Tulip day

Yes! The tulips at the Denver Botanic Garden are in bloom and, as always, absolutely stunning!

 

Elk Bugling

The first snow falls in Rocky Mountain National Park as early as October. And the elks move down and through the valley, where they still find some grass to eat. The grass is no longer lush and green, but still better than nothing.

 

After the rain

It's been raining in Denver for the past few days. And not only did it rain, but there was also sleet... Actually it was nice to have some moisture, and I have nothing to complain about, it's Spring after all isn't it?

 

Yellow, bright yellow...

What is the most colorful time of the year, I would like to ask... And I think the answers will vary. Some will say that it is spring, when flowers bloom and bring different colors into the world. But some will say that it is fall, when bright hues of yellow and red dominate and overpower all other colors...

 

Bird's Island

Let's go around the lake... And look for birds (and more). We'll start with a hike around Standley Lake, and continue through the City park, and end with a walk around Belmar Lake. Yep, I will mix the pictures together and... the landscapes may be a little different, but the birds in all three places are very similar... so there's no point in separating them ;)

 

Macro beauty or beauty of macro?

Nothing can stop Spring. Not days of cold. Not a strong wind. Not even snow... Nothing...

 

Perfect Sunday in Nederland...

Once upon a time... one Sunday in March we decided to go somewhere... We unfolded the map and  put our finger on it. Oops... we've picked the wrong page and have to head across the ocean to the Nederlands. Too far for a short Sunday trip, huh? But we looked at the right map and figured out that we also have Nederland in Colorado too ;) And it's not very far away... and the road there is just beautiful!

 

One warm day is enough...

What do we all like about Colorado? Changes, I think. Everything is changing rapidly here. The weather is never predictable. And even one warm spring day is enough for all plants to start sprouting leaves, flowers, branches...

 

To rush or not to rush...

Just a week ago everything looked so promising. And some trees responded to the call of spring and started unwhirling the flowers, and it looked amazing. You remember these pictures, don't you? Click here if you want to refresh your memory - Bright and fresh... The next thing, as we all remember, was almost a foot of snow covering the ground and destroying those who were in a hurry to show up... Even though the snow melted quickly, the damage was done... Believe it or not, but this is the same tree on which the bee collected nectar a day before...

 

Bear Creek to Evergreen

It was a nice and hot August day and we were planning to go somewhere. Somewhere close, cool and... with beautiful scenery along the way. Evergreen came to mind, and there is no better road than the windy Bear Creek Road. And we had good company too ;)

 

One character show

Friendly and curious...

 

Fresh and bright ;) part two...

Just a few more pictures of the early spring treasures... Same buds and flowers... or maybe different ones... you tell me ;)

 

Bright and fresh...

Spring is here. The first leaves and flowers... there is a smell of new life around. And it's impossible not to look at all this beauty. So... let's take a really close (I mean it) look at this...

 

Spring Close-ups and reflections

Spring is not the best time for going out with the camera. The colors are faded, the weather is not always friendly, and many subjects are not ready to pose. But... it's a good time for some close-up shots. And if you are after details and patterns, you don't have to go far... just walk around and look. But let's start with something else - what about a hike on Barr Lake? A light hike around the lake is always fun and the weather is mostly nice there (if not too windy :) ). This morning it was nice and quiet but... really cloudy. The sky was unusually gray and blended perfectly with water... And the bare trees created cool silhouettes against this background...

 

One morning in July...

I know everyone expects to find some nice flowers in July and in March no one is looking for them. But... why not? And I totally understand, I will have no luck finding any if I just go outside (and, to be honest, I have no intentions of going because it's freezing cold outside)... but I can still find plenty if I look at the pictures taken in July ;)

 

Christian Dior - accessories (part 6)

Yeah, it was absolutely amazing... All those dresses... all the colors... wow! The latest room and collection was particularly wild and beautiful (click here - Christian Dior - OMG or rampage of fantasy...). But... there was something else in these rooms, somehow even more interesting. All these dresses were something... something that was created once and for someone special to wear. Sure they've expensive... but, probably, not enough to make dressmaking a commercial success. But accessories are a different story. There is something that can be mass produced and sold to everyone...

