Albion Basin-July 2012

I knew I had to get up to Albion Basin (above the Snowbird ski resort) sometime this week.
The forecast calls for over 100 degree heat later this week...and I know that kind of heat can finish off wildflower meadows quickly.
It is just a short 25 minute drive away; I hopped into the car around seven pm and headed up the Little Cottonwood Canyon.

The flowers were not as "epic" as some past years, but I am not complaining.

 

The sun was mostly covered by one huge stubborn dark cloud on the horizon.
The sun won out for a few moments and provided some excellent lighting on the basin's surrounding mountains. 

 

I messed around using my tripod, my telephoto lens and my "nifty 50" lens, the one that doesn't zoom but provides very sharp images.
Zooming is done by moving one's feet to up close or farther away!

This photo blew me away.
Doesn't it look like a painting?

 

 

Each time the sun broke through I raced to position myself behind flowers for a back lit picture.

 

 

The moments of sunlight break through didn't last long; happily there were willing flower subjects all around me so I didn't have to race far to find a good shot.
Love seeing the seeds hidden in the developing pod.
Kind of like a natural fetal ultra sound image! 

Musical notes?
Surely the flowers are singing a song...

This scene looks like it could have been taken in Scotland...or perhaps some European mountain area.

This kind of flower comes in so many colors but each have the electric lime green pointy bits.

 

The tall spike flower looks like...

...this, up close.

Sticky geranium, with insect feeding.

 

 

A cleft in the rock: perfect!

You've heard the expression: a carpet of flowers?
Yes, there are such things in nature.

The electric green pointy things again.

 

 

 

 

 

Electric lime green with a neon orange underside pointy thing!
All the flowers above are the same kind of flower.

 

On the drive home the sun began a dazzling sunset display over the valley floor.

 

 

 

Dragonflies stitched around my head as I enjoyed the constantly changing view.
I was back home just before nine.
Two lovely hours away yet not far from home at all.