Simplicity “As I grew older, I realized that it was much better to insist on the genuine forms of nature, for simplicity is the greatest adornment of art.” ~ Albrecht Durer Evergreen, Colorado is that magical place situated over the rainbow. Upon arriving 22 years ago, we discovered a land of silvery aspen where bluebirds […]
General Grievous “I am Grievous, warlord of Kaleesh and Supreme Commander of the armies of the Confederacy. And I am not a droid” ~ Grievous I’ve always been fascinated by science fiction stories. I’m allured by the exotic locales, strange creatures and the wondrous but sometimes unsettling human characters that are portrayed as a synthesis […]
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Located just northeast of downtown Denver, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is a peaceful swathe of prairie, wetland and woodland habitats where wildlife thrives. The place used to be hell on earth. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States charged into World War II. Fearing […]
American Dipper also known as Water Ouzel “He is the mountain streams’ own darling, the hummingbird of blooming waters, loving rocky ripple slopes and sheets of foam as a bee loves flowers, as a lark loves sunshine and meadows.” ~ John Muir Inhabiting the rivers, streams and waterfalls that cascade down out of the Rocky […]
White Ranch Park Located northwest out of Golden, White Ranch Park is an open space that offers plenty of room to roam. Upon entering through an elaborate gateway, you’ll discover a rugged landscape carved by Van Bibber Creek. The lush environment is a birder’s paradise that, after crossing an old wooden bridge, gives way to […]
“Golden Hawk” Colored Pencil Perched on a high throne decorated with a wreath of autumn leaves, a golden hawk gazes over a vast empire. The royal color scheme of blue and gold is applied in patches of similar value, resulting in a posterized portrait. Highlights and shadows are downplayed as the abstract contours exaggerate the […]
General Custer fell here After destroying Custer’s entire battalion, the warriors raced south across the ridges to engage the last remnant of the Seventh Cavalry. Lying flat on the ground, the soldiers formed a perimeter of defense around a natural depression scooped out of the summit of their hilltop refuge. They managed to hold off […]
Allosaur skull Down near the entrance into Bear Creek Canyon a prominent landmark rises above historic Morrison, Colorado. Locals call it The Hogback but Paleontologists have named it Dinosaur Ridge because it’s one of the most fossil rich locations on Earth. In 1877, some of the best known dinosaurs from the late Jurassic period were […]
Silent Shadows at Dugout Creek “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” ~ John Muir This past winter, western Nebraska was a wonderland. Wandering around in bad weather, I wasn’t expecting to find much during my nature walk. Surprisingly, the normally stark Sandhills sparkled with a glow not usually seen. […]
Forest Bison An enduring symbol of the Great Plains, the American Bison was driven to the brink of extinction during Westward Expansion. After a modest recovery, they can now be found in a woodland that adorns Colorado’s Front Range foothills. The mountain herd roams through a labyrinth of sharp slopes, draws, gulches and ravines that […]
Mountain Lion Loop “Courage is being scared to death… and saddling up anyway.” ~ John Wayne One day this summer, we left the safety and comfort of our hearth and headed into the high country. We logged an out and back at Mountain Lion Loop on a warm August afternoon. It was unfamiliar territory, a […]
“The Old Stump, Elk Ridge” Colored Pencil The morning after a spring storm, Elk Ridge is buried under a blanket of fresh snow. Irregular shapes undulate across the drift’s smooth surface as blue shadows exaggerate the billowy folds in the landscape’s white tapestry. Scattered across the high ground, a few resilient evergreens call this hostile […]
“Search and Rescue” by Dustin Miller Guest post by Dustin Miller On May 22, 2011 an F5 tornado hit the small city of Joplin, Missouri. It cut a path a half-mile wide and destroyed one third of the city. More than 150 people perished in the catastrophe. I live about five miles south of Joplin […]
Summit Lake After a delicious Father’s Day breakfast served in bed by my two boys, we decided to drive to the summit of Mount Evans. To get to the top is a 30 mile drive from our front door. As we ascended the highest paved road in North America, our first wildlife sighting was a […]