More of Wawawai
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Snake River Canyons

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We often range far and wide in search of the beautiful, the unusual, or the scenic. But, if we would just stop and look, we may be able find things equally fascinating all around us. Here is a sampling of the beauty Orrin finds on his daily hillclimbs. Capturing close-ups of miniscule flowers wiggling in the wind, with a mere two megapixel point-and-shoot camera, proved to be a challenge.

In the early spring when the arrowleaf flowers begin to fade, a tiny violet flower, the redstem filaree, takes over and blankets the hills. At their peak a quick count of them in a six inch square and some mental arithmetic tells us they number a half-million per acre.

Redstem filaree is a native of Eurasia and has now spread around the world. Enlarged view, 62kb.

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Photographing the tiny blossoms proved to be difficult. They barely match the size of an aspirn.

Enlarged view, 105kb.

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Being content to limit their numbers to a very few, these tiny jewels almost escape attention. The faintest breeze causes them to dance teasingly on their delicate stems, defiantly frustrating all attempts to capture a sharp image.

Enlarged view, 29kb

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Our short legged basset hound cannot keep up during our daily hill climb, so Orrin waits at the top next to these beauties while he catches up. The mouths on these little show-offs pop open and move just like those of a snap-dragon.

It's a great place to perch and rest up before the trip back down.

Enlarged view, 68kb

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Another wind-dancer dares the photographer to try to get a sharp picture. The flower wins.

Enlarged view, 107kb

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Daring the elements to put it down before the season becomes hot and dry, vast patches of vetch turn the hillsides faintly blue. Close up, the luxuriant plants defy the brick-dry soil and put on a pretty show, anyhow.

Enlarged view, 128kb

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Bumble bees abound amongst the blossoms. Honeybees turn the vetch nectar into crystal-clear colorless honey. The delicate flavor tells you this is the best you'll ever taste.

Enlarged view, 76kb

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Springtime wouldn't be spring around these parts if the lupine didn't bloom. Although not as fat as its domesticated kin, the beautiful flower stalks and distintive foliage turn the hillsides into a garden worthy of a king.

Enlarged view, 128kb

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Although not rare, this is the only white lupine that grows along our daily route. Lovely as a wedding, the flower plays host to a spider waiting for a mate.

Enlarged view, 101kb

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A deep thirst limits the monkey flower to such places as springs that dot the canyon walls.

Enlarged view, 57kb

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Like a lovely but domineering woman, the common bindweed tries to deceive us with it beauty. But, its aggressive habits make it unwelcome where ever it goes.

Enlarged view, 54kb

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This spindly-stemmed cornflower politely stood still for its portrait. Of all the flowers in our pasture garden, this one probably comes closest to resembling its domesticated relatives.

Enlarged view, 55kb

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The yellow goatsbeard sports a seed puffball resembling that of the dandelion, but there the resemblance ends. Its single row of flower petals and tall habit differs considerably from the ground-hugging double-flowered dandelion.

Enlarged view, 73kb

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More of Wawawai and Snake River Canyons

More of Wawawai
and
Snake River Canyons