MILKWEED AND THE MONARCH Size:40x60 GALLERY WRAP Hallett and Otis Peaks stand

Hallett and Otis Peaks stand high in the morning light from the viewpoints around Bierstadt Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

A gorgeous sunrise starts the day off with the warmth of the sun causing mist to emanate from the surface of Wildflower Lake

I needed to open things up with my camera settings to capture this scene

Paper birch trees

I crossed over the South Fork Kishwaukee River and noticed the sunlight lighting up the clouds and the prairie landscape with a remarkable and beautiful light

MILKWEED AND THE MONARCH Size:40x60 GALLERY WRAP Hallett and Otis Peaks standA monarch butterfly moves atop swamp milkweed flowers using its proboscis to sip nectar from the swamp milkweed florets as the late afternoon sunlight illuminates this prairie scene at Wildflower Park in Northern Illinois. (666 2119)