The Alive State of Utah.

A strange conversation I had during the past summer prompted me to gather up photos of animal and plant life that I have encountered living in Utah.  The conversation went as follows:

Female Visitor: "What are those yellow flowers along Route 491 from Cortez to Monticello?"
Me: "Sunflowers, Yellow Daisy? We have a large variety of plant life around here."
Female Visitor: "No, no, no, I know what those are and the yellow flowers I saw aren't either of them."
Me: "Did you take a photo I could look at?  If I don't know it offhand, I could look in one of the nature books we have for sale."
Female Visitor: "What is the matter with people around here; why are you so ignorant that you don't even know what flowers grow on the roadside???"
Me: "Ummm...what?"

Now I have to tell you that as insulted as I was by what she stated, I still smiled and wished her a good day and a safe journey.  Inside though, I plotted her demise in many ways.  Now I own "National Audubon's Field Guide to the Southwestern States" and "Canyon Country Wildflowers" which are packed with hundreds and hundreds of photos linked to species of flowers, bushes, wildlife, birds, insects, etc.  I have the books to help me out with "what is that....?" questions; common sense, and assuming that anyone knows every item in these books makes one, well, an ass.

So I am going to share with you some photos of many of the creatures and plant life that I have seen; there are so many more I have heard about, or missed photographing as it ran off into the forest or underbrush.  Doesn't mean I won't keep trying to capture their images.

Plant Life

Claret Cup Cactus

Columbine, The State Flower of Colorado

Datura aka Moonflower

Moonflower Canyon is named after the Dakura; this plant is very poisonous and should NOT be ingested.


Desert Globemallow

Desert Paintbrush

Desert Paintbrush is a more compact form of Indian Paintbrush; growing in desert sand, this plant grows in a bush formation with shorter stems.


Indian Paintbrush

Foxtails aka Prince's Plume

Lupine

Prickly Pear Cactus

San Rafael Cactus

The San Rafael Cactus can be found, where else...the San Rafael Swell.


Utah Yellow Daisy

Yucca

The Yucca plant was a very important staple for the Native American; the roots and flowers are edible; the seed pods can be boiled down to make a sweet paste, or hardened into a candy; the fibers from the stems were used to make footwear and rope.











Wildlife, Birds and Insects




Antelope aka Pronghorn Deer

When I first saw Pronghorn Deer, they reminded me very much of photos of African antelope. So far I have seen them in Thompson Springs, on the road going to the Needles and Anticline Overlooks, and the San Rafael Swell.















Mule Deer

Mule Deer are the prominent species of deer in the area; although they reside mostly in the forests of the Abajo and La Sal Mountains, they do not hesitate to come into town looking for food.

Mule Deer

Prairie Dog



Raven in Flight

While Ravens are a dime a dozen in this area, I was lucky to capture a photo of a Wren sitting on a sandstone formation at Arches National Park.




Wren Sunning on the Red Rocks



 

Sphinx Moth

This Sphinx Moth I found sitting on the front steps on a cool morning; after bringing it inside and letting it warm up, it began to move its wings and fly to the nearest houseplant.  I brought it outside, placed it on a plant sitting in the sunlight; eventually it flew away.  I bet it was a little happy camper after being cared about.












Skeletal Remains

Death is a common occurrence out in the wild and the environments in this area should NOT be taken for granted. If you must bring your pets, make sure they are leashed, kept in pet carriers, or housed somewhere that they are well cared for.










Desert Landscapes

 

In essence, when you take a vacation and go someplace you have never been before; please do not assume that any locals you speak with know everything about everything, have gone everywhere, have done everything.  Living out here in the Four Corners area, anyone is lucky to do about 25 percent in a lifetime; yes, there is just that much to see, do and experience!

Mary Cokenour



On the Edge at the Needles Overlook

The entrance to Canyonlands National Park - The Needles District can be accessed via Route 211, off Route 191 in San Juan County.  However, what you might not be able to see at Canyonlands itself without hiking, you might just see more clearly at the Overlook.   The Canyon Rims Recreation Area is the entrance to Needles Overlook aka CR 133(rough paved), Anticline Overlook (graded gravel and dirt) and Looking Glass Road aka CR 131 (dirt).  All three roads can be done in one day, but expect to do a lot of hiking, climbing and driving; it's a given you'll be doing a lot of stopping for photos. At Needles Overlook, there are several picnic tables placed at strategic places to give visitors a spectacular view of the area while munching on a meal.  The Overlook is quiet, so quiet you can hear the air blowing throughout the canyon, sort of like the rushing of water.  There could be the sound of a hawk or golden eagle nesting nearby; we heard one, but did not see it flying about.



Hatch Point and Lockhart Basin
 

Once you park up at the Overlook, you can follow the gravel trails (right to Hatch Point and Lockhart Basin; left to Indian Creek and Needles) to the fencing (be warned, there is walking over rocks also) and see the wonders before you.  The fencing does end at some point, and going beyond it is at your own risk; Roy and I went beyond.   We went right first to Hatch Point and Lockhart Basin; my photos won't be those outstanding photo shopped ones on Google Images, with colors of the rainbow popping throughout.  The outstanding scene before you speaks for itself.



Formations directly across from Hatch Point Lookout



There are times when there are shots I want so badly, I'm willing to crawl out on a ledge, or stand near to an edge to get it.  Am I afraid?  I don't think about it; to think about it makes you doubt yourself and that is when you will stumble, lose your footing or get dizzy.  Be careful moving outward, take the shot, be careful moving backward...simple.  To get the shot of the sandstone tower below the Hatch Point Lookout, I needed to get close to the edge.  My hubby has always been too much in shock to take a photo of me doing this "craziness", but finally he got his shot.  Warning, I'm no fashion model; but I'm a heck of a spit fire.

 

 

 

Indian Creek
 

Making your way towards the other side of Needles Overlook will bring you to Indian Creek and, of course, a view of Needles.  Unfortunately, you're still going to be too far away from the Needles to make them out clearly, and the haze on a sunny day doesn't help any.









Rock and earth are not the only landscaping effected by wind, sun and the weather in general; the plant life can also be shaped.  Take for example this tree which looks like a long limbed female holding a ball (the greenery) above her head; the sensual twist of her body as her slender arms reach upwards.







Now I'm going to let you in on a little secret; there is a place you can go that will give you a slightly better view of Needles than the Overlook itself.  As you are just getting to the Overlook, there will be a dirt road to the left which leads to campgrounds.  As you can see from the photo of one side of it, the "fire places" were built with loving hands.  Please do not tamper with them, nor leave garbage lying around; these camp sites are free, shared with other travelers,  and should be respected.

The Needles
 

Don't forget to enjoy all the scenery as you make your way to Needles Overlook; keep an eye out for Pronghorn Deer (Antelope).  The whole idea of the trip is enjoyment, so relax and put time in the backseat for awhile.

Pronghorn Deer/Antelope
 

Mary Cokenour