A 'Plug' for Colorado (like it needs one?!)

Happy 2011.... Hard to believe it's here already?

While it's still early in the year and my gardening mojo currently lies dormant - I wanted to say 'Thanks' to the state of Colorado!  Also 'honorable mentions' to Iowa and Nebraska - for keeping treacherous weather to a minimum.  The town of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) really rolled out the red carpet (or "green", as it may be).  As I mentioned in an earlier post - we spent a 'Griswold' family Christmas up in RMNP.  It - was - stellar!

View from the front porch!

I'm not going to go into infinitesimal detail, but will let the photos take you there.  There are many opportunities to stay in cabins or vacation homes throughout Colorado (as I'm sure there are everywhere), but Rocky Mountain National Park has some of the best 'uneffected' views in the state.  Estes Park sits in a basin, with RMNP as it's back-drop ... just a little Divine design!

RMNP - viewed from Estes Park, CO

Downtown Estes Park reminds me of the 'gingerbread' look of an Alpine village.  Lots of quaint shops and restaurants (Ed's Cantina serves a wicked margarita - which is notable, among others!) line the main drag, "Elkhorn Avenue".  Hugging the town is the Big Thompson river... it's river walk enhances the ambiance of a mountain town.

Big Thompson river - winding it's way through downtown Estes Park

Rocky Mountain National Park is most popular in the warm-weather months, but I am partial to visiting in the winter.  The park is over 265,000 acres (+1,000 km2), with Long's Peak being the 'big daddy' of the mountains - and recognizable by a notch on the south edge (looks like a short 'opposable thumb' on a mitten to me?!!).

Long's Peak (+14,000 ft) - the "Big Daddy" up in RMNP

RMNP also gives you a glimpse at the force of nature and it's impact.  There is an alluvial fan that carved itself out of a ravine in Horseshoe Park, when a man-made dam further up the mountain crumbled in the summer of 1982.  Almost 30 years later - the impact can still be seen:

Double-click on the photo to see the details -
boulders and grown trees are strewn like Lincoln Logs

And yet, in spite of ourselves - nature renews itself....

Spruce sapling - nestled in the shadow of the Horseshoe Park Alluvial Fan

As you can imagine, when you have that many acres of sanctuary - it is filled with wildlife that wanders around at will.  (Another reason I like winter in the park --- bears hibernate!)  There is the "George Clooney" of RMNP -- the Elk.  Herds wander in the park and even into downtown Estes.  One time I had a very "Northern Exposure" moment, when we saw an elk walking right down the sidewalk!  (...and I swear, I had had only one margarita ... pinky swear!)

It paints an image, doesn't it?!!

The elk literally stop traffic when they wander.... like these two "dudes" herding about 100 elk "babes" when we drove through (some guys get all the girls).  Unlike a bunch of 'amature' rubber-neckers - that try to walk up close to the wildlife - I took full advantage of the 300mm zoom lens on my camera.  (Just taking my 'stalkerazzi' photos!!)

The "Brad Pitt" and "George Clooney" of RMNP

We took the scenic drive through RMNP on a number of days, and as I forewarned - I went camera happy with my new 4GB memory card!  I won't post all 498 photos - I promise.  (I may periodically post a few - during the dormant months of January and February... my head won't quite be in 'garden mode' yet.)  But here are just a couple of additional shots that captured the 'sights'.

An Aspen grove - leaving the Horseshoe Park Alluvial Fan in RMNP

To close, a shot... at the end of the day, up on Trail Ridge Road (at least the part of the trail open during the winter months):

Sunset.....

 Happy Gardening... or at least Happy Garden planning!