Little things to remember...

When I look back and try to remember what it was like when the days were warmer and longer... I mostly remember the little things... Bright flowers and birds, mostly. The weather was  milder too, but flowers take up more space in my memories...

 

Bright yellow...

The days are colder now, and we’re waiting for the first real snow. The leaves are gone, the branches are bare, and everything looks a little faded and dull. But, believe it or not, just a couple of months ago the world looked completely different - bright, golden, glowing yellow. I still remember that vibrant day when we drove up into the mountains to see the fall foliage at its peak. We started on Squaw Pass Road and headed toward Echo Lake - Beautiful Sunday high in the mountains.

 

Everybody is flying, swimming or perching ;)

Barr Lake is one of my favorite places to spend a few hours walking around the water and enjoying the fresh air and abundant wildlife. The lake is famous for being a winter home for bald eagles (don’t believe me? check it out - Bald Eagles on Barr Lake), but in November you can find all kinds of birds here - waterfowl, raptors, and everything in between. So, walking along the trail, we hoped to see them all…

 

Code orange...

It was an absolutely gorgeous Saturday morning, and I was heading toward Belmar Lake. Unfortunately, I was late for the sunrise (which was simply stunning), and by the time I arrived, the sky wasn’t even close to what I had seen on my way there. But, surprisingly, as I walked around the lake, I discovered that some orange colors still lingered in the sky and made it glow…

 

Chalk Lake and Salida - Labor Day weekend. Part 4

We left the Leadville National Fish Hatchery (click here to refresh your memory - Unexpected adventure - Labor Day weekend. Part 3) and headed toward a ghost town. We’ve been to St. Elmo before and simply wanted to see this abandoned settlement again. Well… an unpleasant surprise awaited us. The dirt road to the town has become nearly impassable. It was rough the last time we drove it, but now it’s basically an off-road trail. So, after talking to people in a well-dusted car who were coming back from there, we made a U-turn and continued toward Salida instead.
But before getting there, we made a short stop at Chalk Lake, a small body of water surrounded by rugged cliffs.

 

Beautiful Sunday high in the mountains

I can’t believe it’s already November. It feels like just last week we were driving up into the mountains to chase the fall colors, and yet, somehow, a whole month has slipped by. Still, that Sunday stays vivid in my memory - chilly, crisp, sunlit, and painted in gold.

 

Rain and gold leaves

We really enjoyed the foggy landscapes along the road (click here to see where it all started - On the Way...). The rain had returned, low clouds, golden leaves... everything looked simply beautiful!

 

Some small gems...

People usually come to the Botanic Garden to admire the flowers, and there are plenty of them all summer long. But in September, you'll see fewer bright and colorful blooms. But... they're still there, and fall flowers are different from spring and summer ones...

 

On the Way...

Someone once asked me what’s the best time to visit New Mexico. Well… it depends. I guess any time is good, but fall is twice as good as any other season. It’s not as hot as summer, and if you time your visit right, you can enjoy the beautiful and vibrant fall colors.

So, we planned carefully, hoping to catch that perfect moment when the Colorado mountains had already shed their golden beauty, but the colors were just beginning farther south. On October 11th, we jumped in the car and headed toward New Mexico. The forecast didn’t look too bad, but once we passed Walsenburg, the clear blue sky began to change. We were stunned to see a cloud shaped like a tornado stretching across the horizon. Well… this trip was already promising a bit of adventure.

 

Fall in the Garden...

Yeah... it’s October, and everything tells us that fall is here. The foliage is changing colors and... surprisingly, the flowers are still blooming. But let’s stop for a second and look at the leaves... bright red with brownish edges... aren’t they simply beautiful?

 

Beautiful Morning, Reflections, and Fall Colors

Another Saturday, another trip to Pine Valley Ranch Park. The night before was windy, so I didn’t expect to see any reflections in the lake, but to my surprise, the air was still and all the beauty was perfectly doubled. No complaints here! I grabbed a few shots, trying to capture the mountain slopes, evergreens, blue sky, and those stunning clouds.

 

Still blooming...

It's that time of year when we forget about the little flowers and look only at the big trees. Chasing the fall colors and enjoying their vibrancy, we hardly notice the little sparkles at ground level.

 

Mountains Dressed in Gold

When I returned to the car after hiking around Beaver Brook Reservoir (click here - Beautiful morning... fall morning...), I realized I wasn’t ready to go home yet. So I decided to drive up Squaw Pass Road and take in some fall colors... those beautiful mountain colors.

 

Unexpected adventure - Labor Day weekend. Part 3

Our first day on the road was full of travel and experiences, and everything went exactly how we'd like it to... Click here to find out how it all ended - Buena Vista and hummingbirds. The next morning, we decided to return to Leadville to visit the museums and stroll the streets of old mining town. Then we drove a few miles off the main road to visit the Leadville National Fish Hatchery, which we'd never been to before...

