Al Larson Photography

Here is a photo taken July 20, 2009. This is a Dwarf Monkey Flower (Mimulus nanus). This is the first time that I have seen this species growing  as a rather tall plant. The cluster stands about 5 inches high. Maybe I have misnamed it.

I had seen several beds of this species in various other places earlier this summer but each flourescence was on a single stalk and barely an inch above the ground.  Actually this plant and several others were growing on the same site as the low growing variety that matured and withered several weeks earlier.

I would welcome comments regarding the name of this plant.

On a recent trip to a bluebird trail I encountered this scene. I estimated that there were close to 300 of these beautiful birds. Never have I seen this many Ibis in one flock before. This is located about a mile east of the Idaho-Oregon state line out of Jordan Valley, OR. It appears as though the rancher had recently harvested his hay crop and had turned the irrigation water into the field. This probably brought insects and other delectibles to the surface. It is a mystery to me how this many birds can find this abundance of food so soon after it is presented. Do Ibis normally roam about in such huge flocks?