Nature's Paint Brush

July is wildflower time in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. A multitude of species of wildflowers can be found down almost any mountain trail. One site boasting a spectacular display of flowers is Clear Lake, at an elevation of 11,000 feet above sea level. It is located just south of Ouray, Colorado. To reach Clear Lake, the photographer must follow a winding, steep, rocky road that eventually dead-ends at this picturesque spot. Most of the road was wide enough for only one vehicle at a time; 4-wheel drive is needed to safely navigate the terrain.

From an alpine lake, a stream flows through a field of flowers. There were several species of Paintbrush, Columbine, Elephant Head, Lupines, Marsh Marigolds and others. The flowers were so abundant that one didn't know what to shoot first. We had not seen so many colors of Paintbrush before.

Paintbrush is a member of the figwort family. They can be found in climps in sub alpine and alpine regions on high ridges, tundra slopes, and steep hillsides.

After working the area for about an hour, I noticed a pristine patch of pale pink Paintbrush. One particular flower seemed to stand out from the others. Using the shallow depth of field characteristic of my micro-lens, I carefully positioned the lens so as to isolate the one flower in an out-of-focus wash of color. The result was this picture of "Nature's Paintbrush."