In full bloom

Yep, the flowers are in full bloom now. And every time I wander around the Botanic Garden, I am enchanted by all this beauty...

 

Pine Valley Ranch Park hike... the beginning

I am always looking for some places to escape the summer heat, and sometimes I find some real gems... Like Pine Valley Ranch Park, which I found and explored last week. The trail starts with a crossing of the North Fork South Platte River, and the bridge doesn't make my heart beat faster...

 

Wild, bright and bold. Right, the FLOWERS of Summer!

I love flowers. Any flowers. No exception (okay, you get me, almost no exceptions)... But summer flowers are a special treat. They are bright... they are wild (even when they grow in  gardens) and they are bold... They are special :) And this Prairie Sunflower is one of them. It grows everywhere and attracts not only my attention, but also ton of bees and flies :)

 

Sunday, Mountains, Clouds, Sun, and Rain..

Saturday night, we checked the forecast for Sunday and quickly realized we had to go somewhere. The choice was clear, either stay in Denver and roast, or escape to the mountains and stay unroasted and (relatively) cool. Unsurprisingly, we were ready for a quick getaway. After all, who enjoys being seared by the blazing sun?

We considered a few spots and settled on a short hike at Kenosha Pass. Not too far, but far enough. Not too high, so we could stay below the tree line, but high enough to enjoy cooler temperatures. So the next morning, after an hour drive, we arrived, unloaded, and took in the scenery. The high-altitude meadows and mountain ranges looked amazing… but the sky stole the show - it was CLOUDY!

 

Summer is here ;)

...And don't ask how I know that Summer is here. I just know... 

 

Birds and Flowers at Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat

I had heard of this place but hadn't had a chance to explore the area until a few weeks ago when I went there one morning and walked around for a couple of hours learning about the ponds and habitants...

 

St. Mary's Glacier... again ;)

Three years ago, I hiked up to St. Mary’s Glacier and really enjoyed it. So when last Saturday I asked myself where I should go to escape the searing heat, the answer was simple - head to the mountains, see a glacial lake, and find some snow that never melts. This place is always a treat for the eyes, so I didn’t think twice. :) 

It was still early in the morning when I pulled into the parking lot, and found it completely empty. That surprised me. This place is popular, and 8 a.m. isn’t too early for weekend hikers. A few minutes later, I figured it out: they had recently built another parking lot - and that one was already full. :)
Anyway, I grabbed my backpack and started walking up the trail. And oh boy… this trail is tough. But it didn’t surprise me, it just reminded me to take it slow and enjoy it as much as possible.

 

Poppy day

Sorry to all dog lovers out there... it was poppy day not puppy day! :) 
Yeah... I was wandering around the Denver Botanic Garden, and my attention was mostly drawn to, no surprise, poppies...

 

Sunday in the mountains, what else to wish for?

Some of you who follow this blog know how much I love this place. I’ve been here so many times, and I never get tired of coming back. Honestly, I don’t know another spot so close to Denver that lets you escape the summer heat and enjoy fresh mountain air on a light hike. And the flowers! 

 

Poppies, flax and some other flowers...

Summer is here! The temperature is rising and the sun is shining brightly... So let's go out and enjoy some of the summer delights - flowers. In June, you can find them everywhere...

 

Beautiful morning...

One Saturday in May, I was on my way to Barr Lake State Park and asked myself - why do I keep coming here? And the answer was simple: cuz I like this place... yep, just like that :) Hiking around the lake always rewards you with such nice views... water and mountains... isn't that a perfect combination?

 

All colors...

White and orange... Blue and green... Hmm... maybe not all colors, since there's nothing yellow or red... but... does it matter?

 

Well... boring blue sky and busy birds...

It was a nice Saturday morning when I drove out to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge again, hoping to find something interesting. What I found first was a perfectly clear blue sky and still water on the lakes…

 

Rainy morning...

Saturday morning was a bit gloomy, but there was no rain, and all the flowers looked... um... as usual? Check it out here - May, Saturday, quiet time with flowers.... But Sunday morning brought some rain, and everything was covered in water droplets and... it looked absolutely stunning!

 

May, Saturday, quiet time with flowers...

I am not sure if I know a better way to relax and forget about a week of work... Strolling along the trails and admiring colorful flowers... what can be better? Beautiful poppied and intricate irises are everywhere today...

 

Different parks... different birds...

I wandered around different parks capturing different birds... City Park, Barr Lake State Park and Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge... Probably the most exciting find was a Snow Egret. Sometimes this bird keeps its distance, but sometimes lets you get really close.. And it's fun to watch this bird in search of food :)

 

The scent of spring...

Early morning, right after a hearty breakfast and a big cup of coffee, is the best time to go outside and breathe in some fresh air... Actually, smelling some flowers is an even better idea...

 

Lily of the Valley...

A year ago, we stumbled upon a small, unexpected patch of lilies of the valley - and what a delightful surprise it was. We were wandering through Hudson Gardens when something tiny and white caught our attention. Sure enough, it was a little cluster of flowers rarely seen in Colorado (click here to see what we discovered last May - Beautiful flowers in a beautiful garden).

 

Where Bison Graze and Owls Hide

The first time I visited the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge, I didn’t get a good look at the bison (click here to see what I mean - Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge - first time here...). They were all far away, and I left a bit disappointed. So I decided to try again the following Saturday… and this time, I got lucky with a much closer encounter.

 

Pasque Flower Portraits: Rain, Snow, and Sunlight

I love this flower... I’ve seen it in the wild - it’s always a delightful find - and I’ve seen it at the Botanic Garden, where it’s just as striking. The genus Pulsatilla includes about 40 species of herbaceous perennials native to the meadows and prairies of North America, Europe, and Asia. Common names include pasque flower (or pasqueflower), wind flower, prairie crocus, Easter flower, and meadow anemone.

 

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge - first time here...

I've never been to Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge before, and last Saturday I thought it was a good time to check it out. Located just outside of downtown (about 10 miles), it is one of the largest urban refuges in the country. It is a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of busy urban life where time moves at nature's pace. With its expansive views, wildlife viewing opportunities, and recreation activities, it's easy to take a nature escape!

 

Code Pink

I've already done "one flower show" in the past - One flower show... And I just realized that I've done it more than once :) - Sunny day... Sunflower day... How about "one color show" and let's go with pink ;)

 

Spring Birds...

Yep, spring is here - and so are the birds. Some of them will disappear in a month or two, while others will simply change growing up - like these adorable Canadian goose chicks. Aren’t they the sweetest?

 

The Tulips That Wouldn’t Give Up

I know you’re probably tired of seeing tulips by now… but I promise, this will be the last time I bring them up (at least for a while!). It’s just so hard to resist sharing them.

 

Oh, these frozen tulips...

Yeah, I know - just a few days ago I shared those beautiful tulip photos (click here to refresh your memory - Oh these beautiful tulips...) and I was really hoping we’d enjoy a few weeks of warm weather. But… this is Colorado, and sure enough, just a week later, we got snow.