Grand Teton, Yellowstone, & Glacer National Parks

A few images from three of our greatest National Parks. 

From the Snake River overlook, site of Ansel Adams' iconic photo of the Grand Tetons.  The trees have grown up a bit since Mr. Adams shot this view.

 "The Tetons and the Snake River", Ansel Adams, 1942.

A view of the Grand Teton range from a bit further out to the east - Togwotee Pass.

And from up closer at Oxbow Bend near the top of Jackson Lake.

String Lake at sunset.

Oxbow Bend at 5:00 AM.  Lots of stars . . .

Heading north from Jackson Hole into Yellowstone National Park: 

The headwaters area at the southern end of Yellowstone National Park.

Rainbow at Kepler Cascades.

Old Faithful geyser.

And, continuing further north to Glacier National Park: 

Along the shore of Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park.

Lichens.

Nymphalis antiopa, common name "Mourning Cloak".

Toad Lily again - then and now

The first time I ever saw these remarkable flowers was 14 Oct 2007.  I was hiking along the Jyogasaki Coast of Japan ["jyogasaki kaigan", 城ヶ崎海岸], as I often did on weekends for the 6 years I lived in Ito on Japan's Izu Peninsula.

I usually had a camera around my neck and this day was no different, and I was taking my time.  Even in mid-October, there is a lot of plant and insect life active in the sub-tropical climate of Izu.   But I almost stepped on these small plants growing right on the rocky margin of the trail.  And I was amazed when I looked more closely at the tiger-stiped purple/pink flowers and their structure.

Here are some of the first images I took of the amazing Japanese Toad Lily. 

Now that I have a chance to compare the ones I am shooting now, it is interesting to see the similarities and differences.   The ones here have much longer stigmas - the forked parts that trap pollen, and much longer filaments - the parts that bear the pad-like anthers.  In fact, the ones I shot in Japan have a much stockier pistil and other central parts.  And the anthers on the flowers shown in the images above are much more colourful and purple, whereas the one shown below is yellow and lack the striping.

Also, the ones from Japan have a lot more dew-drops attached to the stigmas.

Some varieties of Toad Lily are commercially available here, and should grow here in Colorado. 

High country summer - Part IV

More from in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. 

At the edge of Dream Like, with Hallet Peak as a backdrop.

A cascade at the brink - just below Lake of Glass, on the way to Timberline Falls.  The Loch in the distance below. 

Looking West towards the Never Summer Mountains, from above tree line on Twin Sisters.

Looking West from the flank of Twin Sisters.

A cascade edges the tailings of the old Eugenia Mine.

A Lustrous Copper, Lycaena cupreus, a denizen of the Alpine Zone.

Whipple's Penstemon, Penstemon whippleanus.

Elkweed or Green Gentian, Frasera speciosa.

Elkweed or Green Gentian, Frasera speciosa.

Cinquefoil, Potentilla sp.

Close-up with a Sticky Geranium, Geranium viscoissimum.

Looking down Tyndall Gorge from just above Tyndall Glacier at around 12,000 ft.  The "glacier" is now reduced to a small dirty patch of snow by rising temperatures.  In the distance, Pool of Jade, then Dream Lake, and a glimpse of Bear Lake Road below.

Long's Peak and Glacier Gorge in the distance, and a glimpse of Dream Lake below, from the Flattop Mountain Trail.

A pair of bull elk, up high above the Summer heat.

Bull elk catch some early morning sun. 

The Continental Divide between Milner Pass and Mt. Ida.

Emerald Lake, with Hallet Peak and rocky spires rising above Tyndall Gorge.

Chaos Canyon below Lake Haiyaha.

Afternoon clouds fore-sage a thunderstorm as they gather above the helmet of Long's Peak.

Fallen tree.

Toad Lily in bloom

Time lapse of a Japanese Toad Lily [Tricyrtus sp.] blossoming.  There are two video clips of separate flowers - one from the side, another from above.   These flowers are quite small - only about 3 cm across when fully open.

High country summer - Part III

Only a few weeks left in summer. 

Insects & Plants

A member of the Copper family - perhaps Lycaena helloides, the Purplish Copper.

A Sphinx month, also called Hummingbird moth, hovers while feeding.

Mating Fritillaries.

Strymon melinus, the Gray Hairstreak.

Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus, on a thistle blossom.

Not a bee, but a fly that mimics bumblebees.

Bumblebee at work.

Honeybees at work on sage blossoms.

Landscapes

The approach to Mills Lake in Glacier Gorge, Rocky Mountain National Park.  Long's Peak is the squarish dome on the horizon at center, and beyond, Keyboard of the Winds and Pagoda Mountain. 

Dawn in Rocky Mountain National Park. 

A waterfall in Glacier Gorge, Rocky Mountain National Park.

Near Mills Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park.

Glacier Creek, Rocky Mountain National Park.

View from the top of Mt. Ida [elevation 12,889 ft]: Azure Lake and Inkwell Lake, with Mt. Julian and Terra Tomah rising up behind, Rocky Mountain National Park.

Jewel Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park.

Solitude Lake [elevation 11,400 ft], with Powell Peak in the background, Rocky Mountain National Park.

Looking across Glacier Gorge at Long's Peak, Keyboard of the Winds, and Pagoda Mountain, from near Shelf Lake.

Animals

Yellow-bellied Marmot.

Pica, or Rock Rabbit.

Ptarmigan in Summer plumage.

Bighorn Sheep.

Elk - they will be losing the velvet on their antlers, and moving lower as rutting season approaches.