 

When the Garden Wakes Up or Two Hours of Magic ;)

It’s not unusual for me to leave the house while it’s still dark, chasing those first rays of sunlight breaking over the horizon. But this time was different - I wasn’t waiting for a landscape or mountain view. This time I was waiting for the sun to rise so I could capture photos of flowers. I stood outside the Denver Botanic Garden, waiting for the sun to rise while the sky was almost black and the ground was untouched by light.

 

Beautiful morning... fall morning...

Fall is here! Not just because it’s September 27th and the season officially started a week ago… but because the Colorado colors have finally arrived. It was a bit late this year, and for a while it felt like we wouldn’t see much of those bright hues. But we were wrong and now they’re HERE! 

Early Saturday morning, I headed out… though I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going :) I took I-70, turned toward Evergreen, and before reaching the town I veered off onto one of my favorite mountain highways - Squaw Pass Road. Soon I pulled into a small parking lot and decided to hike up to Beaver Brook Reservoir, a little man-made lake not far from the road. The sun was just peeking over the tree line, and as I was getting ready to start, the first rays lit up an aspen across the lot. I took it as a good sign ;)

 

Buena Vista and hummingbirds - Labor Day weekend. Part 2

After leaving the Red Cliff Bridge (click here to refresh your memory - Labor day weekend - the beginning), we drove down the road and spent most of the day in Leadville. We visited a couple of museums and strolled along the main street. But let’s skip that part for now and jump to our next stop: the town of Buena Vista.

 

Labor day weekend - the beginning. Part 1

That morning we found ourselves on the road... What a wonderful feeling - driving 70 miles per hour toward new discoveries and adventures... And the first adventure wasn't long in coming... Although we left behind beautiful sunny weather downhill, it started raining right after Idaho Springs... And it poured down hard, dramatically changing the landscape and making the drive along the winding I-70 less enjoyable than it should have been... But... we've lived in Colorado for quite some time, and this change didn't surprise us at all, except perhaps slowing us down a little... though not much ;)

 

It's here! Maybe fall is coming ;)

Today we woke up early and just couldn’t stay home. The foliage downhill is only starting to change… and we hoped to see more of it up in the mountains. So, without much thinking, we drove up to Central City to check if we were right... and… we were!

 

Late August flowers...

We are entering the phase, when the summer flowers are giving way to fall ones... So let's take a last look at them before they disappear... But, probably, let's start with damselflies ;) We may not see them until next spring...

 

White and purple

Another Saturday and another stroll through the Denver Botanic Garden in search of sparks of beauty. For some reason, most of the flowers I captured that day were either white or purple (with a few exceptions)...

 

The City of Louisville - the town of miners

Louisville began as a mining community in 1877, experienced a period of labor violence early in the 20th century, and transitioned to a suburban residential community when the mines closed in the 1950s.

 

Late summer beauties...

I think I'll make it simple... Late summer flowers are simply beautiful and do not need any story. I mean they tell you stories better than I can do, so... just LOOK at these beauties ;)

 

Between flowers and ducks ;)

The week before that Saturday, I was walking through the Denver Botanic Garden and admiring the water lilies (Water and flowers)... A week later, I was still planning to look for more of those... but I also wanted to find something different, and I wasn't disappointed, as I was greeted by a beautiful rose and several wild flowers, bright and beautiful...

 

Maxwell Falls - Third Time’s the Charm?

Maxwell Falls is a popular destination, and for good reason - it’s close to Denver and offers some beautiful scenery. Spring and early summer are definitely the best times to enjoy waterfalls, but after a few recent rains, I hoped early August might still be a good bet. This was my third visit (click here to see the first one - Maxwell Falls hike on Saturday), but this time I started from the Conifer trailhead.

 

Water and flowers

Flowers bloom all summer long. Different flowers... But there's a moment in midsummer when the water lilies open up and create a colorful tapestry on the surface of ponds and lakes... And that's the perfect time to take a stroll and admire these flowers.

 

Fast falling water... waterfall!

With the really hot days here in Denver, everyone is looking for a way to escape it... at least on the weekends. So, a couple of weeks ago, we decided to do the same and searched for a place to go. The Lost Lake hike came to mind, and we settled on it. I did this hike a few years ago (click here to see it - Lost Lake hike) and really liked it. I didn't remember it being especially hard, but this time we decided to do only a part of it.  The goal was just to get to the waterfalls and relax there for a while...

 

Mostly white... and yellow ;)

I don't have a real explanation… but when I reviewed the flower photos I took at the Botanic Garden, I realized that most of them were white... and yellow. Just a few were other colors, mostly purple or pink. I guess I didn’t intentionally choose a color palette, I just captured whatever caught my eye but still, it was an interesting observation.

 

Pine Valley Ranch Park hike... the second part...

The first half of the hike was easy (you can check it out here to refresh your memory - Pine Valley Ranch Park hike... the beginning). Walking along a flat trail beside the stream was pure bliss. But soon I asked myself: Am I really ready to head back home? And the answer was simple - nope. So instead of returning to the trailhead, I turned right onto a winding trail that disappeared into the trees, luring me toward some kind of adventure. (Right - no, I didn’t look at the map and had no idea where this trail might lead me.)

 

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!