If you want to find out what this winter is going to be like or how deep the snow will be in Montana, what would you do?
For the answer, would you consult your weatherman, Poor Richard's Almanac, or check out the local fireweed?
The first time we saw fireweed and learned about it was when we traveled to Alaska. Since then, we’ve seen it through out Canada and many of our northern states. This was near Homer, AK
It is usually the first vegetation to appear after wildfires. It has tall spikes of pink flowers and has the ability to quickly colonize in and restore damaged soil.
The tall pink flowers fade and fall off to expose the seed pods.
The seed pods start to form and become brilliant
The seed pods break open displaying a puff of white that resembles a cotton ball. The “cotton” breaks apart and floats through the air. Reproduction is in progress.
MONTANA MOMENTS
Glacier National Park, Montana
wild hollyhocks along the roadside
We spotted a bald eagle in the tree and pull over on the side of the road to watch it.
While watching the eagle, it flew out of the tree, picked up a dead squirrel on the road just as a truck went past.
The eagle then flew off across the lake with its score. It landed on the ground on the shoreline across the lake.
We spotted this black bear shortly after seeing the eagle.
Later, we came upon a bear jam and saw the first of our grizzly sightings of the day.
Wildflowers of Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes national park, alberta
More sights going to the Park
More sights going to the Park
The best place in the park to see the night sky. Haze and/or smoke from distant fires prohibited any stargazing.
We never figured out how to pronounce it.
One of the 3 Waterton Lakes.
One of the 3 Waterton Lakes.
One of the 3 Waterton Lakes.
Jasper & Kootenay National Parks
Who's got the key?
Kootenay River
Jasper National Park in 4 Days
Bighorn Sheep creating a Ram Jam
Elk "posing for tourist is hard work"
"Smile"
Explore Jasper: 4 Days of Adventure
Temporary housing still completely occupied
The sign didn't lie!
Bighorn Sheep creating a Ram Jam
Elk "posing for tourist is hard work"
Jasper National Park
"Smile"
Line at the women's restroom
"THIS IS MAY CAMP SITE!"
Red Chairs at Maligne Lake
ATHABASCA FALLS
ATHABASCA FALLS
Lake Louise in Banff National Park
Lake Louise at 10AM on a partly cloudy day.
At Lake Louise with hundreds of newest friends........
Banff National Park
The town of Banff from Norquay Road.
Yoho National Park, British Columbia
Ski runs at Lake Louise Ski Resort
Yoho River white with rock flour from glacier melt
Smelling the flowers?
Takakkaw Falls
Banff NP& Icefield Parkway
Wildlife crossings over the Trans Canada Hwy in Banff Nat. Park
Lake Louise at 6:30 AM and rain starting
The crowd at Athabasca Glacier stop on the Icefield Parkway
YOHO NATIONAL PARK
Memorial at the site of the last spike in the Trans Canada Railroad in 1885
Mount Revelstoke National Park
Vancouver
A Yellow bellied marmot
