The season of bears and flowers ~

Wandering the woods, breathing with trees, photographing spring treasures, I heard a unique scrambling sound. 

One is wise to take note of sounds while in the wilds of this NW corner of Montana. 

For we live with the critters of fairy tales. 

Looking in the direction of the sound I saw a black bear scurrying up a tall conifer tree, bark flying as she did. 

Oh! 

Since she was kind of far and up a tree I snapped a few photos. 

But really, she got up that tree so fast, she could have gotten to me before I knew what was happening. 

Later I learned that my camera captured her two little cubs! She had sent her cubs to safety and followed after them. 

A good bear encounter!

Each May, when wandering the woods, my eyes scan the forest floor for fairy slippers, the calypso orchid. 

 Absolutely thrilling! 

and

shooting stars

a little past its prime

yet still a thrill to find

the highly sought after morel mushroom

moss is growing

and so beautiful up close!

~

*

 

Spring an expression of Joy

this little beauty landed near me

maybe 3/4" across

I think it is a female moth, maybe a looper

if you know, please tell me!

another tiny and first meeting

a pygmy bitterroot flower

so pretty

a lovely area of rock terraces

maybe an inch of moss covered soil

the home of vast amounts of flowers!

amongst a sea of colbalt purple larkspur

I found a few lovely white beauties

and

pink:

 walking along a forest path

one big puffball

became dinner:

wild orchids hold a special place in my heart

their season like most wildflowers is brief

the lovely fairy slipper:

spring is lush and green

sunny days and rainy days

wildfire smoke for a few days from Alberta is gone now

I do love all our seasons, 

taking to heart each and every day. 

I hope your spring or maybe your autumn is

offering delight to you, as well.

~

*

Montana, the big and the small

finding fairy slippers 

thrilling

 

drove into the forest

on a dirt road that was new to me

look at what i found:

 

tiny forest violets:

sometimes

it is about the colors and light:

coming in for a landing

Canada geese:

glimpses of the big and the small

forest floor and sky above

earth and water

animals and plants

spring in Montana

~

*

Presenting the Calypso Orchid

wandering through the forest

cloaked in shades of green

a glimpse of violet and gold

the tiny fairy slipper

it is always a joy to see them

like magic sprinkled here and there

these are all the same orchids

photographed in morning sun, sunset, wind blew them apart,

wind blew them together:

kissing 

heart shaped

orchids

~

i hope you enjoyed 

the lovely calypso orchid

~

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