White campion,
Bladder campion,
Silene latifolia
Found along USFS trail 368 to Big Hole Lookout in western Montana’s Cabinet Mountains. The white-on-white blossoms are interesting.
July 28, 2009
July 27, 2009
An unusual visitor
This fellow was hanging around the yard for a few days before I caught up to him (sort of). A new one for me!
With an accuracy probably bordering on miniscule, I would call this a male
Common Whitetail,
Libellula lydia.
July 26, 2009
Probably not everyone will agree…
but this is one drop-dead gorgeous Prairie Rattlesnake! Certainly the prettiest I’ve ever seen.
Prairie Rattlesnake
Crotalus viridis
For perspective, this photo was taken at a distance of about 20 inches with a 60mm (macro) lens and cropped only slightly to center it. It is a large snake (40+inches) and very thick. Very well behaved and easily persuaded to pose for a few photos; alert but not aggressive.
**Correction** I originally thought this was a Western Rattlesnake but in a comment on my Flickr site, a gentleman (Correcamino) corrected me. Upon visiting his Flickr site and reading his profile it was clear that he knows what he’s talking about and I appreciate the correction.
(While I’m editing and correcting anyway, I thought I’d add another photo to show a close-up of the intense look on its face.)
July 25, 2009
Great northern aster
Giant mountain aster,
Few flowered aster,
Great northern aster,
Canadanthus modestus
July 23, 2009
It’s that time of year again.
From the National Weather Service website: “A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM MDT FRIDAY.
THE ATMOSPHERE HAS BECOME UNSTABLE TODAY WITH THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING NEAR THE IDAHO AND CANADIAN BORDERS. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP AND MOVE EAST ACROSS NORTHWEST MONTANA OVERNIGHT. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF LIGHTNING…RESULTING IN NEW LIGHTNING STARTS ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST MONTANA. IN ADDITION…THESE STORMS DO NOT HAVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH THEM DUE TO THE DRY LOWER ATMOSPHERE. DRIER CONDITIONS NEAR THE SURFACE IS ALSO CONDUCIVE TO GUSTY ERRATIC WINDS THAT CAN BE PRODUCED BY THESE THUNDERSTORMS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A RED FLAG WARNING IS INTENDED TO ALERT LAND MANAGERS TO EXPECT WEATHER CONDITIONS ALONG WITH SUFFICIENTLY DRY FUELS THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE FIRE DANGER.”
As I recall, the last time we had a red flag warning was in July of 2007 and about two weeks later the Chippy Creek Fire started. It burned 150 square miles.
In addition, the forecast is for dry thunderstorms through Sunday. It may be a long weekend!
July 22, 2009
They’re very common… and yet…
This is one of the most common of all plants in ranching country, but how often do we take the time to look at it this way…
Harebells, Bluebells of Scotland; the blue bells seem to be everywhere around here this time of year, but a few, just a very few, are not blue.
Montana Outdoors 