Impression Evergreen

Bishop Castle Rising out of Colorado’s remote Wet Mountain Range, Bishop Castle is a royal symbol of hard work, creativity and perseverance. Jim Bishop began building this unfinished, medieval fantasyland 60 years ago while using nearby rock and timber so the fortress blends neatly into the local environment. The scary keep is designed to shoot straight skyward as a labyrinth of stone and iron ascends to dizzying heights. Not for the faint of heart, a strenuous climb up a spiral staircase is required to reach the summit of this monster house. Once you reach the top, vertigo sets in and things begin to sway as intermittent gusts of cold air make your balance unsteady. The acrophobic experience is exacerbated by open windows, suspension bridges, exposed ledges and sketchy railings but the views are incredible. Back down in the lower bowels of the austere bastion, a grand ballroom is illuminated by a series of beautiful stained-glass windows. Interesting details can be found through...

Red-sided Garter Snake Speaking of serpents, with summer in full swing, the reptiles are out searching for sun. Slithering out from the depths of his crowded winter den, a red-sided garter snake spends the afternoon in a shady patch of tall grass. The red-sided garter snake rises early in order to begin regulating his body temperature. He’s warmed up by solar rays and becomes most active in the morning before it gets too hot. He spends much of his time near water because that’s where he finds his favorite foods. This common snake eats earthworms, amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish and other snakes. He’s uniquely immune to the toxic secretions of toads and can eat them without harm. While hunting, the red-sided garter snake uses his superb sense of smell and vision in order to capture prey. He strikes with precision using sharp teeth and quick reflexes thus immobilizing his unfortunate victim. Harmless to humans, his saliva is slightly toxic t...

Prairie Rattlesnake "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?" ~ Indiana Jones Dwelling in Colorado's dark underworld, the prairie rattlesnake is a misunderstood animal that always gets a bad rap. Despite its intimidating appearance, the shy serpent is not looking for trouble. As a matter of fact, the reticent reptile does everything in its control to avoid detection and possible conflict. When alarmed, the snake vibrates its tail rapidly creating an unforgettable buzzing sound. The distinct noise is a warning to all who can hear, "Don't tread on me!" The reclusive rattler is beautifully colored and patterned in such a way that it blends perfectly into the rocky buttes and mesas that fringe the Front Range foothills. During the dog days of summer, it becomes nocturnal. The stealthy snake hunts at night using its innervated pits to detect heat emanating from warm-blooded rodents. A lightning-quick strike is absolutely lethal. Delivered by two long, hi...

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake I have a fear of heights, but I love to climb mountains. I'm scared of snakes, but I will eagerly handle them. A few days ago while hiking the shoreline of a small mountain lake, we encountered a Western Terrestrial Garter Snake. My first reaction was to recoil in fear. Surprised to see a snake at this elevation, we cautiously observed the reptile for a little bit. He was about two feet long and a striking yellow-gray in color with dark patterns. He appeared fairly harmless. Modern symbolic traditions tend to stress the negative role of the snake - like the fear inducing danger of it's venomous bite. As a teenager in Western Nebraska working on a cattle ranch, we were under direct orders to kill any rattlesnake seen near the homeplace. That's something I couldn't do today. Older legends and myths, however, often include mysterious, positive traits of the snake. The snake is often associated with healing and reincarnation. Nati...