 

On the road. Between Santa Fe and Taos, NM

We've had so many trips to New Mexico over the years... And no one has been the same ;) So this time we spent a nice and impressive day in Santa Fe, exploring a lesser known part of the town (click here to see what we found! - Santa Fe, Cristo Rey church district). The next day we woke up in our Airbnb to a delicious breakfast burritos served by our host. What a nice way to start the day ;) Anyway, we were soon on our way and headed back home. But... As usual we took the long road instead of the convenient and quick highway ;) This time we took the High Road to the Taos Scenic Byway. This winding road begins in Espanola and passes through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, home to Native Americans and early Spanish settlers.

 

Taos, blue sky and bright sun... what else could you wish?

I always enjoy visiting Taos. It's a nice place to pass by or to spend a weekend. And not that far away - just a few hours from Denver. So... let's do it... let's jump in the car and find ourselves there... less than 300 miles away ;)

 

Castlewood Canyon - textures and shapes...

Castlewood Canyon is one of my favorite places to hike in Colorado. We hiked there in Summer and Spring, and enjoyed the Fall time too. I guess we never tried it in Winter, but... located just outside of the town of Franktown this park is easily accessible and always fun to explore. There are several hikes to choose from and... this place is just perfect! The surroundings look so colorful when the trees are changing colors (click here to check it out - Castlewood Canyon park again, but from another angle) and I believe the Fall time is the best. But Spring also has its own beauty. Even everything looks bare and faded... there is still a lot to see and enjoy (click here to look - Castlewood Canyon park. Still bare and colorless). But last Sunday we didn't really hike (thanks to the strong and gusty wind), but strolled leisurely and... looked around...

 

Christian Dior - OMG or rampage of fantasy... (part 5)

What a show it was... We started by looking at something simple and elegant (both in style and colors) and continued with more elaborate designs... We then walked into a room full of colorful and stunning dresses (click here to see - Christian Dior - a bit more color... and some craziness too :))... But the last room was something. Something that made me dizzy...

 

Purple, white and yellow... oh... prickly too ;)

In the enchanting realm of flowers, every moment is an opportune time to immerse oneself in nature's splendor. However, let's narrow our focus today to the captivating hues of purple, white, and yellow blooms. Adding a touch of complexity, let's look at those adorned with a formidable array of thorns. And believe it or not, here in Colorado, such floral treasures are not rare ;)

 

Breckenridge Budweiser Snow Sculptures Festival 2013 - one of the very best!

Breckenridge Budweiser Snow Sculptures Festival is an absolutely amazing event. No matter how many times we visit it, each time we are amazed by the huge and beautiful sculptures carved from monstrous cubes of snow... But the visit always begins with a walk through the streets and admiring the mountain peaks just above the town...

 

Christian Dior - a bit more color... and some craziness too :) (part 4)

The last time we looked at such a colorful collection (click here to refresh your memory - Christian Dior - between gray and red)... It was actually quite fun to travel from one room to another to see that the dresses there were even crazier and definitely prettier. And more colorful too!

 

Mount Evans hike

On a gorgeous July day, the charm of the mountains beckoned, urging us to go on an adventure. We wanted to hike to the top of Mount Evans. Sure we could have just driven all the way up there, but... we decided to have a more exciting experience.  After parking our car at the Summit Lake lot, we embraced the decision to tread the final leg by foot. Our journey began with a leisurely stroll around the lake, giving us spectacular views of Chicago Lakes below (for a closer look at this hike, click here - Where the hell are you going?).

 

Christian Dior - between gray and red (part 3)

Christian was a genius, there is no doubt about it... His black, white and yellow dresses look amazing (click here - Christian Dior - Black and White or here - Christian Dior - Yellow and Red to find it out)... But what about such a dull and boring color like gray?