Glacier Lily

With the hiking season going full on, I need at least one good hike each week to keep my legs strong. Healy Pass is a fun morning hike. Staying in shape is always a great reason for hiking, along with the chance of seeing amazing views and summer flora in the form of wildflowers. My visit was about a week late to the prime glacier lilies show. The signs were there before I even got close to the main stage. It just made it more challenging to get a few good pictures of this beautiful yellow flower. I had hiked this trail several times, so I was on autopilot as I scouted for possible pictures on my return to the trail head. At the top of the pass, it was good to feel the cool air coming from the west. Another reason to like early morning hikes during hot weather. I had a quick snack as I pondered if I was going to pop up there to see the fall colours. I probably will during my favorite hiking season.

On my way down from the pass, I had several possible spots to stop and take a picture of the remaining lilies. The plants’ leaves were still showing their rich green colour, even on an overcast morning. Helped the few remaining lilies pop from their surroundings.

Paintbrush Flowers

I wanted some quiet time on my day off. So, I left home early in the morning and decided it was going to be flower day. I found a place away from it all, surrounded by nature, with no planes circling overhead and most of all no cell coverage. Calls and texts from work had to wait until midday. With flowers, I wanted each image to be simple, it was just about the flower and the background. Seeing variations of the paintbrush flowers, they became the main subject. Looking at each flower from all directions, sometimes I was on my feet, other times on the ground. It all depended on the flower and what was around and behind it. When I was hiking in, I scouted the area where I wanted to stop to take the pictures. On my way back, with the camera in my hands, I took the pictures. Since the flowers were not moving, there was no hurry. Each picture was taken after I decided it was the best one of the flowers I was looking at. Calm comes over me whenever I look at the images taken that morning.

Fireweed

One by one the wildflower colours are fading into memories as we move into cooler weather.

Wild Sunflower

Flowers that are left, their days are numbered as cool weather moves in. A few weeks back on a hot sunny day I was out taking pictures of wild sunflowers. Moving back and forth to get a few good pictures of the flowers and a background to complement them.

Brown-eyed Susan

I came across these flowers on the way to work. They popped from their surroundings thanks to the sunlight. I had my camera with me, it only took couple of seconds to get the picture.

Wood Lily

I got an early start to the day, getting to watch the sunrise from the road and even stopped to take few pictures. I wanted a head start for a hike before the rain storm that was forecasted for the middle of the day moved in. I had made it to the end of the trail quickly, but the dark clouds moved in quickly as well and were soon followed by  rain and thunder. I located a partial shelter from the rain that was getting heaver and heaver in volume and the clouds were filled with the sound of thunder. With the wind picking up I was still mostly dry as I listened to the lightning ripping  through the sky every few minutes. After about  forty-five minutes the storm had moved on, I was half way back to the trail head when a light rain started coming down. It was light enough for me to walk through, but I decided I wanted to take a picture of  wet wood lilies I had seen on my way into the hike. It was time to take cover again. Ten minutes later the sky opened up and I headed for my car, stopping only when I  came across wet wood lilies.

Brown-eyed Susan

It was raining much of the morning, once it stopped I got out to take pictures of the flowers. It's a good way to relax, picking a flower to take pictures of and then moving around it to get the right background. 

Round Leaved Orchid

Among the grass growing the beautiful round leaved orchids.

Sunflower

The warm sunny weather is producing lot of colour in the forms of flowers. In this case it's the wild sunflower, beautiful yellow colour standing out in the sunlight. With the very warm weather we are having, it's hard to imagine it will start changing as we get closer to the end go August. 

Wood Lily

More summer colours in the form of wildflower, another picture of wood lily. 

Wood Lily

It's great time to be taking pictures out there. Landscapes, wildlife and various colours in the form of flowers are all for the taking. For the wood lilies I was out there on a hot sunny day, taking pictures of the various wood lilies from various positions. 

Wild Rose

The flowers are coming out every where now, the remaining snow is melting and ground is becoming soft. Ground received lot of moisture in the form of snow and rain, now with war warm weather the ground is getting lot of colour. 

Red Paintbrush

Making an effort to spend more time looking at and taking pictures of wild flowers. Paintbrushes are out and can be seen at many areas in the mountains and more to come as weather gets warmer. Right now this flower is bringing colour to the floor of the valley and then will be found in the meadows at higher elevations. 

Prairie Crocus

The prairie crocus is the first flower seen in the mountains after winter, with the warm weather more flowers are not far behind. Each spring I try to make goal of taking more pictures of wild flowers, but there is so much to take pictures of. From landscapes, mammals, birds and lot more. I guess in the end it's good to just get out and take pictures.

Until next moment,

Amar

Sunflower

I enjoy taking pictures of flowers and insects and when possible of both together. In this case I was taking pictures of wild sunflowers and the bees that were busy getting food and pollinating. It was not a bad way to spend some time on a beautiful afternoon. I just had to find the flowers with a clean background and then wait for the bees to fly in and out.

Until next moment,

Amar

Wood Lily

I was back at it again looking at the wood lilies, along the road in the ditch. Trying to figure out how I was going to take pictures of them this summer, I walked back and forth taking pictures from different angles of different lilies. At the same time I was searching for one or two of the rare yellow ones, no luck. I finally decided I wanted the Sun to be in the picture, I would focus on the flower and not the Sun, better for my eyes. I was on all four, my behind sticking toward the sky and face on the ground to get the images. I'm sure I had the better view then those seeing my picture taking pose that morning. 

Until next moment, 

Amar

Prairie Crocus

In the mountains prairie crocus is the first wild flowers I tend to take pictures of in the spring, and this year it was no different. Beautiful little flower, providing little bit of colour before the warmer weather brings more.

Until next moment,

Amar

Fireweed and a Bumble Bee

It was a good way to spend the morning, taking pictures of insects around the flowers. This one of the bumble bee approaching a flower of a fireweed was the best one from the morning.

Until next moment,

Amar

Fireweed

Another picture of an another beautiful flower. This is the beautiful fireweed flower, adding to the colours of the valleys and mountain sides.

Until next moment

Amar

Western Wood Lily

The colours of summer are everywhere and the western wood lilies plays a big role in that. But only for about a month for this beauty, well worth stopping for. And for me well worth fighting the mosquitoes to get few good pictures. A quick pictures is not good enough, I have to walk around until I find the right flower with the right background. If you don't have some dirt and or stains on your knees while getting the picture, then you did not get the best picture you are capable for. 

Until next moment.

Amar