Wildflowers along Bacon Rind Creek

Not a flower, but a beautiful robin's egg shell (with an ant on it).

Yellow bells (that look orange).

Western spring beauty

Violets

Shooting stars

More wildflowers along Bacon Rind Creek

Prairie smoke

Hairy Clematis

Hairy Clematis, close-up

Glacier lily

Bluebells

Hiking in Yellowstone

We hiked a trail several miles north of West Yellowstone. We had it all to ourselves.

Very difficult to see, but this is a mountain lion track.

I love this interesting looking rock with ferns growing on it.
A nice view of Bacon Rind Creek.

Hubby admiring a patch of violets growing along the trail.

We didn't go the whole way. We came to a spot where we would have to ford the creek in order to continue and so we turned around instead.

black-headed grosbeak

This is one of our summer avian friends. He has established a territory on the Hill and sings at the top of his little air sacs everyday. Unfortunately, he starts at 4 a.m., but all's forgiven because it's a beautiful song. We've been trying to get a good view of him all week and then it's like everything comes together and we end up with a picture perfect pose. I even had my camera with me!

He's ready for his close-up.

garden update

Radish harvest. We had to give some of these away. I don't like hot radishes and some of these are killers. 

The black dog hanging around the onion and potato bed. It's going to be a happy chore to harvest all the potatoes. I wish my friend, Debara, could come up and help like last year. I have at least double the number of plants this year. We are going to have potatoes with every meal come September. 

Feeling blue

All the yellow flowers on the Hill have begun to wither and the blues have been patiently waiting in the wings for their show to begin. It was well worth the wait.

Lovely flax.

Penstemon in different shades of lilac blue.

Lupine.

Turkeys

This morning at 4 a.m. we heard gobbling. We haven't seen the turkeys in some time, but there were 2 hens and 2 toms out and about in the yard.

Trying to impress the ladies.

This is what happens when you try to remove debris from around the subject you want to photograph--you destroy it!!! The orchids snapped right off the plant which is a real bummer because they only bloom once a year and there aren't that many plants.

We went on a picnic at Lake Como which is down in the Bitterroot Valley. It was beautiful and not crowded. Cali was even brave enough to stick her feet in the water. We were having a great time until a tick joined the party. What a buzzkill.

flowers, flowers, everywhere

OK, not a flower. This bald eagle soared overhead on Sunday.

I'm hoping for apples this year. I think hubby needs to get out here with a paintbrush and do a little pollinating, but he's thinking we'll have some natural pollinators. I haven't seen a honeybee in ages.

My parrot tulips are gorgeous this year.

Rocky Mountain clematis. I had to climb down a rope to get this shot. This is the first spring we noticed this growing on the hill.

Daffodil city.

Heading south?

I hope not. You just got here.

This little Calliope hummingbird found an unusual perch at sunset last night--our weather vane. It took a while for the hummers to arrive, but now we are inundated and a special treat for us--a male black-chinned hummingbird has been hanging around the feeders.

wildflower

The only patch of violets growing on the hill. So pretty. We watch for this patch to come up every spring.

Another dusting of snow from yesterday. Ugh! We are sick of it. 

Ruby goodness

A special treat for Sunday's dinner. Homemade rhubarb and strawberry pie. This was a little more labor intensive than I thought it would be, but it was still fun to make. I plan on making a few more as rhubarb season progresses.

It helps to have this large patch of rhubarb growing in the garden. 

Happy Birthday...

...to Cali. She's 2 today.

3rd time...

...really is a charm. I tried growing these Frittilaria in Roseville and then a few years ago here in MT, but they never emerged after being planted in Sept. I decided this would be the last time I spent any $$ on a constant failure, but much to my surprise they came up this spring. 

In other plant news, last night at 1 a.m. one of the hanging baskets decided to break free and land with a THUNK on the concrete patio. That woke everyone up including the little black canine member of the family. She is battling Giardia again this week and decided that would be a great time to go outside. Needless to say, we are all a little tired today.

Knock, knock

Who's there?

Skunk? Fox? Coyote? 

We don't know, but Cali was pretty interested in this den behind our house.