Welcome! I am a contemplative thinker and photographer from Colorado. In this blog, you'll discover photographs that I've taken on my hiking and backpacking trips, mostly in the American West. I've paired these with my favorite inspirational and philosophical quotes - literary passages that emphasize the innate spirituality of the natural world. I hope you enjoy them!

If you'd like to purchase photo-quote greeting cards, please go to www.NaturePhoto-QuoteCards.com .


In the Spirit of Wildness,

Stephen Hatch
Fort Collins, Colorado

P.S. There's a label index at the bottom of the blog.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

The delicate-looking Columbine makes its home in extreme alpine environments.


This summer, Colorado Columbines had a late growing season.  In fact, I found the one in the photo above still blooming this past Monday in an alcove next to an alpine cliff.



I'm always amazed that these delicate-looking plants so often thrive best above treeline in areas that are filled with boulders. Pummeled by frequent and intense winds, it seems they actually would have it no other way!


 

When we are buffeted by the winds of life's challenges or feel naked and exposed by our own mistakes, perhaps we can learn a lesson or two from the regal Columbine!





Photos: Columbines: (L) In Rocky Mountain National Park, near Timberline Falls, September 8, 2014; (R Top) also in Rocky Mountain National Park, with Notchtop Mountain in the background, August 16, 2014; (R Middle) in the Snowy Range, WY, July 14, 2014; (R Bottom) next to Snow Lake, with Nokkhu Crags in the background, Never Summer Range, August 6, 2014

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