Here are some shots from last fall in the San Juan Mountains of Western Colorado

The view from Molas Pass on US 550 South of Silverton


The San Juan Mountains South for Ridgway Colorado


Yellow Aspens on front of Mt. Sneffles

We did have may apples in Tennessee. I miss the forests of the Smokey Mountains, but Colorado is also certainly a beautiful place.

This is a relatively rare wildflower called a Corydallis. The picture with foliage also has Corn Lilly leaves. The Corydallis leaves are the smaller delicate lacey leaves. The only place I have found this flower is on Ohio Pass near Gunnison Colorado. I do not know if it is found elsewhere.

Corydallis (Pink)


Corydallis

A few more Colorado specimens

Monument Plant or Green Gentian


Elephant Head

I am originally from Tennessee and used to enjoy finding several varieties of Trillium and Jack in the Pulpit in the woods there. We have nothing comparable that I am aware of in Colorado.

Here are some tiny high alpine varieties that I do not think have counterparts in the Midwest and South. They are all three in the Saxifrage family. Excuse the fingers included for size reference.

Alpine Mitrewort


Bishop's Cap


Red Stemmed Saxifrage

Notice that while different, the glacier lilies at 9,000 feet elevation in Colorado are very similar to the trout lilies in Indiana.

Glacier Lilly with brown stamens


Glacier Lilly with yellow stamens

It's funny how similar flowers in another area are just a little different. Here are three flowers from Western Colorado similar to three you posted in Indiana.

Shooting Star (American Cyclamen)


Chiming Blue Bells


Dwarf Larkspur

It is snowing today so I just couldn't abide by the rule that I must wait for the flowers to actually bloom this year. These, however are some of our early spring flowers in Western Colorado.

tiny Mountain Lover


Red Columbine


Gentian with ting white spider

Very nice photos. Our eagles come to visit to clean up after the local cattle give birth. Here's a shot from last February

The good news is that I have had many years of pleasurable riding and I am alive and well after such a serious accident. I still long to ride at times but I don't heal as fast as I used to and consider the risk benefit ratio to have changed.

One I never owned but surely admired (1983)

I could be wrong but I am guessing the Washington shot is the Pacific Ocean not a lake.

Ruby Beach Washington

I had to quit riding when an 84 year old geezer in a Ford F150 hit me and broke both arms and one leg. After a month in the hospital and many months of rehab, I did fully recover but do not want to do it again. Here are a couple of my favorite rides. I can still dream. The 27 year old white 60th anniversary edition BMW R100RT is the one that met the Ford F150. I made a gift to my favorite mechanic of the wrecked bike. He will make it whole again.

Two BMW's at Pikes Peak. (taken in 2010)


Edelweiss Bike Travel K bike at Col de Vars in France (taken in 1984)


1983 Aspencade under New River Bridge WVa (taken 1983)


R100RS (taken in Pulaski TN in 1984)


Ice-cycle. I rode this 1973 R90S for over 100,000 miles (taken circa 1891)