Flower for the Day 9-14-12 Brown eyed susans

It is hard to believe how large these brown eyed Susans are. There is something

amazing about Estes Park wildflowers.

 

Flower for the Day 9-13-12 False Soloman's seal

Near the Smooth Soloman's Seal was this False Soloman's Seal (Smilacena racemosa).

Also Soloman's plume and False spikenard. Also a member of the lily family, its terminal

flowers are replaced by brown berries.

 

Bonus 9-12-12 Big Elks at Performance Park

I was checking out Performance Park when I saw this elk in the back at stage left.

He and his partner decided to bypass the stage and get a drink of water. As you 

can see the Christmas Elk still has his lights on.

 

 

They are still in the velvet.

 

Flower for the Day 9-12-12 Solomans Seal

Solomans Seal  Polyogonatum commutatum. Also Smooth Solomans Seal  This native perennial member of the 

lily family shows off its  non-terminal berries. It was growing by a hiking trail near a stream.

 

Bonus 9-11-12 Surprise in a tree

We were driving along the Big Thompson River near downtown Estes Park when we came to a traffic jam. "Oh no," I said to myself, "not another big elk."  But no it was a large black bear way up in a tree. We stopped and had a time trying to take a good picture. The photo with the head shot  shows that this is a very large bear.

The bear did move around a lot but luckily for all of us  he stayed up in the tree.

The next image shows a different perspective.

The view from the bears.

Flower for the Day 9-11-12 Columbine - Not your usual color

Here are some mammoth yellow columbines.

  

Bonus 9-10-12 Mystery Bird

This mystery bird was in a dead tree by the public beach on the 

north shore of Lake Estes. A local birder told us that Baldy the 

eagle usually was perched in this tree.

 

Addendum: After multiple suggestions it has been determined that the bird
is an immature (juvenile) double crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus).
It might have been easier if it had been in the arctic or on Sanibel Island.

Flower for the Day 9-10-12 Monarda

The flowers in Estes Park are spectacular. They are larger and more colorful than those in the heartland. These monarda (bee balm) were growing just off north Moraine Street by the Fall River downtown.

Bonus 9-7-12 Snow Shoe Rabbit

Snow shoe rabbit (Lepus americanus)  On a hike with Ken Oldham to Bierstadt Lake

(below) we came upon this snow shoe rabbit. Its name comes from the large 

size of its hind feet and the marks left by its tail. It grows fur on the soles of its feet for 

snow and ice protection. It is white in the winter and rusty brown in the summer. It has white feet and 

flanks and grows black tufts of fur on the edge of its ears. It does not hibernate. It can

have up to four litters per year which makes it sound like it can reproduce like a rabbit. 

Lake Bierstadt  Rocky Mountain National Park  8-8-12

Flower for the Day 9-7-12 Bachelor Buttons

Bachelor buttons (Centaurea cyanus) Also Common cornflower,blue bottle, and cyani flower. Bachelor buttons were chosen by Jan to be the boutenniere flowers for me and the groomsmen at our wedding 51 years ago.These bachelors buttons were growing behind the Estes Park Library parking lot in a striking display.