This little sparrow was sitting on top of the totally blossomed Canada Thistle when it caught my eye. It would pluck the little bits of cotton seeds from the flower and let it fly in the wind. Phil and I stopped and watched for a while. We wondered what it was doing…maybe eating the seeds from the cotton? It was very content just sitting there taking bit by bit. It would be perfect for a nest but that would be months ago. It was just a fun thing to watch and wonder…
We have tried to make our yard full of native wildflowers and native plants. It’s been fun to pick the seeds and sprinkle them all around. We’ve transplanted some native shrubs and plants from nearby to our yard and even bought a few that are native to this area. We’ve also bought many bags of Rocky Mountain and Colorado Wildflowers and thrown them in the yard. Each year we are treated to a new array of wildflowers…some a repeat of last year and some brand new ones.
This year we have many beautiful Coneflowers growing in our yard. They are really pretty with yellow or deep red petals and long, long dark cylindrical columns. They grow in clumps so there are many right near each other. They love the dry, open sites which is perfect for our yard! We’ve never had them growing here so it’s just fun to see the new bunches growing each day.
When you drive into Estes Park you can’t help but notice the huge rock formations behind the Stanley Hotel that make up Lumpy Ridge in Rocky Mountain National Park. It is a great place to hike or even just take photographs. There are so many balancing rocks and boulders that you can’t even count them.
If you’re a hiker, you can hike to Gem Lake, Balanced Rock, the Black Canyon Trail, out to McGregor Falls or the whole Lumpy Ridge Loop from Gem Lake Trailhead. This loop will take you out out Black Canyon Trail and over the ridge to Cow Creek Trail and then back up to Gem Lake on the other side. If you do that one, start early and bring a lot of snacks…it’s an 11+ mile hike. Each hike is equally beautiful and unique.
If you’re a rock climber, you are in for a big treat! Lumpy Ridge is one of the premier places for rock climbing in this area.
The Twin Owls rock formation is very impressive and looks just like “twin owls” perched way up high on the rocks. I take a picture each time I hike that way!
The trails from Gem Lake Trailhead are free and a beautiful part of Lumpy Ridge and Rocky Mountain National Park! If you haven’t tried them, don’t miss them. They’re a gem!
I came across this little wildflower on the on the side of the trail of Cub Lake Loop in Rocky Mountain National Park the other day. It was so pretty and dainty.
It was tiny, only about 4″ tall and its pretty little pink flowers drooped over as if they were looking at the ground. I had to hold one up to see the underside of it.
What a beautiful little flower! I took a picture because I had never seen one like this before. When I got home I looked in my Plant Book and found that it is called a Pipsissewa! What a name for such a little flower! Well, the name is so unusual, I will never forget it! Pretty, isn’t it?
If you want a nice, easy and very interesting hike in Rocky Mountain National Park, try the hike from Fern Lake Trailhead to The Pool. It’s about 1.7 miles each way but very little elevation gain and just a beautiful hike.
Most of your hike is along The Big Thompson River river where you can see many anglers enjoying the day. The wildflowers this time of year are just gorgeous. There are many spots along the way to explore the riverbanks or to have a picnic. Kids love to climb on the boulders nearby.
About 1.5 miles into the hike, you will come to Arch Rocks where several huge boulders form an arch over the trail. It’s fun to walk under them and the perfect Photo-Op!
In another .2 miles you come to The Pool where you can see The Big Thompson River flow through steep rocks. It’s very pretty here and a great place for a picnic on the rocks.
This is a great hike for families or for people who just want to get out into the mountains and enjoy the day. The scenery is beautiful and walking along the river is just spectacular! Don’t forget to bring a picnic lunch or snack to enjoy on the rocks by The Pool!
