Rainbow of Flowers

      While some flowers are at their peak in July, others have faded into mid-summer.  The bright yellow bunches of Arrowleaf Balsamroot have gone to seed and their leaves are drying.  Scarlet Gilia is less abundant  in the lower valley than it was, and Penstemon has also dropped its petals in favor of maturing seeds.  Mountain Hollyhocks bloom in pink on a tall stalk.  Its always a surprise to see them.

    Across the rainbow:

   
Red Paintbrush with Lewis's Monkeyflower near Jenny Lake.









Orange Paintbrush as well:

A bright yellow Dalmation Toadflax growing along the road.

Blue Penstemon has been beautiful.   I hiked Cascade Canyon 2 weeks ago and heard many bird songs.  This is the season for raising nestlings, adults are busy foraging.











Deer will eat the Lupine.  I have seen the older bucks growing magnificent antlers still in velvet,

Celebration of Birds

     Back in May I was happy to see (and photograph) one male Barrow's Goldeneye.  Last month I saw a raft of them in Yellowstone Lake.  Schwabacher's Landing finally opened in early July and I was able to take a morning walk along the back channels of the Snake River.  Barrow's Goldeneye females were leading groups of young ducklings swimming across the channel.
    One afternoon in late June, I was walking along the south end of Jenny Lake listening to birds singing.  Warbling Vireos were adding to the chorus.  I found this female sitting on her nest in an Aspen tree.

   






 Two weeks ago I was wandering in the forest north of Phelps Lake looking for Woodpeckers.  I found this Chickadee nest cavity when a parent Chickadee zipped past my head and into the hole.

     Eastern Kingbirds prefer more open country.  I was outside the Park when I found this good looking bird swooping after insects.

 

   A litter of Coyote pups was born under one of the old buildings in the Mormon Row area. They happened to be out in the sunshine the morning I came by.  Cliff Swallows were nesting on an adjacent building and Vesper Sparrows sang from the sagebrush across the street.