#national geographic

Selasphorus rufus - Rufous Hummingbird [male] 

“A hummingbird’s brilliant throat color is not caused by feather pigmentation, but rather by iridescence in the arrangement of the feathers and the influence of light level, moisture and other factors." More facts here.

Betula pendula - Silver Birch 

Crassulaceae aeonium 

Early spring. Same species in late winter.

Saxifraga cespitosa - Tufted Saxifrage

Big fan of the name. 

Obligatory spring flower drop to follow. 

Sword Fern fiddlehead. 

Unfurling fern fronds. 

Placopsis gelida 

Polystichum munitum - Sword Fern

Hylocomium splendens - Glittering Wood Moss, Stair-Step Moss, Mountain Fern Moss

Cladonia rangiferina - Reindeer Lichen 

Trametes versicolour - Turkey Tail Mushroom [more]

Fomitopsis pinicola - Red-banded Polypore 

Mycena leptochephala - This species often begins pale brown, however it turns pale grey as the fruiting body matures and the pruinose layer is shed [see previous post].  

Mycena leptocephala 

Peltigera polydactyla - May not be a valid taxon. Has been used (species native to india) in indian folk-medicine as a ground paste that was applied to wounds to stop bleeding. It also has antiseptic properties. Species in india contain the compounds tenuionin and dolichorrizin, the chemical properties of which are still largely unknown (Saklani and Upreti 1992). North american species may not contain these ingredients.

ie: Do not try this at home. 

Life hanging by a slender rope, Frank Craighead rappels down the rock face of Mount St. John. Below lie Leigh Lake (foreground) and Jackson Lake. Guided parties of park visitors swarm up the Teton’s major peaks every summer. The Craigheads have scaled them all. 

America’s Wonderlands | National Geographic ©1959

America’s Magnificent Mountains | National Geographic © 1980

America’s Magnificent Mountains | National Geographic © 1980

dolphins and magic.