Staunton State Park Last week we visited Colorado’s newest state park. Located just six miles west of Conifer, it reminds some of Sherwood Forest in England because of the huge, old-growth ponderosa pine trees. Others believe the jagged, granite peaks resemble Yosemite National Park in California. Frances Staunton, who gifted the property to the State […]
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 […]
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 […]
Unicorn Their place in the human imagination is similar to that of dragons, griffins and sea-serpents. The present-day unicorn is portrayed as a magical, white stallion with a long, spiraled alicorn that protrudes from its forehead. Drawings of horses with a single straight horn first appear on the cave walls of Lascaux, France. Later, Aristotle […]
Haiyaha Lake, Colorado Haiyaha Lake is a secluded cirque nestled deep in the heart of a cluttered canyon. Located in Rocky Mountain National Park but well off the beaten path, it’s a rocky sanctuary far removed from the stress of civilization. Confined by a ring of enormous boulders, the dazzling emerald is set right at […]
“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 […]
“Troublesome Creek” Colored Pencil After a storm blankets Noble Meadow with fresh snow, Troublesome Creek is swollen with spring runoff. Normally this gulch is parched but now the proud, little creek rushes down into Buchanan Ponds. The diffused light neutralizes the colors but this time of year even the snowy landscape can be expressed with […]
Land of the Dead Tree Heard the woeful coo of a mourning dove. The sound resonated in our hearts And raised us up nine thousand feet above. To the Land of the Dead Tree Our journey began at the Old Cabin Crossing, a neglected remnant of days gone by. We continued on a lonely path […]
Clear Creek at Golden, Colorado On a gorgeous evening in Golden, Colorado, Clear Creek is undeniably liberated from winter’s icy grasp. As the cold season draws to a close, we are challenged to emerge from our dark den. The great thaw continues and soon this silent stream will be transformed into a transparent torrent, flowing […]
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 […]
Helms Lake Ensconced in the granite bowl of a spectacular gorge, Helms Lake is an aqueous repository of visually stunning scenery. The soaring tarn lies tacitly above tree line but still far below a fortress of towering peaks. The difficult journey to this remarkable, alpine refuge begins in a forest of lodgepole pine and progresses […]
Storm over Waterton Canyon The Platte River spills down from the mountains and carves an extraordinary gorge through the Rampart Range that concludes with a rugged canyon known as Waterton. This is where the South Platte emerges from the foothills and onto the boggy wetlands just southwest of Denver. The gravel service road that follows […]
“Urad Lake” Colored Pencil “Through art we can change the world.” ~ #twitterartexhibit It’s a warm, summer evening at Urad Lake with skies of steel blue in the low, fading light. Situated at tree-line below the Continental Divide, the high basin is enclosed by a black forest and dense willows. An aggressive creek and its […]
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 […]