Celebrating Wild Lands & Wildflowers

Two recent events have made me appreciate again the importance of experiencing and celebrating nature. First, the floods in and near Yellowstone have, for all practical purposes, put the part of the park we love dearly out of our reach for hiking. This inconvenience doesn’t compare to the losses of some Gardiner residents and the struggles of many Gardiner businesses. But the inability to bushwhack in the wide open and wildlife-filled Northern Range has made me realize again how important being in nature is.

Second, I have recently begun treatment for prostate cancer. Thankfully the cancer has not spread elsewhere in my body and my odds for recovery are good. But struggling to face cancer has made me realize how important every day is, wherever I spend it.

Mary and I are partners on this trek into the wilds of cancer. All the efforts we put into this scary journey require the time and energy of a full time job, not to mention the emotional energy required to ride this roller coaster. This means that I will be writing less for publication. Editions of Love the Wild will land in your inbox less frequently. I don’t love the wild any less, I just have less time and energy to share that love. I look forward to getting through this journey and back to writing and photography full time.

While I struggle with these changes, I make sure to keep hiking with friends in the still-accessible National Forest. Especially during the wildflower time of year. I took all the photos in this slideshow between mid-July and late August, mostly at elevations above 7,000 feet where the wildflower show continues even as blossoms disappear at lower elevations.

I hope you enjoy this celebration of wild lands and wildflowers.

Thanks for joining me in this Love the Wild.

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You’ll receive Love the Wild in your inbox. In addition to slideshows such as this one, you’ll enjoy a variety of stories, podcasts, photo essays, commentaries, excerpts from my books and more. With each, I hope to warm your heart and excite your mind as we share moments with wildlife and in wild lands.

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I write and photograph to protect wildlife and preserve wild lands.

My bestselling In the Temple of Wolves; its sequel, Deep into Yellowstone; and its prequel, The Wilds of Aging are available signed. My books are also available on Amazon unsigned or as eBook or audiobook.

Image Credits: Photos by Rick Lamplugh