Massive bull elk express their dominance It’s October so the haunting calls of wild beasts permeate the crisp air. The elk are in a frenzy and massive bulls bellow to express their dominance. Up here, the yearly cycle includes windy transitions that usher in four incredibly distinct seasons. Fall is special because of the mild […]
Marigold Lorikeet The rainbow lorikeet is one of the most beautiful species of parrot. They’re widespread in the coastal bush lands and rain forests of Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Lorikeets have specialized, brush-tipped tongues used for feeding on nectar and soft fruits. They’re cute but they can be aggressive and are […]
Elk The Rocky Mountain Elk is the undisputed symbol of Evergreen, Colorado. I see them almost every day so I’ve become very familiar with their ways. The elk’s predictable, seasonal behavior provides me with some comfort during these uncertain times. There is a rhythm to their life that influences our own. The elk seem to […]
Duck It’s an iconic image, a glossy-green-headed drake flying above the lake on a summer morning, then skimming across the surface for a splash landing. Next, the quintessential duck call that is the mallard’s quack. I snapped this picture of a glistening duck at Evergreen Lake. The mallard duck is a very common bird around […]
“Gore Range Wildflowers” Colored Pencil Drawn mostly from memory, this landscape depicts the vista from Ute Pass, looking across the Blue River Valley. The summery scene is an optimistic vision of a fruitful future. North out of Silverthorne, the gentle mountains turn jagged, purple and picturesque. As golden clouds glide overhead, the chaos of opposing […]
Three Sisters Open Space Park Three Sisters Park is a diverse habitat featuring rocky crags, lush meadows, secluded forests and bountiful wildlife. The wide open space is nestled below and serves as a prelude to the spectacular Mount Evans Massif. A complicated network of rugged trails is laced throughout the lonesome reserve. There are a […]
“Evergreen Lake Summer” Colored Pencil A cool mountain breeze offers some relief on a warm, summer day at Evergreen Lake. Puffy, white clouds race across the wide, open sky and because the lake is a reflection of the scene above, it translates as clear and blue. A sparkling blue spruce stands guard over the weathered […]
“Dragon Duel” Colored Pencil “Riddles my weapons. Answers my shield. Though you battle with wit, I’ll never yield.” Slowly the clamped teeth loosened. The watching dragons collectively sighed in disappointment. But the confrontation was not over. “My wit is quite sharp,” responded the leader, “as sharp as my claws and teeth. One wound means your […]
Ocelot Cliffs at Hobbs Peak Park Hobbs Peak Park is a hidden oasis landlocked by surrounding private property. The centerpiece of the secluded reserve is a photogenic rock formation known as the Ocelot Cliffs. Native Americans revered the unusual landscape, evidenced by arrowheads that can still be found at the sacred site. The place may […]
Snail The snail is an ancient mollusk that has been gliding along leisurely for over 600 million years, leaving a trail of glistening slime in its wake. Over such a long period of time, they’ve adapted to all environments and can be found everywhere on the planet. If a snail dries out it dies, so […]
The abandoned Caribou townsite The abandoned townsite of Caribou, Colorado is situated high in the Rocky Mountains west of Boulder just below the continental divide. It’s the place where the winds are born and if you listen closely you can still hear the echoes of a glittery past. Silver was discovered on the hill in […]
Saddle Rock On a sweltering summer day in Nebraska, we hiked at Scottsbluff National Monument all the way up to the top of Saddle Rock. Unfortunately, a natural roadblock forced a detour but that didn’t diminish our resolve. Just like the first pioneers, we approached the remarkable formation by crossing the rolling hills of a […]
American Bison In the year 1800, 35 million buffalo roamed across the Great Plains of America. After nearly a century of senseless slaughter, only 700 of these majestic creatures remained. With the disastrous consequences becoming obvious, the beleaguered survivors were rounded up and placed, mercifully, within the protective confines of the world’s first national park, […]
“Gore Range Thunderstorm” Colored Pencil A slow moving thunderstorm passes over the jagged Gore Range. The dark mountains seem small compared to the huge, dramatic clouds. A thin slice of Green Mountain Reservoir sparkles in the distance and the foreground shimmers with broken tones of green and violet. It’s a beautiful scene. The colors are […]