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Species Profile: Toxicodendron radicans – Eastern Poison Ivy

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Scientific Name: Toxicodendron radicans

Common Name(s): Poison Ivy
©Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova ©Bob Peterson©R. A. Nonenmacher  ©Nicholas A. Tonelli

Identification:

Poison Ivy are in the Anacardiaceae family which are commonly referred to as the cashew or sumac family of plants. Specifically, they are in the Genus Toxicodendron which also contains Poison Oak and Poison Sumac.

Poison Ivy can grow as a climbing vine, a low trailing plant, and a shrub depending on the conditions. They have compound leaves, which are grouped into threes. The edges of the leaves can either be smooth, serrated, or lobed resembling a mitten. The compound leaves are grouped in an alternating pattern around the main steam of the vine or bush. Poison Ivy changes color with the season. Summer leaf color is green, changing to yellow and orange in the fall. It loses leaves in the winter. Rootlets extend from the vine to help it grasp surfaces and grow towards the light. Poison Ivy have small flowers with orange centers, and small, white, and oval fruits. They can be found in heavy to moderately shaded areas.

Similar Species

Box Elder, in the maple family of trees, resembles poison ivy when immature. Box Elders have compound leaves that are in groups of 3 to 5. Unlike Poison Ivy, Box Elders have an opposite arrangement of their leaves along the main steam. This means that the compound leaf set arises from the same point instead of alternating points like poison ivy. Virginia creeper resembles poison ivy except it has leaflets in sets of 5.

Poison Oak, Toxicodendron pubescens– Low growing upright shrub with thick, shiny, oak-like (lobed) leaves grouped by threes. It grows to about 3 feet high and prefers high light and low water conditions.

Range:

Eastern Poison Ivy is found in East Canada, the Eastern United States, and Arizona. The Eastern (T. radicans) and Western (T. rydbergii) Species of Poison Ivy ranges overlaps in Texas, Arizona, the Northeastern United States, the midwestern United States and Eastern Canada.

Ecology:

Poison Ivy are in the Anacardiaceae family which are commonly referred to as the cashew or sumac family of plants. Specifically, they are in the Genus Toxicodendron which also contains Poison Oak and Poison Sumac. The plants in this genus produce an oil called urushiol. This oil helps protect the plan from herbivores since it is toxic when ingested. Urushiol oil is lipophilic which allows it to be readily absorbed into our skin.

The oil does not commonly affect other animals’ skin like they do humans. Up to 90% of the population is allergic to poison ivy and will experience a rash when they rub against any part of the plant or touch an object or animal that has contacted the plant.  An allergic reaction can even occur in winter when the plant is dormant. We can also be exposed to urushiol oil by breathing in smoke from burning poison ivy.  When the skin is exposed to poison ivy for the first time, the urushiol oil will readily absorb into the skin and bind to proteins forming protein complexes. The first time this occurs, usually the immune system will slowly remove the foreign entity but will keep a memory of the chemicals with future “attacks.”  Once exposed more than once, the immune system has registered the oil and employs more robust and rapid immune responses to clear the foreign material. It is this act of clearing the oil from the inner layers of skin that causes the rash and burning associated with Poison Ivy exposure. Furthermore, the more exposure a person has to poison ivy, the more robust the immune response and the more severe the rash.

It can grow in a variety of light and soil conditions, but are most commonly abundant along forest edges, open forest, and in moderate sunlight. They produce toxic pale green-whitish berries ripening in late summer to early fall.

Special Notes:

Here in Bella Vista, Poison Ivy is very common. Immature box elder, and Virginia creeper can be easily misidentified as poison ivy. The main feature that distinguishes the two, is the pattern of the compound leaves around the main stem of the plant. Many people believe that they are not allergic to poison ivy because of previous misidentified contact with look-a-likes, only to find out differently the hard way.

Species Profile: Passerina ciris – Painted Bunting

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Scientific Name: Passerina ciris

Common Name(s): painted bunting, Mexican canary, painted finch, pope, nonpareil

Dan Pancamo

Identification:

Painted buntings are songbirds in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae). They are often regarded as the most beautiful bird in North America and are given the nickname nonpareil meaning “without equal.” In the second year of life, the male comes into his breeding colors with a dark-blue head, green back, red bottom, and red chest. The females and juvenile males are a vibrant green and yellow color which helps them to camouflage.  They are 4.5 to 5.5 inches in length and weigh about half an ounce. They have a wingspan of 8.3 to 9.1 inches.

