American Mink

(you might enjoy this in 'full screen', click on the square in the bottom right corner to see this video larger)

a mink visit

new sounds in the ponds

the muskrats were running and leaping off the island

onto the water

like a belly flop splash

also

a quiet slinky mink

swimming as well!

I have only seen a mink 3 times now

they are nocturnal

but there it was, hunting in the day

the pipe (in the video) 

is how the water flows from one pond to the next

it is also how the muskrats and mink travel from one pond to the next

I hope you enjoyed the little video

it was joy inspiring to be so close

as long as I stood still the mink seemed to think me a tree

a few days later

at a friends home

we saw a mink fishing in the lake

two minks in one week!

~

*

Spots and Dots

a week ago

I found this mushroom rising through the earth

a splash of dirty color:

I visited it and photographed it every day

It took 7 days from beginning to end

it was the only mushroom around

it was a fun and interesting thing to do

out in the back meadow 

the grasses are now taller than I

and 

they are speckled with ladybugs

this is the first summer that I have seen so many of these 

little gem-like bugs

this seasons fawns are quite dapper in their spots

sharing a scattering of spots and dots 

from my forest

~

*

Season of Flowers

some views

change one's breathing

meadows of flowers

can right one's spirit

 at my elevation 

most flowers have gone to seed

but the mountains

still offer flowers galore

colors divine

mixed with mountains and sky

and 

one's heartbeat comes true

Wandering paths and mountain roads are such a nice way to enjoy summer wildflowers!

I am sharing this with Whims & Fancies
last Thursday of each months:
Wandering Camera
~

Season of Flowers!

~

*

Into the Enchanted Forest

into the enchanted forest

where bears call home

(old and new claw marks):

 

deer do roam

 

 clear waters flow

 and 

flowers grow

hummingbirds build nests of spider webs and lichen

and 

moths nap on leaves

summer in Montana

~

*

 

Interesting, artful and near otherworldly Details

interesting spring details

of our common juniper bushes

these are the male flowers
(above)

 intimate glimpse of horsetail

(above)

umbrella liverwort
before the umbrellas grow
(above)

the umbrellas
(above)
liverworts are among the oldest terrestrial plants on earth

~
*