After a rain shower in the Bitterroot, there's often a rainbow. But on hot, dry days you need to create your own - using different plants and animals from all around us. Bob Danley has examples of each color -
Red - Cinnamon Teal duck, Brown Elfin butterfly, Harsh Indian Paintbrush.
Green - Lewis Woodpecker (glossed green), Green Comma butterfly, Prairie Smoke.
Blue - Blue-winged Teal, Spring Azure butterfly, Sagebrush Bluebells (see photo below).
Indigo - Western Bluebird, Western White (body), Sand Violet.
Violet - Black-chinned Hummingbird, Hoary Elfin butterfly, Little Larkspur
So far this year in the area: 187 bird species in Missoula County and 159 bird species in the Bitterroot. Bob has identified 11 species of butterflies as the weather warms. And the wildflowers - they're all over the place!