Range:

Painted Buntings have two subspecies based on their breeding locations (red/orange) which results in subsequent genetic variation.  Passerina ciris ciris breeds in the Southeastern United States.  Passerina ciris pallidir breeds in the South-central United States and Northern Mexico.  Painted Buntings overwinter (blue) in tropical forests or densely vegetated savannas in Southern Florida, Cuba, the Bahamas, the Coast of Mexico, and Central America.  Between seasons they travel overnight to reach new territories.

 

Ecology:

Painted Buntings live in thickets, woodland edges, riparian (vegetation along streams) areas, brushes, and shrubbery.  They breed in hammocks (usually hardwood ‘islands’ surrounded by wetlands) and scrublands.

 

Painted Buntings mainly feed by hopping around and foraging for food such as seeds of grasses, sedges, and forbs.  In the winter they exclusively eat seeds.  During breeding season, especially when females are nesting, they seek-out small invertebrates such as spiders, snails, grasshoppers, and caterpillars.  Interestingly, they sometimes pick off insects caught by spider webs.

 

Mating season begins in late April and extends through the beginning of August, but most activity occurs mid-May to mid-July.  Males arrive one week prior to females to establish territories.  Males are most visible during mating season as they sing on exposed perches to advertise their territory and alert females of their presence.  In addition to singing, male buntings will fly in a bouncing manner that is similar to butterfly flight.  They also have an upright display of fluffing feathers, bowing, and wing quivers that are used to attract females.

 

Females weave their nests into low, dense vegetation.  Each brood is around 4 eggs which are grey-white with spots of brown.  The female incubates the eggs for 10 days.  Young are born underdeveloped “altricial” and require parental care.  Females alone will care for the young after hatching.  Young fledge 12 to 14 days after hatching.  Females lay another brood 30 days after the first set hatches.

 

Special Notes:

You can see Painted Buntings along roadsides, on forest edges, and in gardens.  The males are especially noticeable at the peak of their mating season when they display for females.  Painted buntings stay in Arkansas from late April until August and begin migration to their wintering habitat late August to early September.

 

Lake Brittany Catch

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Congratulations to Rawlin Richter for his trophy catch on Lake Brittany!  Rawlin caught this monster with worm bait right off the dock!  At only 8 years old, we are really excited to see the fisherman that Rawlin develops into.  We hope to see talented Rawlin at our upcoming Fishing Derby!  Way to go Rawlin, here’s to many more trophy catches!

Species Profile: Corvus brachyrhynchos – American Crow & Corvus ossifagus – Fish Crow

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Scientific Name: Corvus brachyrhynchos, Corvus ossifagus

Common Name(s): American Crow, Fish Crow

©Wikimedia Commons © Rhododendrites

Identification:

Crows are large black birds with black feathers, black eyes, and a large black beak. They are common birds within their ranges and are generally easily identified. The common raven which can be confused with crows, is not found in Arkansas. The two species of crow found in Arkansas are the American crow and the fish crow. The American crow measures 16-20 inches in length, and weights 11-22 ounces, while the fish crow is smaller in both size and weight. There are other physical differences between the two species, however, it is very difficult and inconsistent to identify each species visually. Instead, the best way to differentiate these two species is by their calls. American crows call with the classic “caawww-caawww-caawww” that most people associate with crows, while fish crows call with a similar but much shorter and more nasally “ahh-ahh-ahh” sound. During calls, fish crows also tend to tilt the head back more noticeably and puff out the throat feathers

Range:

The species range of the American crow and the fish crow overlap in the southeastern and eastern United States. However, the American crow’s range extends over nearly the entirety of the lower 48 states, while the fish crow’s range is limited to the aforementioned southeastern and eastern United States.

Ecology:

Crows are omnivorous and will eat anything that is easily available. For example, they will consume carrion, all types of invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, small rodents, fish, nuts and seeds, grains, and human scraps. American crows are one of the few observed species of birds making and using tools to obtain food. Crows are intelligent and adaptable and will make their home in temperate forests near water, in agricultural field, or in urban areas.

