December 13, 2013
April diversity
While reviewing some photos taken during 2013, I was reminded of the diversity that we encounter here during the month of April. Following are a few photos taken in April, 2013:
April 1, Thompson Pass ~ I hiked a mile and a half on snowshoes over six feet of snow to find a trail head but was unable to find it because all of the signs and markings were below the snow level.
April 5, our first Crocus was in bloom in one of the flower beds.
April 11, Western White Trillium, Trillium Ovatum in bloom at the bottom end of Munson Creek.
April 13, Darkthroat Shootingstar, Dodecatheon pulchellum blooming just above the river.
April 18, Western White Trillium, Trillium Ovatum in bloom 2 miles up the Munson Creek trail. This was the fourth consecutive year that I caught the spectacular bloom of the trilliums in that one small area along the trail.
April 21, A sudden spring snow brought a relapse back to winter.
April 22, Most of the previous day’s snow had already melted down by the river.
April 22, Holboell’s rockcress, Boechera pendulocarpa was in bloom on a warm rock face just above the river.
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Montana Outdoors 
Surprising how quickly the snow melts. Love that ‘return to winter’ shot. I love the soft light and the almost monochrome effect in snowy scenes.
You’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country/mountains.
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Comment by Vicki (from Victoria A Photography) — December 13, 2013 @ 5:44 pm
It was only when reviewing the photos for that month that I noticed the diversity. That’s why April is a favorite month!
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Comment by montucky — December 13, 2013 @ 6:58 pm
I’m so glad you have a good stockpile of photos. They’re beautiful and I don’t mind looking at them, even if they weren’t taken five minutes ago.
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — December 13, 2013 @ 5:59 pm
Thank you Anneli! I’m really happy to share my photos!
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Comment by montucky — December 13, 2013 @ 6:59 pm
Beautiful … just beautiful. The flowers amid the snow scenes are perfect for this gloomy day
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Comment by Teresa Evangeline — December 13, 2013 @ 6:14 pm
Nature spread out the mix that month, didn’t she! I like the mixture too!
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Comment by montucky — December 13, 2013 @ 7:01 pm
It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite among these. I think it has to be the Clark Fork River – or the sudden spring snow. It is interesting how much the petals on the left-hand side of the crocus look like ice. And I’m curious about the Holboell’s rockcress. Do the flowers always bend around to one side? or are they responding to the sunlight and warmth?
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Comment by shoreacres — December 13, 2013 @ 6:54 pm
The rockcress flowers are always on one side like that, but I really don’t know if the move to follow the sun. I will study that next spring! April was a beautiful month, even more so after the rather drab end of winter.
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Comment by montucky — December 13, 2013 @ 7:03 pm
Enjoyed the trillium shots! We’re blessed with a few varieties here in Ohio.
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Comment by centralohionature — December 13, 2013 @ 8:13 pm
We have just the one species here, at least in the northwestern part of the state. This year was a bumper year for them: they seemed to be everywhere.
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Comment by montucky — December 13, 2013 @ 8:21 pm
That relapse photo is something! Quite a diversity there…
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Comment by Candace — December 13, 2013 @ 9:59 pm
That’s one of the reasons why springtime is so exciting here! Those sudden snows are really enjoyable then because we know they won’t last but a few days.
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Comment by montucky — December 13, 2013 @ 10:05 pm
I so love seeing your landscapes and flowers! There are not many places in the world where I think I might feel as ‘at home’ as I do in Scotland, but Montana is certainly one of them!
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Comment by Jo Woolf — December 14, 2013 @ 1:02 am
The back country becomes a very comfortable place when you respect it and understand that there are dangers there for which you must be prepared. I’m much more at home out there than in any of the cities or towns.
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Comment by montucky — December 14, 2013 @ 9:41 am
I love that snow scene but I’m missing the flowers already. That rock cress has an odd way of blooming. It’s almost as if the wind blew all the flowers in one direction.
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Comment by New Hampshire Gardener — December 14, 2013 @ 7:08 am
I always start looking forward to the flowers about this time of year too. That will make them extra special when it’s their time to awaken.
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Comment by montucky — December 14, 2013 @ 9:42 am
Wow, that really was a month of changes – beautiful ones though!
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Comment by Mama's Empty Nest — December 14, 2013 @ 9:02 am
I love all of those changes because they are signals that spring and summer are not far away and the rather dull whiteness of winter is about over.
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Comment by montucky — December 14, 2013 @ 9:44 am
April looks like a great month in Montana! LOVE that last snow picture with the white of the trees and mountains, and the blue of the sky and river.
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Comment by TheDailyClick — December 17, 2013 @ 5:02 am
It is! Wildflowers and leaves beginng to show up and the snows are even more beautiful than in winter because they will be brief. The mood of nature is optimistic.
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Comment by montucky — December 17, 2013 @ 10:18 am
My first visit to your site and I’m already in love. Your photographs are so beautiful, they still my heart. From a fellow wilderness lover, Vivian
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Comment by Where God Takes Me — December 19, 2013 @ 10:02 pm
Thank you for stopping by and for your very nice comment, Vivian! Northwestern Montana’s back country is my love and hiking the many old trails through it is my passion, especially in the Wilderness areas and the roadless areas. I will continue to spend as much time in those areas as I possibly can for as many more years as I have left. There seems to be an unending amount of beauty to witness in the small area in which I roam, which is really only about two thousand square miles, nearly all of it in the Lolo and Kootenai National Forests.
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Comment by montucky — December 19, 2013 @ 11:03 pm