Wordless Wednesday - 01/19/11

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!

Warm Wishes for Happy Holidays.....

I wanted to take a moment out of a hectic time of year to wish all my Blogosphere friends Happy Holidays!  Whatever special occasion you may celebrate ('Merry Christmas' in our case), I wish you peace & prosperity!  As avid gardeners - we have the treasure of 'stopping to smell the roses'!  Perhaps I'm biased - but I think it gives us a leg up!!

Here are a few snapshots I took this evening that seemed to echo a moment of serenity!  I hope you enjoy them!

I'll be away from the Blogosphere for a bit.  We are heading out for a "Griswold Family Christmas" out west. 'Budding Photographer' & I will be neck & neck with "dueling cameras", capturing the flora and fauna of the Rocky Mts.  Hopefully there will be LOTS to post upon our return.....

In the meantime, all the best for the Holidays!

"10 Things...." on 10/10/10 (ya, I meant to do that)

The Garden Blogging community is a generous and creative lot!  Garden Blog pal, Kimberly at Garden in Paradise (10 Things) invited me to share "10 Things" I like, on my blog.  Soooooo ... here goes, in no particular order:

Inspired by today's incredible weather, the 1st thing that comes to mind:
1) Morning coffee & a quiet read on a Sunday morning!

2005 - Sunday morning on the deck

Nothing makes me happier then starting my Sunday morning communing with the 'flora and fauna' - whether it was sitting on my deck (in the picture above) or now, in my 3-Season room with all the windows open!  Someday in the future, there will also be a paver patio just outside the door of the 3-Season room - so I have 'choices'!

(Conversely - when the neighbors get the 'power tools', like leaf blowers, out on Sunday morning - I want to say 'Have you ever heard of the "Day of Rest"?' ...and in my mind - I use a lot of colorful explicatives.)

2) Hanging out with my husband and kids - enjoying the young adults the kids have become, and listening to their perspective on things.

Back when they were little...

3)  "Girls' Night Out!" or "Girls' Road Trip"

Night on Beale Street - Memphis, TN

Nothing says "havin' a blast" like getting out for a night or a long weekend with 'The Girls'!  A few years ago, we loaded up the truck and headed down to Memphis, Tennessee - to visit Elvis at Graceland and sing the Memphis "Blues" on Beale Street.

4) Cranking the tunes on my iPod!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjornolsson/2097514869/

I L-O-V-E, love music - and have a quite diverse music library.  Depending on my mood, I listen to anything from classic rock to classic Bach!  But I am especially dangerous when I'm driving!!  I love to crank the tunes when I'm in my truck .... usually some serious rock n roll (Zepplin to POD) !!  I'm also a iPod "playlist" queen (ask my friends) -- I've become the De facto DJ for all social events, and I'm 'ok' with this.

5) Photography!  ... it never gets old...

Indian Rocks Beach, FL  2010 - "In the rain"

It started with a Minolta SLR back in 1982 (yep, that long ago!) and evolved to my current digital Canon Rebel XT (a generous anniversary gift from my hubby in 2006).  Thank goodness for inexpensive electronic file storage, because I run amok when it comes to taking pictures - then sort it out after the fact!

6) Hanging out with my extended family!

We're like 'cats n dogs' getting loud n rowdy!

Whether it's with my brothers and sister, or extended out to our cousins, etc. - we are loud n rowdy!  There is always animated conversation, laughter and an ice cold beer or two....  Sometimes we sound more like 'cats & dogs' wrestling, but it's always lively!

7) Road trip - the "Clark Griswold" drive out to Estes Park, CO

Rocky Mt National Park - Estes Park, CO

If you can't be home for Christmas, then 'Christmas in the Rockies' is an amazing alternative.  On a semi-regular basis, we pilgrimage to Estes Park, CO to meet up with extended family.  It's a driving vacation, so you can decompress from work - and after the 2nd day in the car - be eternally grateful to reach in the mountains!

8)  "Big Boy Toys" ......... 4wd trucks, motor-cycles and high-performance cars

My 1st truck - 4wd Ford Bronco (351 h.o.)

No joke!  I love driving stick-shift ... motor-cycles ... and big ol' trucks.  I have had quite a variety of vehicles in 'my youth' and enjoyed them all.  I'm a little more reserved these days, but I still get whiplash looking at a brand new, tricked out pick-up (like a F-150 SVT Raptor) or a hot bike (like a 2011 Harley Fat Boy LO).

9)  The change of seasons!  (really!!)

Sunburst Locus - on a Sunny Sunday in October 2010

A warm breath of wind & sun in October 2010

Mums & Smoke Bush in the front garden - October 2010

As the leaves on the Sunburst Locus rain down on us right now,  I have to say I just love the change of seasons in Zone 5!  Even the snow in winter is picturesque - though I will be the first to admit the month of February seems about 90 days long (for the shortest month of the year)!

10)  Garden Blogging!  Reading (fellow garden bloggers) and writing....

What a difference a year or two can make....

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the Blogosphere and garden blogging has been very, very good to me!  I have learned more and met some of the most amazing people in the garden blog community than I could have ever imagined.  I am forever amazed, impressed and amused by the talent out in the virtual world!  I hope anyone that stops by my humble little corner of the world enjoys the visit(s) and takes advantage of the garden talent that is linked on my home page.

Now, for the final task of this meme - inviting 10 garden bloggers to participate (in random order).  As my friend Kimberly so eloquently put it - I hope the invitees participate, but I certainly understand if you already have or choose not to.  There are fascinating gardeners out there, and I look forward to what is on their list..... I love that this list is 'global' !!!!

Wall Flower Studio (CAN)
Crystal Coast Gardener  (US - NC)
My Dry Tropics Garden  (AUS)
Gippsland Gardener (AUS)
The Idiot Gardener (UK)
Dung Hoe (US - CO)
Dakota Garden (US - ND)
The Obsessive Neurotic Gardener (US - NJ)
Elephant's Eye (AFR)
This Grandmother's Garden (US - UT)

The 'rules' are very basic:
1) Post the person that invited you
2) List the "10 Things" you like/like to do
3) Invite 10 bloggers to participate