Even at the slight elevations the Big Guy and I are capable of reaching in our hikes, it’s clear that there’s no time to waste. Spermatophytes from shrubs to grasses live by a clear principle:
Make baby plants while the sun shines.
And while I resent any interlopers in my city garden, I appreciate wildflowers in, well, the wild.
Excellent photos! Flowers in focus is a challenge. Lovely to see spring! Your close-and-far shot is particularly good.
Judith – Thanks kindly. I’m never sure where to focus or what depth of field to strive for, but every once in a while it works out.
Beautiful photos, Isabel.
Tom
Tom – Many thanks.
Interesting — I keep learning something. The late Bob Hatfield used to time his summer hikes for the last week in July, because he said that was the week when the wildflowers were at their best. Indeed, where I have gone hiking in that week, the mountain meadows are aflame with colour. I had not expected that many wildflowers in June.
JIm T
Jim – We saw great wildflowers in Yellowstone around the 3rd week of July, but one test hardly makes a decent sample. Waterton has its wildflower festival in mid-June (14th to 19th this year, I think). The Going-to-the-Sun Road opens for complete transit on 22 Jun, so I figured they were at least partly looking for things to extend their season.
Very nice!
Mary – Many thanks.
Here is a poem of sorts for your Festival in praise of Dandelions.
from the West of England
DANDELIONS OVER AVALON
Stiff with pride they
Reached toward the sun.
With golden light,
They urged my mind
To deeper thoughts.
A thousand couplings
In each head –
A field of tumultuous orgy,
Destined to last,
At best, a day or two.
Such was the field
I called my heart,
Which God had tilled
In which to sow
The seeds of Love.
Oh golden host
Grow strong.
Give out your joy.
Transform the light
For all to share.
Mendips, Somerset 1978
John H – Many thanks! We got the food and drink, the music, the literature . . . We are so ready.