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Showing posts from May, 2017

Elk Ridge - Scenic Splendor

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Elk Ridge, Colorado The morning after a mid-May snowstorm, Elk Ridge is a pristine landscape rising above untouched territory. Breaking trail through drifts of deep snow impedes progress but on this day there is no rush to reach the top. Frosted Bergen Peak looms over the white meadow where a grove of green aspen accentuates the scenic splendor. Blue shadows undulate across a frozen surface that blankets the rugged earth buried so far below. While trudging along the edge of the dark woodland, tall pine trees release a deluge of icy snowmelt. Drenched from head to toe, the wanderer in this wilderness is bound to get wet and chilled to the bone. By late afternoon, the warm sun has begun to release the foothills from the weakening grip of the season's last winter storm. Truly, it shouldn't come as a surprise because this unusual pattern has become an annual event. It seems outrageous to be experiencing such inclement weather at this time but the snow will not last lon

Holladay Nature Preserve - Dreary Days

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Wallace F Holladay Nature Preserve Occupying a rural greenbelt on the outskirts of Indianapolis, Holladay Nature Preserve features a diverse variety of trees and birdlife. Surrounded by a deciduous forest, a small pond is the sparkling centerpiece. Continuous rainfall has cleansed the dense woodland, saturating the Spring landscape with a glossy sheen. During such a downpour, the brown creek rushes steadily through a rolling meadow. In the field below a weathered, red barn and a broken-down silo, yellow flowers form a nice border. Nearby, the abundant foliage becomes a tangled mass that's tremendous in both height and width. Despite being drenched during the remarkable deluge, resilient songbirds keep chirping with an infectious optimism. After a few, dreary days spent in the heartland of Indiana, it's nice to finally see the sun. A diverse variety of trees A small pond is the centerpiece A cleansed woodland A Spring landscape A rolling meadow

A Spring Storm - South Table Mountain

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South Table Mountain "You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes." ~ Alexandre Dumas The desolate landscape on top of South Table Mountain is a bleak outlook, troubled under a murky, Spring sky. On this great, windswept plateau, trees are scarce and the sting from abundant cactus is too painful to recount. Dark skies unveil a curtain of cold rain that soaks all who dare to trespass on this depressing domain. The merciless breeze is a dogged companion that's unsympathetic to a yearning for more cheerful times. The muddy road leading home is a lonely trek serenaded by the melancholy chorus of field crickets and meadow larks. Just like the turbulent weather experienced on this dismal day, life is a storm. A desolate landscape A troubled sky Trees are scarce A painful sting Yearning for cheerful times A lonely trek Turbulent weather Li

Warren Woods - A Fairytale Forest

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Warren Woods, Indiana Situated in central Indiana, Warren Woods is a fairytale-like forest bursting with lush greenery and blue flowers. A little, brown creek flows peacefully through the heart of a deciduous bird dwelling. An amazing variety of calls can be heard, sung by the canopy's unseen inhabitants. The noisy chatter is a bit comforting for the new visitor as the happy chorus permeates an eerie atmosphere. Lingering gray skies are evidence of recent thunderstorms whose heavy rainfall has drenched the dark Woodland. The soggy trails are a flooded mess, splattering mud with every step. Encamped in Eastern Territory for the first time, I'm inspired by the lovely landscape and all of the birds, trees and water. It’s a temperate climate with a humidity that’s as warm as a blanket. After a few days exploring the flatlands, it’s time to leave. Upon our return to the high country West, we're welcomed by 15 inches of wet snow - it's great to be home. A fai