Reminder of Spring

Now, with Winter approaching, it is time to be reminded that Spring is right around the corner. No matter how cold and snowy the winter, there will be another beautiful Spring right around the corner. This is a perfect metaphor for life. We may be in the winter of our lives but there is always the promise of glorious Spring.

Provo City, Utah

In beautiful Utah Valley, Provo sits right in the middle. This photo looks west across the valley with Utah Lake in the background. The two prominent structures are the Provo Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the BYU LaVell Edwards Stadium. The leaves on the trees are just beginning to turn their fall colors.

Late Fall Flowers

Fall is quickly turning to Winter in the Wasatch Mountains, but there was still time to walk in the canyons and discover the beauty of the late Fall flowers. It is important to remember the green leaves and delightful flowers when the snow begins to fly and the bushes and trees have lost all their leaves.

Barn Swallows collecting mud for their nests

This mud bank along a river in Alaska gave these barn swallows, Hirundo rustica, a perfect opportunity to gather finely mixed mud for their nests. They moved very fast and even a high shutter speed was not enough to stop this action.

An Old Ore Wagon

I couldn't see any identifying marks on this old wagon used for hauling ore at a gold mine in Alaska, but I was interested in the patina of age. It looks like the tongue is missing but the all metal wheels indicate that this wagon was designed to carry heavy loads. It looks similar to a John Deere Studebaker freight wagon from the late 1800s.

An Unreal Landscape

Every once and while, I run across a place that is so far out of my ordinary experience that I cannot understand how it exists on this earth. This is one of those places. The green plants are huge mounds of moss. You may have to click on the photo to see the detail. It is located on the side of a hill in Yellowstone National Park in a place called the Artist's Paint Pots.

The Ravages of Time

In the dry deserts of Arizona, a brick would probably last a thousand years. In the wet environment of Vancouver Island, B.C. I would guess that these bricks are far less than a thousand years old, probably 100 years or so. You might have to look at this brick walkway by clicking on the photo to really tell what it is.

Very Red

The Wasatch Mountains may not be in New England, but they have really vibrant and beautiful Fall colors just the same. As I look out my windows, just now, I can see gorgeously yellow and red leaves. The green colors of Summer have suddenly become the fantastic colors of the Fall in just a few short days. I fully realize that the colors of Fall forebode the coming of Winter, but I am anticipating the full experience of seeing the seasons change after so many years in the desert.

Thistles

These large thistles are common in the Wasatch Mountains and in fields and along streams in the valleys. They take on their striking appearance in the Autumn when the leaves are beginning to turn bright colors of yellow and red. The stalks and dried flower pods are commonly used in flower arrangements and I had to resist the desire to take a few home for that purpose. But once I touched the stems, I realized that without some sturdy gloves and a sharp knife, I probably should leave them where they were.

Upper Falls, Provo Canyon

There are really two rather large waterfalls in Provo Canyon. One is the more famous Bridal Veil Falls. This one is further up the canyon and goes by the prosaic name of Upper Falls. It is visible from the highway but you have to look quickly because it flashes past and there is usually a lot of traffic making site seeing a dangerous activity unless you stop.

Autumn Color in Provo Canyon

The New England States are famous for their brilliant displays of Autumn leaves, but there is also a lot to be said about the majesty of the Wasatch Mountains when the leaves begin to turn vivid colors. The colors sometimes need to be enjoyed from a distance, but they are just as spectacular in their own way. We have some lovely trees right around our new to us house. Usually, in the desert I had to wait until December or later to see one or two trees change. I will miss the palo verde trees in the Spring, however.

The Dry West Coast

The west coast of Oahu, Hawaii is more reminiscent of some parts of California than you would think of being on a Hawaiian Island. Gone are the green jungle and tall palm trees. The vegetation reminds me more of some parts of the Arizona-Sonoran Desert than a tropical island.

First Snow of the Fall Season

The first snow fall on the mountains as the seasons change from Fall to Winter is always a big event, but scarcely noticed by all those living in the valley below. If they notice, they start thinking of snow tires and warm boots, but really, they should start thinking of the beauty of the seasons yet to come.

Just as the leaves begin to turn

Being mainly from the low desert, the idea that there are mountains and canyons nearby is very compelling. We took off one late afternoon and drove up the Alpine Loop from Provo Canyon to American Fork Canyon and found the aspen trees just beginning to change color. I loved the late afternoon sun and the color it gave to the tree trunks and the leaves. Maybe we will get another chance to try and find autumn color.

Afternoon Moon

I am always surprised to see the moon in the daytime. I guess it is about as common as sun and rain and clouds, but it is still interesting to see it popping up in the sky on a bright sunny day. I also read today that it has been 55 years since we first got a look at the dark side of the moon. I remember that well, so I must be getting old.

Late Afternoon Sun

The afternoon sun tends to change the colors of the most common objects into something almost unreal and alien. The blue rocks contrasted with the yellow of the dried weeds only appears during a certain time of the day. At other times, the rocks are an ordinary color and the weeds would pass unnoticed.

A Late Bloomer

In the Wasatch Mountains only a very few flowers bloom into the late Summer and this is particularly true as Autumn approaches. The is Yellow Rabbit Bush or Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt. It grows in open areas along the edge of the Wasatch Front overlooking the valleys. You can easily see why it is related to the chrysanthemums sold as garden flowers.