Denver Botanic Gardens Chihuly Exhibit

A spur of the moment decision yesterday afternoon took me to the Denver Botanic Gardens. A typical visit might focus on the flowers such as the ones below: 

 

However, the Denver Botanic Gardens is currently featuring a special exhibition by the renowned glass artist, Dale Chihuly. The Blue Icicle Towers (below) is the first glass sculpture to greet the visitor

 Further on, the Monet Pool Fiori weaves artistry among the water lilies:

 Chihuly has installed a Blue and Purple Boat and Walla Wallas in the Japanese garden.

I loved the perennial gardens with their fantastical shapes and colors:

 There are plenty of whimsical exhibits

And darkness lends mystery to the collection

 

The exhibition is bewitching. Try to see it different lighting conditions.

Cache la Poudre

Sunday's drive took me west of the town of Fort Collins where I attended college. I followed the Cache la Poudre river which was named by French trappers in the 1820s when they were caught by a snowstorm and were forced to bury part of their gunpowder along its banks.

The narrow canyon walls create stunning views

and some great white water rafting.

 The water is very cold and no one finishes the trip without getting wet!

Mount Evans

I'm back in Colorado enjoying the sunny skies and mountains of my home state. I took a drive this week to the summit of Mount Evans west of Denver.

Looking down through the clouds below the summit

I didn't see any of the mountain goats or bighorn sheep that frequent the mountain, but there were plenty of marmots out sunning themselves.

I always enjoy the twisted shapes of the bristle cone pines near treeline

Exposed roots of fallen bristle cone pine

and melting snow at the summit.

70th Anniversary of D-Day

Today I'm remembering a trip that we took in March to the beaches of Normandy.
Omaha beach looks very different today,

but you can still sense the horror of all those who fought and lost their lives here.

The French are still grateful to the Allies as liberators.

Over 9,000 Americans are buried nearby.

Mt. Hood

This was the view from my window seat on the flight from Portland to Denver yesterday.
I'll be staying in Colorado until the end of August.

Mt. Hood