The Sandhills are alive with color!!!

Always, the invitation is open for you to come and visit the lovely Sandhills! There's plenty of thrills...and things to do. Right now the Sandhills are alive with color! 

Rich, jewel tones! Emerald with amethyst dusted with pollen on this morning glory!

Misty rain highlights this tiny lavender flower on the forest floor. 

Butterflies are fueling up for their migration on purple asters. 

A fuzzy bumble bee allows this portrait to be taken. Smile! 

Ordinary marigolds are a nice looking flower this time of year...up close you can see they're also dynamic as they unfurl their petals and are also homes to webbed insects. 

Raindrops emphasize the tips of this Ponderosa Pine. 

Sumac is already changing colors....stellar!

This beetle didn't care for the raindrops collecting on his back. Notice his middle leg is wiping them off. Something it did repeatedly. Adorable.  

Ruby mixed with garnet and a bit of citrine grace this tree....birds  flock here for winter kibble. 

Webbed beauty! Mist beads up on this intricate lacework! 

Grasshoppers are interesting...especially up close. Kind of looks like a robot face..."better to eat all your flowers!"

A recent, record setting rain fell, cleaning off all the leaves, trees, and hills, for a nice crisp walk on the many trails in the area. 

Geese are starting to collect for their migration as well. 

Happy autumn...the sun sets sooner...and colors are intensified making everything look cozy and warm. It's a purrrrrrfect time of year for a Sandhills vacation or quick visit!

Let our sponsors help you with your four season, family fun, vacation plans!!! Trade Winds Lodge, can help you with accommodations, and you can get excellent food to go or grill at Henderson's IGA. 

Why not plan a leisurely and colorful trip down Niobrara National Scenic River with  Brewers Canoers and Tubers?

Nim-Rods Bait Store has all you could ever need or want for your fishing excursion - poles, live bait, bobbers, jigs, hooks, and plenty of refreshments! Berry Creek Gun and Pawn Shop, has everything you need in the way of firearms, ammo, and reloading supplies - conveniently located right down the street from The Quilting Cupboard, which has western prints, wool, cotton and batik fabric, along with patterns from Fear Not Pattern Co. 

For a one of a kind gift that is uniquely yours, head over to Outback Screenprinting and Embroidery which has new location on First Street!!!

The Valentine Chamber of Commerce has a plethora of brochures that will have you coming back this all year long ... make sure you stop by and pick some up today!

Remember...the Sandhills are your four season, family fun, ticket 4 Adventure....come find out why at SandhillsWesternVacations.com!!! 

We welcome you and your family!!!

Jewels re-fueling for a long trip....

What are the chances of seeing this many butterflies in October in the Sandhills? It sure was a blessing!

The majority of the butterflies preferred the purple asters over the pink ones, but I wondered if it weren't because the purple ones were in the sunshine. Here is a monarch enjoying the sweet nectar before its long journey to Mexico.

These are swallowtail caterpillars eating curly parsley. There weren't any swallowtail butterflies around, however. Hopefully, we'll see these beauties next spring when they go through metamorphosis from a pupae to an  elegant butterfly. They're the black ones that have some blue checkerboards at the edges of their wings. 

This is a good example of a checkerboard around the outside of their wings. This butterfly reminds me of a blond brownie, with chocolate chips on it? Its name is Euptoieta claudia, Variegated Fritillary checker. 

If you live in the midwest, you've probably seen these from the time you were a little kid; sipping from flower top to flower top. This is called a clouded sulphur butterfly. If you look real close, you can see that this specimen has not just green eyes, but LIME green eyes. Contrasts nicely with the deep purple!

Here's another caterpillar munching away on the tasty, feathery, asters. It is a Northern Pine Sphinx - Lapara bombycoides. Bet you were thinking that very specie! 

Here we have a Grey Hairstreak and Clouded Sulphur. The Grey Hairstreak is really a small little butterfly, only about the size of an adult thumb nail. Perhaps a tad bigger. 

This Pink-spotted Hawk Moth, Agrius cingulata, is something I've only seen in the dusk of the evening enjoying Angel Trumpet flowers. I've heard them called Humming Bird Moths before due to the rapid beat of their wings. This photo was taken about 4:30 p.m. and it's eating from Impatients.

What an amazing afternoon spent with our beautiful, flying, jewels! These were identified using the following Web sites: 

http://www.discoverlife.org/20/q?guide=Butterflies

http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org

The leaves are turning... the air is crisp and there's so much to do in the Sandhills! Make sure you book a trip!!!

 It will allow you to re-fuel for the winter ahead.