AUTUMN BEAUTY ALONG THE SOUTH FORK KISHWAUKEE RIVER DAME'S ROCKET FLOWERS (HESPERIS MATRONALIS) with the shadows of box

with the shadows of box elder trees lining its banks on this cold winter morning at Wildflower Park

The early morning sunlight shines bright on this common milkweed flower in Northern Illinois

I was fascinated watching a few common loons swim and then dive to try and catch fish to reenergize throughout the morning

This was the first sighting of a common goldeneye duck for me

Longs Peak is viewed at Bear Lake and is a very popular easy 1 mile hike around the lake with great views of Longs Peak and Hallett Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park

AUTUMN BEAUTY ALONG THE SOUTH FORK KISHWAUKEE RIVER DAME'S ROCKET FLOWERS (HESPERIS MATRONALIS) with the shadows of boxThe evening sunlight illuminates this scene along the South Fork Kishwaukee River in Northern Illinois. (610 03)