Tree & Sky

Skywatch Friday

Sunburst

Skywatch Friday

Peak View

For Skywatch Friday, a shot from a few months ago in Garden of the Gods which I haven't yet posted.

Snowy Garden

I stopped by a city park on the way to work this morning to take some photos.

After a fresh snowfall I can't think of anywhere more beautiful I've ever seen, with its incredible rock formations and surrealistic colors.

This next formation is called Kissing Camels, and from the right angle that's exactly what it looks like.

Pikes Peak stands out.

Rocks, snow, and winter vegetation make for a real winter wonderland.

It may look like something from a fairy tale but it's real!

Orange Friday

Skywatch Friday

Merry Christmas

I wish all my readers who celebrate it a Merry Christmas. I don't have a Christmas post, but here's a local snow-covered mountain for those stuck in the warm weather covering so much of the country.

Skywatch Friday

Great Garden

We had visitors in town this weekend so we took them to Garden of the Gods, and caught the last remaining autumn color.

Pikes Peak had its first real snowfall on Thursday, so it stood out.

One of the best views in the park is through the Siamese Twins rock formation; this requires a short hike so many tourists miss it.

But anywhere you look it was beautiful.

We couldn't drive to the top of the Peak because of the snow but Garden of the Gods kept our visitors happy. I love having scenery like this right in my own city!

Blue Monday

Our World Tuesday

Garden Path

Here are the last of the winter photos from Garden of the Gods - it's part of the path with a cold winter sunrise. It was below 0° F (-18° C) on this morning, but that's why we have good winter coats and gloves in this part of the world.

And turning around, this is what you see.

Orange Friday

Skywatch Friday

More Garden Shots

Continuing with photos from winter, here are more from that frigid walk in Garden of the Gods.

Blue Monday

Our World Tuesday

Looking Back at Winter

Since it's the middle of summer where I live, with hot weather, it's time to look back to some photos taken in the middle of winter. This is one of my favorite local city parks, Garden of the Gods, on a very cold morning after a little snow. Doesn't it look like a fairytale in the early morning light?

Orange Friday

Scenic Weekends

Shadow Shot Sunday

Morning Garden

Occasionally on the way to work I stop by Garden of the Gods to catch the early morning light.

It's worth the short detour.

Orange Friday

More Snowy Gardens

Here's another shot from a snowy Garden of the Gods. This is one of my favorite places in the world and it's a nearby city park!

Skywatch Friday

Happy New Year!

Here's wishing all my readers a happy 2015. It's been cold and snowy at my house the last few days (it was -13 °F or -25 °C last night), so here's an appropriate photo of Garden of the Gods from earlier this year.

Skywatch Friday

So Many Roads

So many roads to ease my soul...

All I want is one to take me home...

Photos from Garden of the Gods on Tuesday morning. Lyrics from So Many Roads by the Grateful Dead, my favorite band. Post for Blue Monday and Our World Tuesday.

Warm & Cold

Saturday's hike in Red Rock Canyon, 56° F (13.3° C).

Tuesday morning after a little snowstorm, on the way to work, stopping by Garden of the Gods, -2° F (-18.9° C).

That's Colorado! More photos from both days to come. In the meantime, visit Skywatch Friday.

Pretty Views

For Scenic Weekends and Orange Friday, here are a couple more photos from Garden of the Gods, this time focusing on wider views.

The next one has Pikes Peak in the background - the mountain looks much larger but the photo was taken with a wide-angle lens.

It's hard to believe this is a city park. I need to get some photos here next time it snows.

Socks in the Garden

Socks comes with me whenever I hike - here he is sitting on a rock in Garden of the Gods, admiring the scenery.

And here he's fearlessly leading the way.

Camera Critters

Orange Friday

Pets Forever

Sleeping Giant

This Garden of the Gods rock formation is called Sleeping Giant. Can you see him? His head is on the right, facing up towards the blue sky.

Here's another view from a different angle, with Pikes Peak in the background.

Orange Friday

Scenic Weekends

Kindergarten Rock

Going back to one of my favorite places, this week's Skywatch Friday post focuses on one specific rock in the Garden of the Gods.

It's called Kindergarten Rock.

Some of the rocks resemble their names, but I have no idea how this one got its name.

I hope you like seeing photos of this city park as much as I enjoy taking them, because as long as I live here I'll keep visiting it.

Garden of the Gods Reflections

The very heavy September rains created a once-in-a-generation pond in Garden of the Gods. I got some sunrise photos before work one day, and here they are. The water is all gone now and isn't likely to be back for years, possibly decades.

Weekend Reflections

Scenic Weekends

Inquisitive Deer

She's probably thinking - what are you doing in my garden?

Taken in Garden of the Gods, and linked to Camera Critters.

We are not directly impacted by the terrible floods here in Colorado, thanks for all the concern. Unfortunately, many have lost their houses and businesses in what may be the worst flooding in the state's history. In just a couple of days, there was a foot of rain north of us and a foot of rain south of use (that's 30 cm for the metric world), and this is a very dry area that isn't used to heavy rain. We were were in the middle and didn't have nearly that much. Between the wildfires within a few streets of our house, and the deluge that just missed us, we consider ourselves very lucky this summer.