Flowers and Abstracts

Alpine Springbeauty

The Alpine Springbeauty is one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring. This diminutive white blossom can be found in open areas throughout the area.

Forget-Me-Not

Alpine Forget-Me-Nots are a diminutive spring bloom. They grow on thin stalks 1-2 feet off the ground.

Deceptive Beauty

This lovely flower has the rather unfortunate name of Foothills Death Camas. It grows widely in open area throughout the west and is toxic to people and animals. With the grey skies I got low to the ground to eliminate as much of the sky as possible and place the prairie grasses behind the small stalk of flowers.

Hedgehog Red

The brilliant red of the Hedgehog Cactus (also known as a Claret Cup) adds a splash of color to the desert in spring.

Cholla Green

I have a love/hate relationship with Teddy Bear Chollas. They have lovely delicate green flowers in the spring, but they are also known as Jumping Chollas for the ability of the little balls of spines to "jump" off the cactus and attach themselves to you.

Salsify Abstract

This is a macro shot of the seed ball of the Salsify flower.

The Heart

Looking into the center of a Salsify seed ball.

Pretty In Purple

Lupine are one of my favorite spring flowers. So when I heard the lupine were blooming in the Tetons, I just had to head down there to see. I found a couple of very good patches that I could have spent hours in if it hadn't been windy. This was right next to the Pilgrim Creek Road in Grand Teton National Park. This small patch was shaded by a nearby hill which helped with the soft, cool colors.

Lodgepole Abstract

Lines

The patterns in the sand at Goblin Valley State Park were hypnotic. Surrounding the goblins, were these patterns where water had flowed around and down the goblins.

The Fairyslipper

This is the Calypso Orchid (also known at the Fairyslipper Orchid). They grow in small bunches less than a foot off the ground in wooded areas.

Morning Light

This lovely little purple flower is called a Sugar Bowl. They are also known as Vase-flowers and Hairy Clematis. They can be found in British Columbia south into eastern Washington and Oregon and Montana and Wyoming. They can be found in sagebrush plains and grasslands and Ponderosa Pine forests.

Forget Me Not

These little Alpine Forget Me Nots have been blooming profously all over the Northern Range of Yellowstone; their beautiful sky blue hue brightening up the forest floor.

If you look closely at the Mammoth Terraces, in many areas, this is what you would see.

Tree Abstract

I decided to have a little fun with the bobby socks trees near Fountain Paint Pots.

Rocky Mountain Iris

Black Pool Detail

This is the sinter lining around Black Pool at West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Arrowleaf Balsamroot

These flowers can be found all around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I always enjoy seeing these bright yellow blooms, but have never really stopped to photograph them until now.