Fortunately no one was injured in the production of this video. Shot (filmed) last night( July 12th) from just outside Zion National Park in Southern Utah. The seasonal monsoons have finally arrived and can hopefully help the firefighters control the forest fires here and in Arizona and Colorado. Music is In Too Deep by JMJ and Flytronix. Watch in HiDef at Full Screen.
This wildflower is known for its blue color but I like the leaves of the plant. They show an abstract form that changes shape and color throughout the summer. The word lupine means flower as a noun and “like a wolf” as an adjective.
While Utah, Colorado and Arizona are being terrorized with many forest and brush fires this summer, I revisited the remains of the Dragon Bravo Fire at Kaibab National Forest in Arizona. The Aspens were fire damaged but still stood amongst the equally damaged Ponderosa Pines.
The Dragon Bravo fire in 2025 burned pine and aspen trees at Kaibab National Forest, adjacent to Grand Canyon Natoonal Park, Arizona.
Guiding for Zion Jeep Tours where I take people out to some cool places around Zion NP with some awesome views enabled by negotiating some nasty off roads. We also do Stargazing tours!
Near Zion National Park, the Prickly Pear Cactus, Cholla Cactus, Claret Cup and the Cliffrose are among the desert plant species showing off their colors and textures. Ninety degree temperatures in March accelerated the growing and flowering of these desert classics.
A prickly Pear Cactus blooms during Spring near Zion National Park, Utah.
The many spines of a Cholla cactus just before bloom during spring near Zion National Park, Utah. Also referred to as the Teddy Bear Cholla but I learned early on not to hug this well-defensed cactus.
The Claret Cup Cactus AKA as the Hedgehog Cactus.
The Daisy-Like Uinta Groundsel.
A Cliffrose bush in full bloom during spring near Zion National Park, Utah. The fragrance is so sweet, I wish I could provide it in this post but even AI can’t do that.
New pine cones appear during spring on a Pinyon Pine tree near Zion National Park, Utah. The cones will produce a white pine nut and are usually harvested during autumn.