June 24 - Lamb's Canyon

After work hike up Lamb's Canyon. It's 94 degrees in SLC, a pleasant 78 degrees at the trailhead.

I get there around 3:40pm, there are still sunny spots along the eastern side of the road and there are bflies flying. I pull off a little before the parking area to check out some flowers -- there's buckwheat in bloom and some water puddles.

The usuals N. Cloudywing, Field Crescent, Northern Checkerspot, and Northern Crescents are flying. There's a beautiful Lilac Bordered Copper hanging out

and a Russet's Skipperling fluttering about. It's driving me crazy because its flying low to the ground and just won't land for more than a 1/2 second -- but that was long enough to see the spots on its wings for a good ID.

I head up to the actual parking area and check out the mud puddle there. Lots of Dotted Blues! And the usuals. Lots of Northern Crescents out today - I was hoping one was a Pale Crescent -- but my search continues.

The trail is dappled sunlight at this point. There are some sunny spots and that's where the bflys are. Seeing Parnassians (7 total), Western Tailed Blues and Boisduvals Blue.

Lots of white geraniums now. I see another Lilac Bordered Copper on one of the geraniums.

But pretty much its a straight walk not much stopping.

They are cutting a new trail. I'm not sure why and I'm not too happy about it. They are moving the trail above the creek and making it wider. I'm just afraid that will bring mountain bikers. That's one of the reasons I like this trail: no bikes. I also like walking near the creek -- different flowers grow there because of the moisture (not to mention the butterflies like it) -- I also like walking through vegetation hovering over the trail. If they move it, that's all gone. Hmmm.... I wonder why they're doing this. :(

Towards the top, the Bluebells are in bloom now as are the White Columbine (Colorado Columbine). I see just a couple of red Paintbrush just about to bloom. There are more caterpillars on the Bluebells - I found out that they are Police Car Moth caterpillars -- and I did see alot of those flying last summer.

The view from the top was pretty. I could see a little storm cloud above the city dropping rain -- but the rain's not hitting the ground.

Time to head home.