Don's Blog Upper Beaver Meadows 8-14-19

We took a nice hike with Chris and Meg today. Jan found a bracelet off the path.

                                 

The monarda was blooming chest high.

                                 
      

It was amazing.

                               

           and the path went right through it.
                               

We found a shady spot off the trail,

                                
      and were mesmerized by a young deer.

                  

Don's Blog Upper Beaver Meadows 8-14-19

We took a nice hike with Chris and Meg today. Jan found a bracelet off the path.

The monarda was blooming chest high.

It was amazing.

and the path went right through it.

We found a shady spot off the trail,

and were mesmerized by a young deer.

Family at Cheley 7-28-19

We love to see the family in Colorado. Here are some Cheley pics.

Will became Roy Rogers/ Gene Autry/ Hopalong Cassidy.

                                                

                      

                                 


                                

En Plein Air 8-10-19

It's always a treat to see the artist at work

                  

                            

Flower for the Day Arctic Lupin 9-10-19

These beautiful lupin (Lupines arcticus)  were growing by Coney Flats in the southern part of the Indian Peaks  area. They are called lupin or lupine and are flowering legumes 

in the pea family. I have seen them in Alaska, Nunavut, Greenland and Iceland. Lupin is an adjective from the French - "of the wolf".

                 

The flowers have an upper standard, or banner, two lateral wings, and two lower petals fused into a keel. This image shows that well.

                                     

Flower for the Day White Campion 9-9-19

On my morning walks in Estes Park, Colorado I kept seeing this white flower. It  is white campion (Silene latifolia). Campions are in the Pink family(Caryophyllaceae). White campion although striking is felt to be a weed. Its a well known saying that one man's weed is another man's wildflower. It was introduced into the US from Europe in the 1800's probably accompanying some seed crops. 
 
I have had a long love affair with two other campions. Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) has my favorite magenta color. I have only been fleetingly successful in growing it in my front garden. It only lasts for several years and then disappears.
 
My other favorite campion is moss campion (Silene acaulis) which I have seen frequently in the high arctic. Its tiny pink flowers grow on a tufted cushion of green.

 
I really liked them all but had no idea they were related as campions. That is the fun of looking them up.

Don's Blog Osprey 8-15-19

We saw this raptor at Lake Estes today. I think it is an osprey(Pandion heliaetus). It is called  sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk. It is a diurnal fish eating bird of prey. Lake Estes has three birds of prey: bald eagle, osprey, and turkey vutlure.

The osprey has some distinct markings to differentiate it. Its small head has a white crown with a dark, brown eye stripe and dark, hooked bill. Its underparts are white, and when flying, the dark brown and white stripes can be seen on the wings and tail. The wings also have a distinct angle to them when soaring.

 
 It is a magnificent floater.
 

Don's Blog Moose on the Loose II 8-14-19

After coming out of the water the moose got on the trail and followed some tourists.

Someone shouted, "Get out of the way." 

The moose got tired of the trail and jumped the fence,

                    

and wandered into the woods.

What fun.

Don's Blog Moose on the Loose I 8-14-19

Several years ago moose were introduced to RMNP on the west side of the divide. Now they are plentiful  on both sides. We went to Sprague Lake and a cow and her calf were in the middle of the lake.

                      

They were eating from the bottom and it looked like fresh salad. The cow has been tagged and collared.

                               

They slowly worked their way to the side of the lake.

 We got quite close.

                                 

When they were finished eating they got on the trail and followed some tourists.

Flower for the Day Buttercup 8-14-19

The mountain buttercup (Ranunculus) is gorgeous this year.

              
Here is an entire hillside covered with buttercups on the tundra near the summit of Trail Ridge road.
          
If you look closely you can see a marmot among the buttercups.