Why I stay home for vacations.

Ok, SPWD, chuckle, hang on to ya hat cuz I began with 170 shots for ya.. 1DAY westward bound from Bismarck, ND to Butte, Mt (with a few xtra shots)
1) Mn - Land of 10000 Lakes 2) Bismarck, ND waking up to rains- the east half of ND was beginning wheat harvests- dusty and green parches so no keep those pix. 3)ND - where the Time Zone changes from CDT to MDT. 4)Rains in ND, creeks and ditches have layed down grasses and running rainwater. 5) So begins ND The Enchanted Hwy neat the Painted Canyons of western North Dakota

1)2) both more of the Painted Canyon area- how I usually see ppl thru the right windshield. BUGS yes neverending window washing does NO good. So green and then I entered Montana's eastern half of the state. 3)Rosebud Point? A rest area on a bluff over the river where I decided to see what grasses were so crispy. Chuckled at 2 tourists wondered if I were taking a picture of a rattler- didnt bother to tell em Houston has more poisonous snakes than they do and I recognize em all...first the river pix

All of the river around the bluff and on to the ONLY 'bloomin' plants

The last of Rosebud, Mt and on across I 94 I travel. THEN I hear someone expected mountains, so about Billings or after when I proceed onto I 90 westbound, I take a few more of the crispy land as I wait for the Absoraka Ranges to come into view.

This hwy is sooo long. Only the valleys being watered for hay or sheep have green. The hills are parched.

Here are the little hills- the Absoraka-Deerlodge Nat'l Park at the top I stopped and looked around and back... The plant was one I found in Butte, Mt where the day ended

End of a day at Butte- more casinos than restaurants. sheesh. Then the next mornings dust and bugs as I begin to climb past the Ranges that are south of me along the Yellowstone Nat'l Park. This is going to start reminding you of the green patches and mountains more- but it is also tourist havens here...

Next morn, leavin Butte, Mt alternate hills and valleys and ups and downs. It is interesting to me because normally I see it with a foot of snow on the ground and more comin down. Pic 5) I am dropping into Missoula, Mt

They were having a classic car show today in Missoula, but they were safely parked and I wasnt chancin getting caught in THAT crowd! The train blocked my picture of The Grizzlies Stadium, but I got the train station instead. Last pic it was lookin smokey, but I couldnt see from where.

More blue skies and westward bound, There is the River that keeps throwing those hari kari bugs at me! Clarks Fork. Got to see a group of maybe 20+ bright colored rafts afloat at a landing while the tour guide gave instructions, Chuckl, but I was not at a good pullover place...

Upward bound. I realize there are going to be pinetrees in the way.. Love the trains, but they would be competition if they were more dependable at what I do...

Another left handed pic of the pretties on the other side of the road. It has become afternoon and the sun is giving me a sunburn- i forgot my sunscreen this morning. Also I am approaching one of my areas that I both love and hate.

Lookout Pass. The West end of Montana, those signs with those squiggles lie- its much more tricky than that. I stopped to regen the converter and cool the motor and take picttures of this little magical meadow on The Yellowstone Trail before working my way across the few miles of Idaho's Pipestem.

Grasses...I think these are all grasses- that one...

This is harder as I sort the pix out. I dont know the grass names nor many of the flowers other than the yarrows

Abd goldenrod, and

and these two were Determined to be in my pictures, so they showed off for me and played tag around me as I took pictures

Cleanup shots of the meadow,

I REALLY wanted a picture of that tall purple flower, but it wasnt my day. I took one picture across the highway, and left- in lower gears and both hands on the wheel. At the bottom is the little river named Coeur d'Alene River. Such an humble beginning...

My last pictures of Coeur d'Alene - river and huge huge lake.

Such a beautiful place. The city of Spokane has been seen in my rearview mirrors and the sun sets again. All I dream about is getting HOME to my sandbox. May you enjoy - as I- the greenery.

Thanks so much for that tour, I`ve never been that far north ! One of my favorites in the Rockies and west is the Artemisia.

Up here I simply inhale- agastaches, artemesias, wild mints...my traveling battered basil sprigs are rooting and I love having them. Its amazing how many things I see from south Tx to the granite rocks of the Divide- such as verbascum thapsis, thistle, sweet clovers... You are welcome

Wowzers!!! 😱 Like I said before, I had no idea the northern states could look that way. Especially the painted canyon in ND! It looks like Texas to me, or at least one of the "western" states.

That snake comment made me laugh! I've been pulled over on road shoulders before, taking pics of wild plants and people always pulling over to see if I need "help". LOL I just tell them I'm taking pictures of a plant.. most people look at me like I'm nuts, but I've had people say they know someone who does the same thing. One guy even said his wife does the same thing and he was relieved to know she's not the only one who does stuff like that!

Dang it does look crispy in some places, I thought it was just us here in no mans land ;) I forget how big this country is and how many diff climates.. Those mountains, buttes are amazing! Wonder what kind of plant that is/was you found there? Looks cool..

Lookout pass is more what I would expect from Montana.. The ferns and yarrow and lush greenery dreams are made of lol! Some of those grasses are gorgeous.. of course I wouldn't know the names either, but that airy looking plumed one is pretty! I think the yellow button shaped flowers among the goldenrod may be tansy? Not sure but it does look similar..

I wish you could have gotten a pic of the purple flower too! Lol glad you didn't risk your neck though! Could it be ironweed? Just can't make it out.. That purple is striking though!

What great pics Kitt! Thanks again for keeping me in mind!!

Not an ironweed. Above the blooms are more growth- if I see more I CAN reach, I will. The west is much harder hit by drought than eastern Tx, It really is sad.