the earth ink

Sometimes, it is the little, seemingly unnoticeable things that catch the camera's eye. At dusk, on a short hike in Colorado, this little dandelion struggled to keep all of its fluffy seeds intact before they fluttered away in the wind - or on a hiker's legs as they brushed by on the trail. The shadowed sunset threw a purple hue on everything in the evening and the temperatures cooled off enough to enjoy a slow hike that finished off the day.

Upon first glance, you would never guess where this image was taken. The low lying vegetation indicates it might be a higher elevation and a temperate climate zone. The clouds create a feeling of cool temperatures. These pink knotweed plants were spotted on the Saddle Road on the Big Island of Hawaii . The Saddle Road cuts across the Island and connects the Kona side (leeward) with the town of Hilo (windward). The road is flanked by the two tallest Hawaiian volcanos, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. In fact, Mauna Kea is the tallest volcano in the world from base (in the depths of the Pacific Ocean) to top. The Island of Hawaii boasts 11 of the 13 climate zones in the world and such fantastic and diverse landscapes that no one can grow tired of driving around the Island to explore them all!  It is possible to spend the morning snorkeling and enjoying a beach, the afternoon zip lining through a rain forest, dinnertime with a picnic dinner overlooking a volcano, and the night stargazing ...