The Colors of Summer

A large purple Morning Glory turns its face to the sum

A LESSON IN MINITURIZATION

Consider this little hummingbird. It is hatched from an egg no larger than a small pea. Each wing is aproximately 3/4” long, yet the feathers are constructed just like a larger birds. Its feet are about 1/8” wide, yet they have very sharp and well defined claws. Its wings flap 80 times per second in normal flight and up to 200 times per second in a power dive. It can fly 30 miles per hour. It must consume five times its weight in nectar and insects (which it catches inflight) each day. And, yes, its beak opens and, no, it doesn't suck up the nectar through its beak like a straw...it has a long and tiny tongue that laps up the liquid. Many of our plants are pollinated by this little workhorse, and in spite of its diminutive size it lives about five years. It is a living, breathing marvel of miniturization.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 70-300 VR. Shutter priority at 1/1500, ISO 800, full sun manual white balance.

A Little Bit of Everything

A common Corn Flower is quite lovely against a wetland background. I used to view these as just weeds when I was young because they grew wild everywhere.

These plants, "Arrowheads", grow in the late summer in the pools of water found in the Farmington Bay wetlands. 

Mourning doves are edible, and used to be considered game birds (and still are in a few States), but they are so approachable and incautious that  it would seem cruel to kill one. They are a protected specie now in many, if not most, States, and besides, who doesn't find their call such a mournful sound. You've  just got to feel sorry for them!

I took a trip to Grand Junction, Colorado to attend the High School graduation of my grand daughter, Abby Marchant. Her parents, David and Denise Marchant, my daughter Sheryl Cisney, and my son Tony all live there, along with several of my other grand children. Sheryl and my wife and I took a drive up to the Colorado National Monument.  This picture was taken there.

An Exceptionally Spectacular Sunset

The Day's Last Rays

The many fires around the State of Utah are causing a lot of smoke in the air. The air quality is horrid, but the smoke makes for beautiful sunsets.