Summer... already

The first of May we see wildlife return in large numbers. All winter our birdfeeder has brought sightings of deer, occasionally elk, and birds. Now they don’t seem to be just passing through, but hanging out.

We’ve had a red fox limping through our yard for several weeks. I started putting out extra birdseed since it couldn’t run.

On May 3rd our red fox appears with two pups in the boys’ rock fort. Justin had named the fox Jessica a couple of days ago and now we know the name fits. We watch the pups chase each other, attack plants and generally have fun. When they see elk they hide behind the rocks, but their heads pop in and out; they are unable to contain their curiosity. The elk sniff the air in what may be recognition, but they don’t seem to care one way or another.

Walking to the mailbox new flowers appear every few days. White, yellow, purple, blue and pink appear most often. Yellow ones contrast against the bright green lichen. Blue bells grow small and delicate at angles. And the pink wild roses hold on effortlessly to the slopes on our cul-de-sac.

Driving by Evergreen Lake the cormorants have returned, sitting on top of the spillway. Behind the spillway is a local bar that now has a full parking lot of motorcycles…. this is truly the sign spring has arrived. They come every weekend throughout the warm weather. Bikers ranging in age from 40 to 80 ride large Harleys. Some have long white beards.

Our world looks different within weeks. The bare dirt and rock left behind by the snow had bright green spots of lichen to start. Then the ground came alive with flowers emerging from the granite. Now animals and people have joined in the celebration.

Will spring continue?

The air is wet with rain and heavy with the scent of vanilla from the pine trees. For two days we've had rain and temperatures in the 40s and 50s.

Last year we had lots of wet snow that left behind an abundance of wildflowers. This spring has been the typical dry you'd expect in a high desert region, but if the snow continues for a few more days perhaps the flowers will have another good year.

Here flowers are beautiful; looking as if they grow out of the rocks, from behind downed logs, and coming up through course pine needles. Flowers surprise us with a palette against all the greens and browns; mingling with lichen.

Elk and deer eat the new green of shrubs and grass but they avoid many of the flowers that protect themselves by tasting bad, and sometimes being poison.

Walking the boys to the bus the Pasqueflower, named for the Paschal season, is the first flower I see. The outside of the plant is covered in long gray hairs that give it an alien quality until it opens each day to reveal a bright white interior and yellow center.


Prairie Bluebells appear next. Less than a foot tall they are delicate and often peeking out of the debris left under the pines by winter. The leaves are light blue/gray and the stems often lean drawing me down to their level for a better view.


This month white flowers with 5 petals and bright yellow centers appeared on small plants dotting our slopes. Bringing my attention to the serrated leaves their identity, Wild Strawberry, was now obvious.


In the shade of trees, Heart-leaf Arrica, a large bright yellow aster spread around and through branches and logs on horizontal rhizomes. Unlike the long slender leaves of many asters this variety have large heart shaped leaves. Indians used the palnt as a love charm and to heal cuts and bruises.

Hopefully the rain will be enough to keep the flowers around longer. And when summer replaces spring a drive to 13,000 feet plus on Mount Evans is in order. There spring flowers can still be in view in July.