While similar in appearance and diet, American crows and fish crows differ in their reproductive strategies. American crows are monogamous and form large family groups with juveniles from previous years staying with the group to assist in raising new hatchlings. Breeding starts early and egg laying has been observed as early as April. A clutch consists of 3-9 eggs, and there is 1, maybe 2, broods per year. Both males and females build nests. Sexual maturity is reached at two years of age, but many do not leave their family group until four or five years of age.

Fish crows are seasonally monogamous, with the female building the nests. Males may accompany females to gather nest material, but they do not participate in nest building. Breeding occurs in a similar time frame as American crows, with 2-6 eggs per clutch with one clutch per year. Although they are not as family group oriented as American crows, they will nest loosely together, with nests within 100 feet of each other.

Crows are very intelligent and very social. This leads to a number of interesting behaviors, such as young crows playing with objects to learn how to manipulate, birds teaching one another and sharing information such as food location and grouping together to ward off threats. Often American crows and fish crows will cooperate and socialize together, but in disputes, fish crows almost always yield to American crows. Crows also have an excellent memory and recognize faces and individuals. There are many documented cases of particular humans earning the ire of crows and subsequently being harassed by not only the offended crow, but other crows who were informed of the human’s wrongdoing. On the other hand, there are many cases of humans befriending crows which subsequently bring gifts to their human friends or harass other humans they perceive as threats to their human friends

Special Notes:

Here in Bella Vista, both American and fish crows can be observed, but American crows are more dominant. They can often be seen by roadsides scavenging for carrion. They may even visit bird feeders, if tempting enough!

Flying Squirrel

Species Profile: Glaucomys volans – Southern Flying Squirrel

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Scientific Name: Glaucomys volans
Common Name(s): Southern flying squirrel

Flying Squirrel

©MimiMiaPhotography

Identification:
Southern flying squirrels are the size of a chipmunk, between 8 to 12 inches in length, with tail, and weigh 1 to 5 ounces. Their fur is soft and silky with a gray-brown overcoat and white undercoat. They are distinguished from the grey and fox squirrel by their larger eyes, longer limbs, and flaps of skin between legs that allow them to glide. These skin flaps (pataguim) run between the front and back ankles. Smaller back flaps also connect their back ankles and tail. Additionally, the hair on their tails is fanned out horizontally to aid in gliding. There is no difference in appearance between males and females.

Flying Squirrel Range Map

Range:
The southern flying squirrel is native to the eastern half of the U.S. and some parts of southeastern Canada.

Ecology:
Southern flying squirrels favor large dense deciduous oak-hickory forests with full, mature trees and are especially numerous near water. More specifically, they prefer old forest with dead or rotten trees to nest in. They can fit into a hole the size of a quarter, so have a lot of options for dens. They nest high in trees in hollowed out holes which are usually old woodpecker dens. They can have 4 to 6 kits in the spring and sometimes another litter in late summer. Individuals usually live 5 to 6 years.

Southern flying squirrels live in the same habitat and eat the same food as Fox and Grey squirrels, so to reduce resource competition, they forage at night when these other squirrels are sleeping. They forage for nuts, fruits, buds, tree bark, and mushrooms like other squirrels. Unlike the Fox and Grey squirrel, they eat moths and beetles regularly. They are especially adept at helping to reduce beetle infestations in bark.

Since they forage from the tree canopy to the forest floor, they use large flaps of skin to glide which aids in forage speed. The Southern flying squirrel glides by fanning out its body to reduce falling speed and alternately moving their front and back legs to control which directions they fall.

Special Notes:
Here in Bella Vista Southern flying squirrel enjoy our mature woodlands with plenty of woodpecker holes. They can be hard to spot due to their nocturnal nature. Be prepared for some nighttime excursions if you want to see one!

Sciurus Carolinensis – Eastern Grey Squirre

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Scientific Name: Sciuris carolinensis 
Common Name(s): Eastern grey squirrel, grey squirrel


© Tomfrieded

Identification:
The eastern grey squirrel is gray as the name implies with a white underside. The fur can sometimes have hues of brown. White and black color variations are possible and are more common in urban areas where predation is low as they are more visible to predators. Southeast Canada has a melanistic dark black morph that can tolerate colder climates. Grey squirrels are typically 9 to 11 inches in body length with a tail ranging from 7 to 10 inches. There is no difference in appearance between males and females. Their incisors undergo indeterminant growth, meaning they will continue to grow throughout their lives. The eastern gray squirrel can be distinguished from the fox squirrel by their white underside and generally smaller stature.  


