No Trip West is Complete Without - - Jackalope

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Wall Drugs, Wall, South Dakota.

*Nope, not Man!  LOL  Just some other big kid we did not know.
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Badlands Sunflower, Which Way is the Sun?

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Believe this is a sunflower.  That said, so many plants out west that are similar to those I am used to seeing in the east have different names.

Photographed at Badlands National Park, 91 degrees, July 7, 2011.

I thought it was interesting how the heads of the flower were looking in two different directions, our sunflowers tend to look to the sun, east in the morning, always.  No, I have NO idea which direction these beauties were looking.  So much sun, I guess they can look any ole way and find what they seek.

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Wind Cave South Dakota, Another Prairie Flower

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Hate to call them weeds, so pretty. Taken early July 2011, Wind Cave National Park.

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Wind Cave South Dakota, Prairie Flower?

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Taken in Wind Cave, South Dakota, early July 2011.  The plant itself reminds me of a thistle, just a little, but, surely, not this beautiful white flower.

*See the bug in photo 2??
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I HATE Thistle, But - -

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Even thistle, which I hate with a passion, has hidden beauty.

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Cryptobiotic Soil Crust, Fascinating Miniature Desert Life Form

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These were found in the Moab Utah area. They are small, fragile, and hard to photograph when Man is way ahead of me on our hikes (speed shooting from the hip, no time to set up a tripod, which I refuse to carry, frame quickly, zoom a bit, shoot, try another shot, run to catch up to Man on the trail).

There is a great article on the soil crusts at the Canyonlands National Park web site, which explains what it is, how fragile, how to protect.

My photos don't do justice, but here they are.  The prickly pear are about 3 or 4 inches high, that gives some size reference.

I actually really love this one, showing the crust in the foreground and the fabulous red rock formations in the background.

Below, the best close up shot I could get without stepping on crust to get a photo of crust.

Who knew?  Black, small, unassuming crusty stuff, that looks similar to tar, could be such a challenge to photograph and so interesting too.  I so wanted to reach out and touch, but, I didn't.   The phrase, "It's all in the details", keeps coming to mind.  Slow down, look around, look for the minuscule, it can be downright fascinating.



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Spring in Salt Lake, Revisited

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And, because I had nothing better to do??  No, really, because I am curious, and sometimes I just have to go looking at something different my software can do:

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Come On In Little One

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OK, I realize there is only part of the fawn visible here.  LOL. We have at least one family of deer that are coming in the yard a lot here at the stick built.  Two fawns and a mother.  We spy them at least once a day, sometimes more frequently.  They have been laying in the front yard.  However, the other evening they came much closer to the house than we have seen.  As you can see, this little one might have walked right up on our deck had it not been for the dog pen blocking the way.  Photo taken just before dusk, through kitchen window, cropped and lightened considerably, sorry bout the glare in the upper right corner.

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Reflection's Gets Some New Houseplants

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For the most part, the houseplants I took with us during THE Trip did very well.  But, some of my violets are looking a bit worn, and I have decided to replace a few of them with different kinds of plants.  Mix it up a bit, as they say.  The other day while taking photos for World Photography Day I shot this photo of 2 of the new arrivals, a cyclamen and an orchid.  I have never had an orchid before, learning curve, plant style!

*See that dark red pitcher, Man's mother made him Kool-aid in it when he was a wee bit of a boy!
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Taking NO Bull

Sighted grazing along the road to Grosvenor's Arch, near Bryce Canyon, mid May 2011.

And, I don't know about you, but, I am not about to give this creature ANY BULL!  Look at that glare!  Shudder, shudder!

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Stellar's Jay, Bryce Canyon, Utah

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I spied the stellar's jay in Bryce Canyon, and thought he was a pretty creature.  Then, I tried to take a photo!  Well, goodness, he is pretty and he is a fast moving flighty fella too!  No slowing down this bird, no sirree.  I had tried to get photos several times, and failed miserably.  One afternoon while we were at camp, Man spied one and I convinced him to see if he could capture our flighty little dude via the Sony.  After some time Man returned to Tana and exclaimed in several expressive ways how hard it was to get a photo of the Stellar.  Actually, once we put the photos on the computer I found a few that are not too bad, when you consider the speed in which this guy moves around!  LOL

Below:  Stellar sitting on Tana's kitchen slide awning.

Below:  Almost as if he is asking, "You looking at me??"

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Pure Y*E*L*L*O*W, Mossey Cave, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.

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Obviously, unidentified.


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Little Pink Bells, Flora Bells That Is **UPDATED**

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Found while hiking at Bryce Canyon National Park, on the Mossey Cave Trail, near water. Have no clue as to what they are, but they are quite small, guessing that each bell is less than one half inch long.

I have since found additional information that leads me to believe this is the Greenleaf Manzanita, here is a Wikipedia page with a photo.

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Zion's Beautiful Purple Jewel

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Man and I were taking a short hike at Zion National Park, on the Emerald Pools Trail, when I spied this delicate, small jewel.  I have no idea what it may be, but, I could not resist taking quite a few photos, different angles, slightly different lighting.  I was so close that due to depth of field issues, they don't all look like they are in focus, but, I think that just adds to the beauty.

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