Fritillaria pudica

They grew under the old Oak tree out by the driveway, the spring brought them back every year, but the summer made them disappear. The Golden Bells of the Sahaptin Land.

Fritillaria pudica The diminutive Yellow Fritillary will always be one of my favorites, back when I was just out of College, I spent a lot of time botanizing through the Gorge and out to the Wallowa Mts. This was always a good early species to run across in those areas. Those were some pretty simple times, when I could throw together some backpacking gear into the Jeep and head out for a weekend in the hills and mountains. Life really was pretty simple back then, before mortgages and retirement accounts, health savings and insurance for everything.  "Hesitation increases in relation to risk in equal proportion to age." Ernest Hemingway It's been a while since I hit the road with some spartan supplies, a tent, a sleeping bag and a well worn copy of the Oregon Atlas and Gazateer.....maybe it's that hesitation that comes with each advancing year. Maybe the trick is to outpace the hesitation, cast of the bowline type of attitude, jump off the cliff and begin the journey. I'm going to try to get out to see the wild things more this year. I miss those simple times, when I could wander but was seldom lost.  Chilly start to the day, rain back in the valley this morning after a mostly dry Sunday.  Cheers, Mark