First snow of the season

One fine day we woke up to a white blanketed world. James was eager to go out and play in it, so we dug out the snow gear and bundled him up and off he went. He made trails in the snow and then the trampoline caught his eye and he just had to get on it. So I had to put on shoes and put him on. 

What a blast!

And of course, you have to eat some!

Later in the day, I was in the addition doing some work and saw that we had some visitors outside our garden fence, looking for something to eat...

Mama deer

Mama and baby deer. I always wonder about how their feet survive in snow...

'Yellow season'

Sometime in the last couple of years I came to the realization that we have a 'yellow' season here at the base of the Blues on the Colorado Plateau.

In late August and early September the sunflowers and rabbitbrush burst into glorious yellow! I'm sure it has a lot to do with the monsoon season. Everywhere I look I see my favorite color and it makes me smile :).  (Of course, it helps that I am not allergic to any of these plants) 

In our beekeeping efforts we realized that, in contrast to Utah Valley, there is not a significant pollen/nectar flow here in early summer. It comes much later when the native flora blooms. 

I have truly come to love the flowers found in deserts. Typically, they are not large or very showy but if you take the time to slow down and really look at them, you'll be blown away at the variety and beauty! And 'Yellow' season has quickly become a favorite of mine!

Wildflowers at Goblin Valley

When we made plans to go to Goblin Valley in May I wasn't sure it would be a great time to be there. It's definitely not the best time to hike the slot canyons, the possibility of flooding is too great. But it was the best time for our schedules so we went.

I was blown away by all the wildflowers in bloom there. Who knew that so many different kinds and colors of flowers could grow in that sandy, dry soil? I wish I had been able to write down all the names the ranger told us, but I didn't and it's been too long and I've forgotten most of them. But if you ever get a chance to go to Goblin Valley in the spring don't pass it up!!

Can't remember, but I loved the shape and color of this flower.

I think this one was called 'brittle brush'
This is the plant that had a little rattlesnake sleeping under it. Stacy and I both put our feet right up to it to take photos and later another person saw the snake under it. As the ranger talked to us about the danger of snakes, especially little ones, she and I both looked at each other with amazement. We were lucky to not have been bitten!

Maybe purple vetch?

Just a shot showing the variety of plants blooming!

I know this one is 'Globe Mallow"
We have it at home, but it does not grow that tall here.

no idea, but it's an interesting plant

Desert Primrose
These were everywhere. So amazing.

no idea

Salt Cedar blossoms (aka tamarisk)
I have always loved these shrubby trees. They have the most amazing mauve colored, feathery blossoms. Perfect for a T2 like me. But I have learned that they are a noxious weed. They invade and take over wherever there is water. So the government in our neck of the woods is cutting and burning them to get rid of them. :(

More Tamarisk

close up of the Primrose. Aren't they lovely??

They grow everywhere! Out of nowhere! Bunches and bunches of them.

This is one 'field' of Primroses we passed on our way to the Goblin's Lair cavern.
I could not believe my eyes at times.

This is a panoramic shot I took as we hiked to the cavern. I felt a little like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz in the poppy field. There were flowers all around me and a small walking path in front of and behind me. Thankfully, the primroses did not make me sleepy.

Mormon cricket among the flowers. Pretty big and icky!

I can't imagine hordes of these invading and eating everything. Makes my skin crawl!

Spring at the Lake

The mountain was calling to me today. I had to take a drive up and see if spring was making its way up the mountain. I drove to Monticello Lake and looked around it to the peaks. There were still patches of snow and no leaves on the aspens and oaks yet, but the grass was green.

Monticello Lake

I love our mountain. It's my happy place.

mountain mahogany
I love the color of the trunks of these small trees. They have a reddish tint mixed among the gray. These and willows are my favorite wintertime colorful plants. These have awesome blossoms in the spring too. I was just a bit too early for that.

Good Things:

Snow is melting

Road up the mountain is open

Only one more month of school

Turkey, anyone??

These birds came through the driveway and yard a few days before Thanksgiving.

How do they walk through snow without their feet freezing?

There were about 20 of them, eating, jousting and checking out my chickens in the shed. Then they all lined up single file and walked across the yard and off the hill.

I love getting to see the wildlife up close and personal. It's one of my favorite things about living on the edge of town. Now if it were bear or mountain lions, which are around but I haven't seen, I would have fewer warm fuzzies about it!

Blue Mts.

 I took a ride up the mountain the other day to see if things were finally coming  back to life.

looking south on ski lift road

If you look closely you can see the green creeping up the slope of the mountain in this picture. The quaking aspens are pretty much fully leafed out.  The maples weren't far behind.

Tiny maple leaves

lower on the mt. -scrub oak

The scrub or Gambel oak that covers the lower slopes of the mountain is the last to resume their green coat. Around town they are almost leafed out, but up here there are just hints of leaves.

One of my favorite things is to see the meadows on the mountain covered in wild blue iris. I was a bit early, but managed to find a few that were blooming. The meadow below will be covered in a few days. It will definitely be worth another ride!

wild iris

meadow waiting for irises to bloom