The season of bears and flowers ~

Wandering the woods, breathing with trees, photographing spring treasures, I heard a unique scrambling sound. 

One is wise to take note of sounds while in the wilds of this NW corner of Montana. 

For we live with the critters of fairy tales. 

Looking in the direction of the sound I saw a black bear scurrying up a tall conifer tree, bark flying as she did. 

Oh! 

Since she was kind of far and up a tree I snapped a few photos. 

But really, she got up that tree so fast, she could have gotten to me before I knew what was happening. 

Later I learned that my camera captured her two little cubs! She had sent her cubs to safety and followed after them. 

A good bear encounter!

Each May, when wandering the woods, my eyes scan the forest floor for fairy slippers, the calypso orchid. 

 Absolutely thrilling! 

and

shooting stars

a little past its prime

yet still a thrill to find

the highly sought after morel mushroom

moss is growing

and so beautiful up close!

~

*

 

Sunbathers ~

I rarely find white shooting stars

seeing them is like finding this treasure

I think the above photo shows so well 

their name

Stars flying in different directions

even from behind they look like a celebration of life

truly petite little beings

when the sun comes out

sunbathers rise from the water 

to soak up warmth

the little fairyslipper from my last post

has opened all the way

I visit it once in a while

(with bear spray on my belt, as we have evidence of a grizzly)

this lovely winged creature

landed on my finger 3 times

I felt honored

~

Spring is picking up momentum!

~

*

Buck in Velvet

he rose 

to leap over bushes

prancing 

leaving his scent 

looking in all directions

wearing his antlers of
velvet

and 

shooting stars:

~
joining: Saturday's Critters
click to see others critters

~

*

White Shooting Stars

a forest walk reveals
spring flowers scattering the earth
for my first time i did find
shooting stars cloaked in mostly white

treasures

~

some a lovely mix of cream and violet

more commonly they are a vibrant violet pink  

~

*

Spring Snow and First Flowers

one day this week
winter appeared to
revisit
three inches of snow fell from the sky
snow is merely
one of the masks Spring likes to wear
today she wears sunshine
a warm breeze
song of birds
moist stillness

~

Yesterday I made my annual drive south

seeking my first wildflower this year.

Not only did I find the lovely Yellow Bells,

but to my surprise

also merry Shooting Stars:

 ~

Visit OSI for poetry with the prompt: mask

To visit flower images around the world, visit: Today's Flowers