Hope is a Field of Painted Ladies

On a backpacking through hike in the Pecos Wilderness, I came upon this field of arrowleaf groundsel in a run-off area on the east side of Truchas Peaks. Dozens of painted lady butterflies flitted among the flowers going about their business of sipping nectar and pollination. The forest overhead was unfortunately full of dead or dying spruce and fir trees from beetle kill enhanced by warming temperatures in the alpine. Even in otherwise dire situations, nature and beauty prevail.