I'd read that the Dugout Trail in the NW corner of the Black Hills was a botanically-rich trail that many labeled a must-see...honestly, it might have been many moons ago, but it was a rather neglected trail from my perspective...still, there is nothing that can compare to being out in nature, and not running into another humanoid form. The old jeep trail (now gated) gave at least a semblance of a path through the tall growth all around...
It was pretty obvious out of the gate that this was not to be a trail of vistas and scenic shots...but one of moving in closer and magnifying your observations and experiences...
One of the Bee-balms in it's lavender glory, a variety of which is called Oswego Tea back East...
...and watching a beautiful winged one find tasty tidbits on the ground...
Wild raspberries might not be your thing, but they were ripening nicely, soon to be eaten by one denizen or another...
...and plenty of berries best not touched or eaten! They made for a pretty picture, since the overcast conditions added to the color saturation levels.
Speaking of color saturation, the Common Sunflower which grows profusely in the Black Hills is a joy to behold at all times...
A Grandaddy Longlegs was navigating this flower stem with ease...
...while the myriad 'eyes' of this butterfly were trying to figure out what beast was bending ever closer with this silver object that periodically barked like an electronic dog whenever the giant behind it pressed a button...
If you've ever wondered how dragonflies get ready for mating, here's a shot of part of their courtship ritual (well, these are actually damselflies...their wings go back, while dragonfly wings stay out to the side)...
Something about fences intrigues me...this was a newer fence, delineating someone's property lines, no doubt...
Slurp, slurp, slurp...
What looked like (and was) a forgotten and overgrown trail was chock full of Life. While this bench appears to be rather forlorn in the grown weeds...sitting but for a moment you would see it all become alive...true for any place you may find yourself...
Seek and ye shall find.
It was pretty obvious out of the gate that this was not to be a trail of vistas and scenic shots...but one of moving in closer and magnifying your observations and experiences...
One of the Bee-balms in it's lavender glory, a variety of which is called Oswego Tea back East...
...and watching a beautiful winged one find tasty tidbits on the ground...
Wild raspberries might not be your thing, but they were ripening nicely, soon to be eaten by one denizen or another...
...and plenty of berries best not touched or eaten! They made for a pretty picture, since the overcast conditions added to the color saturation levels.
Speaking of color saturation, the Common Sunflower which grows profusely in the Black Hills is a joy to behold at all times...
A Grandaddy Longlegs was navigating this flower stem with ease...
...while the myriad 'eyes' of this butterfly were trying to figure out what beast was bending ever closer with this silver object that periodically barked like an electronic dog whenever the giant behind it pressed a button...
If you've ever wondered how dragonflies get ready for mating, here's a shot of part of their courtship ritual (well, these are actually damselflies...their wings go back, while dragonfly wings stay out to the side)...
Something about fences intrigues me...this was a newer fence, delineating someone's property lines, no doubt...
Slurp, slurp, slurp...
What looked like (and was) a forgotten and overgrown trail was chock full of Life. While this bench appears to be rather forlorn in the grown weeds...sitting but for a moment you would see it all become alive...true for any place you may find yourself... Seek and ye shall find.
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