Tent Moths Caterpillars in Their Home

When I first started discovering macro photography, I had no idea what an unfamiliar and deeply hidden world it would lead me into. 

So, last Saturday I accidentally stumbled upon Eastern tent caterpillars and their home. They will soon develop into Eastern tent moths. 

 

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Eastern tent caterpillars are social insects. They build their silky "tents" in the forks of trees. This tent serves as their communal home.

The tent provides caterpillars with shelter from birds and wasps and from rain or strong sun. 

It acts like a miniature greenhouse, helping them regulate their body temperature. They can move within the layers of the tent to find warmer or cooler spots as needed.

Generally, life is good.

Golden Stars of Snowbasin

 

Arrowleaf balsamroot.

These flowers grow in abundance in Snowbasin and illuminate the Wasatch mountains with a soft golden light.

Generally, life is good.

Orb-weaver at Work

 

Orb-weaver.  

I spent almost half an hour observing this spider, and during that time, I witnessed for the first time how it drags prey into its web. 

The spider was very active, often darting along the web, forcing me to move around quite often too.

Orb-weavers are accustomed to string dead prey and debris into the center of their webs to camouflage themselves.

What surprised me was that the Orb-weaver spider had a such fascinating camouflage strategy called "eye and face imitation".  

But was it more aimed at  creating a visual distraction or blending into debris? It's hard to say.

Orb-weavers primarily feed on flying insects such as flies, bees, and wasps that get caught in their webs.

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I photographed this Orb-weaver in Snowbasin, Wasatch Mountains.

Generally, life is good.

Snowbasin's Treasures

 

Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius).

Found this lovely flower in full bloom while hiking in the Wasatch Mountains, Snowbasin.

Generally, life is good.

In the Wasatch Mountains. Miniature Yellow Lanterns

Fritillaria pudica, also known as Yellow Bell. 

SnowBasin surprised me this morning with small delicate yellow bells. They were  just a few inches tall, miniature yellow lanterns illuminating the forest.

The way the flowers slightly bowed, gave them a charming modesty, as if they are shyly were offering their beauty to those who took the time to notice them.

Generally, life is good.

In the Wasatch Mountains

 

It is still winter there...

Generally, life is good.

In the Wasatch Mountains

 

What a strange, unpredictable winter this year in northern Utah. There is still snow in the mountains, but in the lowlands it feels like early spring.

Generally, life is good.

Aspens and Spruce

 

Sometimes trees each with their own kind of soul or rhythm end up in the company of other trees that might seem very different, yet coexist in the same space. Probably, it's nature’s way of balancing things out. 

Generally, life is good.

In the Wasatch Mountains. Hiding Among Aspens

Generally, life is good,

In the Wasatch Mountains. Green Pond

 

Every time I am in SnowBasin, I take a hike to the Green Pond, which is always different and always generously gives solitude and inspiration.

Generally, life is good.

In the Wasatch Mountains. Aspen Trees

 

Mountains aspen trees are called the Crowned Jewel. These trees grow in colonies. There is one colony of aspens in Utah that is believed to be more than 80,000 years old.  

Aspens are my favorite trees, they are tall, slender and elegant.

Generally, life is good.

Breath of Autumn

 

The trees in the Wasatch mountains are beautiful in their pristine state. Tall and not so tall, slender and curved, they are beautiful in their timelessness and grandeur. 

Generally, life is good.

December Sketches -V. Aspens

  

Two weeks ago I came across the tall slender aspens in Snowbasin.  It was snowing.  Snow was falling soundlessly and touching aspens gently.  Everything was so silent, not a single rustle. It seemed that everything was plunged into a winter sleep.

Life goes on.

December Sketches - IV. Silence

Tall slender aspens.  Falling snow. Silence.  There was no sound in the forest, as if everything was frozen in anticipation that a young elk or deer was about to emerge from the thicket.

 Life goes on.

December Sketches - III. Rescue Dogs in the Snowbasin

What did I not expect when I returned the next day to the Snowbasin?

I did not expect that it would snow which ultimately gave me the opportunity to сreate a few photos with falling snow.

I did not expect to get lost and run into a rescue team with their dogs.  Another exciting opportunity to take at least a couple of high key photos or something close to it.

I did not expect to watch how the rescue dog (pictured above) was exercising by pulling his handler out of the snow.  Dogs like this one are trained to rescue skiers caught in an avalanche.

Just in a few minutes the dog will be left off the leash and rush to the rescue.  It's a workout.

The short break and the training will continue.

 The Snowbasin rescue patrol.

The dog was finally let off the leash and rushed to the call.  It's amazing that its pows do not touch the snow.

Life goes on.