A Hard Country to Love #3
American Prairie Reserve, Montana
2021

This headless bison skeleton made me think of  the keel and ribs of an old shipwreck.

A Hard Country to Love #2
American Prairie Reserve, Montana
2021

Yesterday, when I said all the bison we saw at the American Prairie Reserve seemed to be doing well, I should have said that all the ones we saw up and walking around were doing well. We actually saw several dead bison while out exploring around. Whether they died due to the drought, harsh winter conditions or something else entirely is unknown to me.

A Hard Country to Love
American Prairie Reserve
2021

The part of Montana where the American Prairie Reserve is located has been experiencing exceptional drought conditions this year. (Exceptional drought is the worst of five levels of drought possible.) Still, the bison we saw seemed to be doing fine, at least to our untrained eyes. Perhaps we just can’t see the effects the drought is having on them or maybe their good condition just points to how well suited they are for living in this part of the country.

Views From the Pond #17
Bozeman, Montana
2021

The setting sun peaking through the pond’s aspen trees.

Views From the Pond #16
Bozeman, Montana
2021

Years ago we planted a single aspen tree sapling next to our pond. It has grown to about 25 high over it’s life so far and we now have multiple new aspens that have sprung from its spreading roots. All these aspens came from that same first tree and grow close together in similar soil with similar moisture availability; so why is the the only one that turns red instead of the usual aspen yellow in the fall?

Views From the Pond #15
Bozeman, Montana
2021

Even while the surrounding area was well into the fall color change, there was still green grass and some clover blooming on the edge of the dam.

Views From the Pond #14
Bozeman, Montana
2021

The dam on our little pond is comprised of rather porous soil. As a result, part of the top of the dam has become a soggy walkway blanketed with moss and the occasional water loving mushroom/toadstool.

Views From the Pond #13
Bozeman, Montana
2021

There is a paint store in Bozeman that sells (or used to anyway) special paint mixed to match the colors of nature from the surrounding area. The color mixes where developed by someone with an appreciation for these colors as well as the ability to accurately develop the paint color combinations needed to reproduce them. Looking at colors of the various grasses, sagebrush, red twig dogwood and Siberian pea (caragana) plants in this image, I can’t help but imagine an interior designer decorating a home based solely on this color scheme. I think it might look quite nice and definitely cheerful.

Views From the Pond #12
Bozeman, Montana
2021

It’s kind of neat to see all the colors of fall in one small patch of pasture grass.

Views From the Pond #11
Bozeman, Montana
2021

The last light of the day shining through the brush hanging over the west side of the pond.