Baby Ground Squirrels

Walking across my yard

which is meadow land at the edge of forest 

hoping to photograph dragon and damselflies with my macro lens

when I noticed movement

though they were very aware

they didn't seem to notice me
maybe they thought me a tree

they wandered into the sunlight

near my feet

foraging 

for greens

a couple of them came quite close 

(this happened to me once last year)

this photo is to show you how small they look

I don't think mamma would be to happy with how close they came to me

soon she will have them trained to be more careful

~

I hope you enjoyed these wee critters

they are much better in photos than digging holes in one's yard!

~

*

Meadow Life

a neighbor called

said: come on down

I have a grizzly and her cubs in the meadow

we sat in chairs from a great distance 

and watched

then they stepped into the forest

~

we also saw a robin pulling a huge worm from the earth

It is so beautiful these days

winter seems far behind us

~

*

Calypso bulbosa

it is fairy slipper season 

they rise from a tangle on the forest floor

one here, two there

like magic 

wild orchids

cloaked in raindrop gems

the lovely 

Calypso bulbosa

~

*

The presence of Spring

I have found a morel mushroom

one here

one there

not many

still a joy to see

:details of a cedar leaf, enchanting

: forest trillium

thriving under the mighty forest

bathing in gentle sunlight

a polypore begins to grow

most likely a Red Belted conk:

upstream

snow melt filling the creek 

singing to the forest:

water dancing over stones

racing down the mountain:

 

 

listen quietly

and

one can hear the world growing

creating

a fantastic song of a new season 

 

~

*

Spring

drove and hiked hoping to see

Spring Beauties

at first I thought I was too early in the season

once one was spied

I noticed they were sprinkled throughout the meadow

our first forest flower

 the lovely yellow violet

I love watching things turn green

sprout leaves

the sun warming our world

this last winter my walking bridge died

last week I made a new one

felt like a nice accomplishment

I have a huge plum colored bolder in my yard

after the rain

the lichen turns this wonderful color

here and there 

are mushrooms

full of fun character

another sign of a new season

the setting sun inspires pause

soaring as the sun sets

~

*

Celebrating our Earth

we call them Yellow Bells

they grow in prairie land

I live in the forest and mountains

so it is always a journey to see them

some have red rings around them

some do not

on my way to look for flowers

I stopped in a forest

and found this beautiful rock

I am told that copper makes these color

I have been exploring the tiny world of lichen and moss

often raindrops are involved

I noticed that teeny tiny moss had little egg shaped capsules

a new sighting:

a closer glimpse:

our amazing planet

endless intriguing life to explore

enjoy

respect

and 

learn from

~

Happy Earth Day!

(everyday)

~

*

Pasque flower

drove an hour north

nearly to Canada

to find 

some of the first spring flowers

in years past I drove over the Rocky Mountains

to be in their presence

(a longer, yet beautiful drive)

imagine the delight to see the Pasque flower

lightly scattered over the prairie like land

bathing in sunlight

 being pollinated by fury bees

rising from the earth

after a long winters sleep

the joy of flowers 

has touched the land

~

*

 

Lichens

here in the NW corner of Montana

flowers are not blooming

but some lichen are looking magical!

these sticks are about 1/4 inch think

my eyes can not see these amazing details

they look more like yellow and green fuzz to me

the earthy sage greens

and

golds are thrilling

cup like saucers intriguing

wood with algae, lichen and perhaps the large leaves are liverworts?

 two hours south of here

I did see my first wildflowers of the year!

 jagged chickweed

all

our meadows 

are lakes at the moment

abundant with water birds

Spring 

is a magical time in the little details

~

if you know what any of the lichen or liverwort are

I would love for you to tell me. 

So much to learn!

~

*