American Holiday 2007

[Carlo]

But we have two bluebirds Mark. The bird in the photo is the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis). The other species possible in the west would be the Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides.

Isn't it interesting how we, serious gardeners who use scientific names for our plants, seem to default to common names for birds and animals?

Carlo

[Armin]

Cliff,
enjoyed the great pics from your US trip.
Zion National Park is fantastic.

[mark smyth]

I was going to say western Bluebird assuming he say it out west somewhere. It crossed my mind recently too about not using bird names that should be as easy to use as a plant name

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great show Cliff !  This brings back happy memories of some ten years ago when I visited the area a couple of times and was just as amazed as you are at the enormous beauty of nature in that part of the world. 

I wouldn't mind going back, but will settle for some more of your great pix at the moment. 

Thanks a lot

[ranunculus]

Thanks Luc et al,
Just a few more images this evening, at least it gets me away from those damn tennis covers going back and forth across the courts....strains the neck watching them.
Where to this evening, it won't matter really as I'm sure we will revisit most of the areas in future postings (I can hear the groans from here)!
Shall we start at Mono Lake, do the June Lakes loop and then head over Tioga Pass into Yosemite....have we got time before the news?

[ranunculus]

...And there's more....

[Maggi Young]

Fab, Cliff, but there is a "Taggart" just starting on telly and I'm addicted... will come back later!!

[ranunculus]

By gum Maggi...thanks for reminding me...I'll go and clean out the attic.....ANYTHING BUT TAGGART!!!!!

       

[annew]

Did you run out of 'Wow!'s, Cliff?

[Anthony Darby]

Superb series of pics, but shouldn't it be in a folder on its own and not in "Wildlife 2007"?

[ranunculus]

Thanks Anthony, you're probably right as many of the images do not fit the title 'Wildlife 2007'. Would it be a major task to move the whole shebang?

[Lesley Cox]

Only in a separate folder of its own because it's so distinctive and because it will be easier to find in the future for travellers to the area or just for the pleasure of a revisit. As a record of a holiday, these pics are outstanding.

If there are two USA bluebirds, this one must be the Bluebird of Happiness - Oh God Lesley, that's disgusting

[ranunculus]

On the basis that it may be as easy to move the entire subject to a new folder as it might be to move each of it's parts (?), I will continue posting until requested not to or until I am clipped around the ear with a chair leg.....
Today sees us enter the unbelievably beautiful Bryce Canyon (we had no idea of just how dramatic and unworldly this unique place was), of which much more later.... and I have shoved in another shot from Zion NP just because it was on the same little memory card.....


 

[t00lie]

Wonderful shots Cliff.

Your earlier comments on Ranunculus andersonii reminded me of an article i read a few years ago in an old bulletin ,(can't remember whether it was NARGS-- SRGC --AGS ,and my thoughts are a bit cloudy because of the passing of time).

However from what i recall it was mentioned how a couple of folks were searching for the plant on the slopes of a mountain range in Utah which abruptly arose from the edge of a salt lake.Having examined and exhausted all the 'likely places' it was only by luck when one ventured around the 'back' of the mountain that many many singular well spaced plants were found of a pale pink colour.

Shame you were not able to locate it in flower.I would have enjoyed seeing your shots,espec the close ups and comments on it's beauty/habitat etc --all with a thought in mind .....just in case i ever come across seed.Smile.

Cheers Dave.
 

[Maggi Young]

Okey dokey, here is a new thread for Cliff and Sue's fab holiday fotos. The pair of them maut be made of strong stuff to manage such a busy trip.... can only be grateful for them sharing it with us here, I must say. I know how long it takes to fix all these shots for the forum and I am truly delighted that you are taking the trouble for us, Cliff. What a sweet little buttercup you are!

Just fascinated by the rock cliffs in Bryce Canyon.... who knew you could make such landscape with crushed cornflakes?