
Everywhere we look on our daily walk milk weed is springing forth. Most plants have buds just waiting to burst into flower while a few have started their blooms. We all know milkweed is an important flower for the Monarch Butterfly but given its abundance it helps sustain many pollinators both large and small.
Summer is truly upon us…on your mark, get set….go.
Along Clear Creek in Denver, CO.
nature has no boss 
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