Sun Apr 23 01:03:07 MDT 2006
Photo - Winter: Cone Pits
One of my favorite things about winter hikes are the pinecones. The sun reflects off of the snow, but the pinecones (and other things with relatively low albedos) absorb the sunlight, get warm, and melt themselves into the snow. I took about 3-6 additional photos of cone-pits, but they were so bloody blurry, that I trashed them.
Taken: Winter, 2005: Brainard Lake Trail, Colorado
Fri Apr 21 10:29:15 MDT 2006
Photo - Summer: Silver Tangled Tree
I liked this silver tree... that's all.
Taken: July, 2005: Golden Gate State Park, Colorado
Wed Apr 19 08:49:40 MDT 2006
Photo - Spring: Sand Lily
(blurry because I can't figure out my blasted camera).
Sand Lily (Leucocrinum montanum)
Taken: April, 2006: Mt. Sanitas Trail, Boulder, Colorado
Wed Apr 19 08:43:07 MDT 2006
Photo - Spring: Return of the Tent Caterpillar
The Western Tent Caterpillars are back. I caught them a little bit earlier this year than last, but the nets of silk around several of the shrubs in Chautauqua park are pretty obvious. There are debates about whether these caterpillars are problematic or simply a nuisance. When a particularly large number of caterpillars hatch, the resulting defiliation can be fatal to old and/or unhealthy trees. That said, it also allows more sunlight to reach the ground, where new trees might need additional light.
Western Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma californicum)
Taken: April, 2006: Chautauqua Park, Boulder, Colorado