Range:
The eastern gray squirrel is native to the eastern half of the U.S. and southeastern Canada.  

Ecology:
Grey squirrels prefer large dense deciduous oak-hickory forests with full, mature trees. However, they are adept at living in suburban and urban environments alongside humans. They create temporary nests called a drey. Dreys are large spherical collections of sticks and leaves usually in the fork of a tree. They are insulated with moss, thistledown, dried grass, and feathers. They can also den permanently in hollowed-out tree trunks or tree branches. Eastern gray squirrels sometimes share their drey or den with other squirrels to maintain body heat in the colder months. Eastern gray squirrels are the prey of many predators, including hawks, owls, bobcats, foxes, weasels, cats, dogs, snakes, and humans.

Grey squirrels are crepuscular, meaning they are active in the morning and evening. During these times, they actively forage and store food in caches. They maintain caches in many locations and use their accurate memory to locate their previously stored food sometimes many months later. Squirrels use smell to find their own caches or pilfer other squirrels’ caches. Smell relies on moist conditions, so it is not effective in dry or snowy environments. If grey squirrels observe another creature watching them while hiding their food, they will pretend to store the food in the cache but hide it in their cheeks instead and find a new spot. They consume hickory nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, and acorns. In urban areas, they steal birdseed from backyard bird feeders.

Grey squirrels live on average 6 years but have been known to live 12 years in the wild. They reach sexual maturity at 1 to 2 years of age. Mating seasons are from December to February and May to June. Females will typically raise 1 to 2 liters per year, with younger squirrels raising only one liter in the spring and more mature females producing liters in spring and summer. The presence of fertile males in an area will induce females to undergo estrus. In addition, if a mother squirrel loses her young, she will undergo estrus, which can attract males from up to 500 meters away. Gestation takes 44 days. Young are born blind, with closed ears, and without hair. Litter size is typically 1 to 4, but up to 8 kits. Young leave their mothers at 12 weeks of age.

Special Notes:
Here in Bella Vista, grey squirrels are found everywhere. They are adept at pilfering food from bird feeders. Close association with people also provides some protection from predators. Some may even become unwanted house guests, making nests in attics or sheds. They are a very prolific species, providing food for many predators.

 

Sylvilagus floridanus – Eastern Cottontail

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Scientific Name: Sylvilagus floridanus 
Common Name(s): Eastern cottontail 


© The High Fin Sperm Whale                           © The High Fin Sperm Whale

Identification:
The eastern cottontail is the most common rabbit species in North America.  Its fur is grey-brown or red-brown with white fur on the underside.  They have large hindlegs with long ears, and a short white fluffy  tail with a rusty patch on the top.  They have large distinct black eyes.  The males tend to be larger than the females but there is overlap in size.  Typically, they range in size from 14 to 19 inches in total length.  The young are called kits.  They have a white blaze on their forehead for the first few weeks of life.   


Range:
The Eastern Cottontail is native to most of the eastern, midwest, and southern United States.  It is considered native to most of Arkansas and the Ozarks.   

Ecology:
The eastern cottontail primarily lives in open grassy areas, clearings, thickets associated with fence rows, and old fields with shrubs on the edges.  You can find them along hedges and fences in suburban areas and on the open edges of forested areas.  Their diet primarily is composed of grasses and herbs and the occasional insect.  Eastern cottontails’ typical range is around 1.5 acres, but some adults have been observed traveling up to 40 acres for adequate food.  Males typically have a larger home range since they actively search for females.   

 Cottontails are an extensive food source for most predators including cats, dogs, foxes, coyotes, racoons, minks, hawks, snakes, owls, weasels, bobcats, and corvid birds (e.g., crows & magpies).  They tend to live in grassland with shrubs, fence lines, or debris nearby to use as cover when predators (or perceived predators) approach.  These rabbits run up to 18mph in a zig-zag pattern to confuse or out-maneuver their predators.  Sometimes, they will freeze when approached to blend into their surroundings since often predators are more likely triggered by a moving target.  Similarly, they tend to rest during the day and are crepuscular (i.e. active during sunrise and sunset) or nocturnal feeders when visibility is low.   

