August 13, 2009

Lightning Killed Bull

Would you believe that's the name of a spring?
Yes, here is the pond formed by Lightning Killed Bull Spring, and we can easily imagine what happened here just before the spring took on its name.
Just above the spring, we rode past a burned area, part of the Neola North Fire of 2 years ago.
Fireweed bloomed in the ashes. We also saw harebell, lupine, and numerous other flowers. We noticed some of the aspen looked unhealthy and seemed to be losing their leaves prematurely.
A fungus, Marssonina, causes the leaf spots, as far as I can tell from matching our pictures to ones posted by various state extension services. Apparently it doesn't kill the trees and is worse some years than others, depending on moisture.
As you can see, Boss is back in action, feeling good after 10 days off while his bruised sole healed.
Ahhh. It's great to be exploring on horseback once again under the generous Utah sky.
For more beautiful skies from all over the world, click here.

38 comments:

  1. Your posts always make me want to get outside and explore! Hopefully we'll be doing that this weekend up in the mountains on our ward campout and then for the Eden Hot Air Balloon festival the next morning.

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  2. Gorgeous Janie... Hope the Aspens will be okay. The Hemlocks in our area are dying due to a bug infestation. Sad!

    I love it when someone names things after events that happened there. Guess Bull didn't make it!

    Check my blogs (yesterday's and today's). I wrote 'my' story..
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  3. What a name! I thought I was about to read a sad post! LOL! Great photos as usual!

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  4. I'm glad Boss is back on the trails again and glade to hear his 'sole' has healed. I bet Steve is too!
    That is quite a unique name for anything much less a spring... hmmm, I'm sure there must be a fascinating story behind it.
    I love the big skies, Janie :D

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  5. Glad you're back in the saddle--I was starting to miss your trailride adventures. Hope you can follow the burn from year-to-year: I've been amazed by the rejuvenation of Yellowstone after '88 and by our local hills after the 2000 fires (our elk population doubled afterward).

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  6. That burned area looks a lot like our black spruce forests...pretty scrubby looking. Beautiful skies for riding.

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  7. Your title reads like our local news. On Sunday 3 horses were killed by lightning about 5 minutes from my workplace as they stood under a tree. Last evening 2 young boys and woman were struck by lighting, and it wasn't even raining. A bolt just came out of the overcast sky. Very sad, and I hope no one names the fields for them. But your post is not depressing like my comment. We are just getting so much rain and so many storms this summer.

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  8. Looking at these gorgeous photos, I only can imagine how much beautiful is there!!

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  9. Fireweed - Lightning Killed the Bull. Wow. I love it. Was the fire started by lightning, man-made or fireweed!!!! I love fireweed.

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  10. Aw, the Utah sky is gorgeous! Makes me miss my rides in Niger soooooo much! :-D

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  11. I thought at first I was gonna get to see a picture of a dead bull ;P
    I'm glad Boss is up and at 'em again.

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  12. Glad Boss is out again and I know he is! Marvelous shots! And you do have some beautiful skies!

    Enjoy your weekend!

    Sylvia

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  13. It is quite disconcerting to see the trees prematurely losing their leaves.

    May I just add "beautiful" to your generous Utah sky.

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  14. Lovely as always. The wildflowers are my favorite, however. I'm just fresh from photographing a lot of Utah wildflowers, so I'm really liking yours (which I don't think is one I got on this trip).

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  15. I really like the name of that spring. I'm glad Boss is fully recovered and that the forest is recovering from the fire. Thanks for taking us along on your exploration and for those beautiful Utah skies.

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  16. The spring looks like an idyll, although not for the bull. It looks like you guys were taking pictures of each other taking pictures.. :)

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  17. I love the fireweed! I posted a link to your post today, I had already picked a picture from the fire and put it in my folder to put up for this week's Skywatch! How synchronistic.

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  18. Great photos. And, yes, when you are from Texas, I can imagine a spring named "Lightening Kill Bull."
    I've always been fascinated by creek names are you travel the roads. :D

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  19. That is a wild name for a spring. Beautiful shots and looks like the perfect day for a ride.

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  20. I bet there is a colorful story behind the name. Interesting nature lesson and great photographs as usual.

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  21. Nothing a lab likes better than water. I'm glad the hoof problem is solved.

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  22. You've captured some great shots here.

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  23. As always Janie, a beautiful series of photos with intriguing names. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend.
    Smiles

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  24. Glad you're out riding again. Funny name for the spring, but understandable, and does bring out the wildflowers.

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  25. Ahhh, beautiful pics, as usual, Janie. That is a gorgeous photo of you and Boss riding off. Glad the hoof is better. And I love that forest of aspens(?) in your first picture. Swim Daisy, swim!

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  26. Glad to see you didn't have any such drama on your trip.
    Just looking at the first photo evoked the smell of wet dog...mmm..

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  27. Another wonderful ride Janie, and a great post, thank you :)

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  28. I wondered what this title could mean! Beautiful photos, and beautiful skies. I hate to see the Aspens losing their leaves so early....I so enjoy that blaze of yellow...beauty from ashes in the Fireweed...

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  29. Ah, what a wonderful trail to be riding! Love the photo of Boss facing the sky.

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  30. 2 different worlds, but 4 by 32 comments.
    Tells me everything about SWF
    :)

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  31. Janie: Those were beautiful SWF photos in your closing.
    That was a strange spring name.

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  32. What an interesting name of a spring and what beautiful States you live in Janie, there are so much things to explore and enjoy. Thank you again for sharing these aswesome shots with us. :) keep smiling and keep posting! life is beautiful.

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  33. That first photo, it's as if the horses could disappear into the trees. Great country you tread (by hoof and by foot) through!

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  34. Beuatiful area..Even better pictures!!

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  35. Your blog and posts are truly wonderful!

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  36. Glad boss is okay!! It would be a shame to miss riding in that wonderful weather!

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