It’s a little bit Spring

Tucked neatly in between snow flurries these days there have been periods of sunshine, and Nature is proceeding with the inevitable journey toward Summer. The Buttercups which have been in bloom for a month on Buttercup Ridge have now spread to sunlit places along the valley floor

Sagebrush Buttercup Ranunculus glaberrimus

and among them are the tiny white flowers of Whitlow Grass.

Whitlow Grass, Draba verna

Near where these were blooming there was a section of an old abandoned barb-wire fence and it appeared to be a danger to the deer who crossed that hillside on their way to the river to drink. As I knelt down to cut the pieces of old rusted wire, this very early bloom of Woodland Star became visible, perhaps as a small reward for my effort.

Woodland Star, Lithophragma parviflorum

Buttercups (2)

Perhaps by publishing this post I will be able to get Buttercups out of my system, at least for this season, and move on to other things. In my lighter moments, I visualize them having different moods.

Impetuous, whimsical

Shy…private 

Mysterious

It looks like spring again

Just one week ago the over night low temperature was -5°. Today, these.

Them thar groundhogs don’t know what they’s talkin’ about!

The first of the season.

(On a rocky slope 500 feet above the river, watered by night-time frost and nourished by the droppings of Big Horn sheep, there was exactly one Buttercup in bloom today, most likely a Sagebrush Buttercup, Ranunculus glaberrimus Hook. )

Elk and buttercups

During a short trip into one of my favorite areas just a couple of days ago I had an experience that would be a thrill for anyone who loves wildlife.

A couple of miles from the road as I approached a high ridge, slightly to my right I saw four white-tail deer. As I watched them, a movement directly in front of me caught my attention and directed my eyes to a half dozen mule deer. And, as I was looking at them, I glanced at a patch of tan above them on the steep hillside and discovered a group of six elk grazing along there. It’s not often that one can see all three species together and be able to watch them all without taking a step!

A rather fumbling attempt to stalk into camera range of the elk was successful only in spooking the mulies who in turn spooked the elk, and so I came away with no photos of them. I’ll substitute this one taken while hunting in the area last October instead. It’s a hunter’s eye view.

After effectively spooking all the game in the area I continued up to the top of the ridge where, despite my bumbling, I was able to stalk within camera range of some buttercups, and had to chuckle because I noticed that earlier in the spring they had been fertilized by the elk. An interesting example of the benefits of natural biodiversity.

Can’t stay away from the buttercups (2)

Also can’t resist this one more post about them. Yesterday, however, I saw the first yellow bell of the year, so maybe I’ll be able get away from the buttercups for this year.