 Eastern cottontail breeding is dependent on warm temperatures, rather than time of year, and they have a short gestation time of 28 days.  The eastern cottontail female will build a nest for her kits by digging a shallow, slanted hole and lining it with fur from their underside.  Once the kits are born, the mother will carefully lay grass on top of the kits to serve as camouflage.  Nests are typically found in grassy areas close to shrubs or other herbaceous cover.  Kits are born blind.  The mother will spend most of the day foraging.  She only needs to come back to the nest twice a day to feed the kits.  Kits open their eyes around day 5, start moving out of the nest around day 14, are independent at 5 weeks, and are sexually mature at 2-3 months.  Females will rear 1 to 7 litters per year with an average of 5 kits per litter.  Eastern cottontails in captivity can live past 10 years; however, in the wild they rarely make it beyond 15 months, due to predation. 

Special Notes:
Here in Bella Vista, you can sometimes find nests of kit cottontail rabbits built in hayfields or on undisturbed portions of your lawn or garden.  Eastern cottontails love to eat native vegetation and flowers.  Finding adults will require patience as their crepuscular activities along with their skittish nature make them difficult to observe. 

 

Chipmunk on a rock

Species Profile: Tamias striatus – Chipmunk

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Scientific Name: Tamias striatus
Common Name(s): Chipmunk, Eastern chipmunk

Chipmunk on a rock
©Gilles Gonthier

Identification:
The chipmunk is a small rodent with grayish to reddish brown fur and a distinguishing yellowish to reddish patch on its rump. They have stripes along their body, which distinguishes them from most other rodents. The chipmunk has five lengthwise dark brown to blackish stripes running from shoulders to rump, each with white fur down the middle. They have a furry tail, which is longer than the chipmunk’s body. They grow to around 12in in length, including the tail, and 2-5oz in weight. Eastern chipmunks have large cheek pouches located on either side of their mouth.

Chipmunk Range Map
Range:
Tamias striatus is native to the eastern half of the U.S. and southeastern Canada. They can be found throughout the Ozarks and most of Arkansas.

Ecology:
Eastern chipmunks live in open deciduous wooded areas, edges of woodlands, and urbans areas. They prefer to live in rocky areas, areas with brush/log piles, or tickets of shrubs to use as refuge from predators. Chipmunks’ diet is primarily composed of nuts, acorns, bulbs, fruits, berries, seeds, and mushrooms. They also will eat insects, bird eggs, snails, and small immature mammals. Chipmunks build very elaborate underground burrows with multiple entrances. Chipmunks are highly defensive of their burrows and will camouflage them with leaves, sticks, and rocks.

Chipmunks are most active during the warm seasons of summer, spring, and fall. During the winter chipmunks do not fully hibernate but will undergo torpor, waking every couple of weeks to eat some of their food reserves. Chipmunks are adept climbers but mostly forage on the ground. Chipmunks spend most of their time actively foraging throughout the day but are most active in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Food is stored in a cache underground. Caches are marked with olfactory (scent) cues which can be more easily pilfered in moist environments. Therefore, the eastern chipmunks store food in larger caches that can be more easily defended. Sometimes chipmunks may forget about some caches which is beneficial since the seeds will produce plants and provide future food for the chipmunk.

Chipmunks are very solitary except during breeding season by which social interactions are relatively peaceful. Breeding usually occurs twice a year between April and May, and July and August. Females will mate with multiple partners and will stay close to their burrows. Males will widen their home range during mating season and can travel up to 170 meters (~550 feet) to find mates. During each breeding season, chipmunks have between four and five young. Gestation takes 35 days, and they are born blind and hairless. Females wean their young at about 4 weeks and make a new burrow to live in thereafter. Young chipmunks disperse from their burrow about 8 weeks after birth. Females live relatively close to their birth burrow, but males venture further away to set up their territory. Chipmunks reach sexual maturity at about 1 year of age and will live up to 3 years in the wild. They serve as a food source for hawks, owls, foxes, racoons, snakes, weasels, coyotes, bobcats, dogs, and cats.

Special Notes:
Here in Bella Vista, chipmunks can be a welcome guest in our yards. They especially like stone walls and may burrow under porches or walkways. These burrows do not typically cause structural damage and may be a good way to churn and aerate soil. They may also keep other pests at bay, such as insects and garden snails.

 

Bella Vista Arts Council recognizes area artists

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Douglas Keck, photographer
BELLA VISTA, Ark. – The Bella Vista Arts Council is pleased to honor photographer Douglas Keck as the December 2021 featured artist.

Keck will be honored at a public reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15 in the Club Room at the Bella Vista Country Club, 98 Clubhouse Dr.

The below information on Keck’s life and art is courtesy of Bella Vista writer BJ Tassin, who interviewed Keck:

Photographer Douglas Keck resides in Bella Vista with his wife Teresa of 26 years. He and Teresa are originally from Kansas and share a blended family of six grown children. They are both employed right here in their hometown.

As a boy in 1972, Keck moved with his family to Arkansas from St. Joseph, Mo., when his family started a business in housing construction. After college, his three siblings moved on, but he stayed close to his parents, Larry and Sandra.

Keck has been snapping pictures for the better part of 30 years. What started out as fun took on a more serious approach professionally about 15 years ago.

When asked what it was that originally triggered his interest in photography, he said it was a three-day backpacking trip to Colorado on the Continental Divide.

“I was using one of those little disposable cameras where you only get one use and one chance to get it right,” he said. “I was trying to capture the famous Colorado aspens as they were turning in fall. It was a bit disappointing to see that those photos did not come out as good as I remembered seeing that forest with my own eyes. Still, I was glad I could record some kind of memory of it, but it made me want to find a better way to do that. It all seemed to evolve from there as the mediums continue to change.”

As a self-taught photographer, Keck continued improving his skills and expertise by reading books and magazines. In the beginning, the hobby was costly because of developing film. From there, the industry offered more progressive floppy discs and digital cameras. It seemed that was going to be the least expensive way to take multiple photos then edit for best shots and angles later. He also found the quality was clearer.

It wasn’t until after he purchased his first pro-am camera that Keck ventured into portrait and wedding photography, thinking it would help support what had become his expensive passion.

“Eventually,” he says, “I realized that this type of photography was removing the fun from the hobby and became more like work.”

Nature photography seemed to be more Keck’s style. He found himself pulling to the side of the road to capture a spectacular sunrise that he knew most people wouldn’t see. In the evening he was cloud watching at sunset. On such occasions, his wife did the driving so he could try to capture it out the window of the vehicle on a drive home.

“Sometimes it’s not easy to focus (the camera) when she can’t drive slow enough in traffic,” he said, adding most people tend to miss the good ones because everyone is too busy at those times of day. We hustle to get the family up, dressed, fed and off to school or work. In the evening we’re getting them all back home, fed and ready for bed. By that time many have missed it.

So, Keck tries to catch it for them when they get time to stop and relax. Exploring just about every lakeside in Bella Vista, he finds amazing water shots that often include plant and animal life.

“As a storm spotter for KNWA, I find the weather a really fascinating subject to shoot, especially lightning and storms. If there is a storm brewing, I will usually be out there trying to capture what mother nature throws at me,” he said. When asked how his wife felt about his dangerous position: “The worst part is not me being out in the storms but her at home when the bad ones hit,” adding if they are too bad, he will head home.

Spring and fall are Keck’s favorite times to shoot, as flowers are blooming and trees are budding in the spring, and colors are changing in the fall. Fall and winter bring the eagles, which are an awesome sight to see and try to capture on camera. He recently has been trying his hand at bird photography after putting up some feeders in the backyard and has had more than 25 different species right on the back deck. He has been published in the Weekly Vista, the Bella Vista City Guide and the Names & Numbers phone book.

Keck continues to improve his photography skills through research on what is new in the industry but mostly by exploring what is new out there on the other end of his camera. As a member of the Bella Vista Photography Club, he took his turn as steward and served as the club’s president for five years. The club is where local photographers gather to learn, share ideas, and show off their work to others that appreciate this avenue of art.

When asked what it was that he’d like to see people draw from his photography skills, with sincerity and gratitude he said, “To take a moment out of the busy lifestyles we have today and enjoy what mother nature has to offer us. I also like to provide through the lens of my camera the experiences that I enjoy to those who are unable to get out there.”

Has Keck gone back as a professional to try to recapture those beautiful aspens that started it all?

“Not yet,” he said.

For more insight on this artist’s work, check out his website: https://drkeckphotography.zenfolio.com.

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