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Once again the neighboring Butterfly Pavillion in Westminster has proven to be a rich source of knowledge and beauty. The White Morph visiting with a Big Eye Butterfly at the pavillion provides a gr…
Once again the neigh…
Once again the neighboring Butterfly Pavillion in Westminster has proven to be a rich source of knowledge and beauty. The White Morph visiting with a Big Eye Butterfly at the pavillion provides a great contrast. The "big eyes" provide protection by convincing predators that the Big Eye Butterfly is larger than it actually is. I suspect that the white coloration of the morpho provide protection by making the butterfly just about invisible when it is sitting on a branch. I had to enhance the photo to get decent visibility. I generally avoid enhancement for several unimportant reasons, b…
Lenny Frieling
January 6, 2026
Boulder, Colorado’s Chief Niwot: The Face We Do Not Have Do we know what iconic Chief Niwot, known as "Left Hand," really looked like? We've all seen sculptures and representations of the great chi…
Boulder, Colorado’…
Boulder, Colorado’s Chief Niwot: The Face We Do Not Have Do we know what iconic Chief Niwot, known as "Left Hand," really looked like? We've all seen sculptures and representations of the great chief, but do we know what he looked like? The answer is easy. NO! There is no existing picture of the Chief. There are several representations which purport to be pictures of Left Hand. The fact is that there is no existing picture or sculpture of the Chief. The closest we've come, and the closest that exists so far, is a picture taken by superstar photographer Dona Bollard of Eldred Poisal. We kn…
Lenny Frieling
January 4, 2026
The Boulder blues of sunrises contrast with the reds of the start of the sunrise after the reds have begun to fade. The bright yellows and the light subtle blues appear before the stronger blues an…
The Boulder blues of…
The Boulder blues of sunrises contrast with the reds of the start of the sunrise after the reds have begun to fade. The bright yellows and the light subtle blues appear before the stronger blues and after the deep dark red banding which is so common to Boulder Sunrises. The blue-yellow-orange-yellow forms a palette, a colorway of nature that is strong enough to get me out from under the covers. The bedroom begins to turn yellow with the background lighting of the reds and yellow. The opposite side of the color wheel provides the contrast. While the order of the appearing colors remains g…
Lenny Frieling
January 3, 2026
Boulder's rapidly changing colors of a winter sunrise justify the chill of going outside to snap a few pictures. The glorious splendor of the reds and yellows, with the orange accents distracts from t…
Boulder's rapidly ch…
Boulder's rapidly changing colors of a winter sunrise justify the chill of going outside to snap a few pictures. The glorious splendor of the reds and yellows, with the orange accents distracts from the cold. The rapid color changes are enough to distract me from the cold, and there is a reason that flannel was invented. As the sun rises, the sky brightens and the blues gradually come out signaling the rising sun on the canvas of the New Year. As the sun rises on the New Year, the subtle blues and pinks add drama to the lightening sky. Whether the heat is gas-fired or from a wood fire,…
Lenny Frieling
January 1, 2026
I was innocently finishing my email when I looked out the back window. The sunrise was in full glory! I almost ran back to the computer where my phone was sitting, ran back to the window, and starting…
I was innocently fin…
I was innocently finishing my email when I looked out the back window. The sunrise was in full glory! I almost ran back to the computer where my phone was sitting, ran back to the window, and starting clicking. We all know how fast sunrise lighting changes and I did not want to miss the glorious reds, yellows, oranges, and everything in between that was being displayed. I made it in time, took the phone pictures, and found myself back at the computer keyboard doing this blog to share the glorious sunrise. What could be better on a Sunday morning? I've found that my phone takes the best sunrise…
Lenny Frieling
December 22, 2025
The WIND is the Boulder story today, and sadly not "FACE," the Boulder-based a cappella band. The Boulder Theater has announced the postponement of tonight's show until a date in early January, to be …
The WIND is the Boul…
The WIND is the Boulder story today, and sadly not "FACE," the Boulder-based a cappella band. The Boulder Theater has announced the postponement of tonight's show until a date in early January, to be determined. Three front range shows remain unchanged. Hopefully the evening's wind will disappoint! facevocalband.com for the upcoming SUPER SALE schedule in Longmont, Denver Paramount and Lafayette. Shared Knowledge Is Power!Lenny "Lensworth" Frieling
Lenny Frieling
December 19, 2025
Boulder Foothills Face Dangerous Downslope Winds Wednesday. Patio furniture may become airborne and visit your neighbors. Shingles may fly. Here's generally what we know. When the Mountains Exhale:…
Boulder Foothills Fa…
Boulder Foothills Face Dangerous Downslope Winds Wednesday. Patio furniture may become airborne and visit your neighbors. Shingles may fly. Here's generally what we know. When the Mountains Exhale: A Front Range Wind Story: There are days on the Colorado Front Range when the mountains seem to breathe out. Well, more like full blown sneezes. You feel it first as a whisper. Then a shove. Then a sustained push that rattles windows, bends trees, and reminds everyone along the foothills and plains that we live at the edge of something powerful. Wednesday is shaping up to be one of those days.…
Lenny Frieling
December 16, 2025
Face is ready for these holiday shows! Be prepared for a great treat. The holidays are back in Boulder, and Face Vocal Band is ready to ROCK THE HALLS! Feel the power of soaring vocals, bold harm…
Face is ready for th…
Face is ready for these holiday shows! Be prepared for a great treat. The holidays are back in Boulder, and Face Vocal Band is ready to ROCK THE HALLS! Feel the power of soaring vocals, bold harmonies, and reimagined Christmas classics like you’ve never heard them before. This is more than a concert, it’s an a cappella rock spectacular! Bring the crew and let’s light up the season! Together, Face is a Boulder-based a cappella Vocal Band. They've achieved international fame including headlining at Red Rocks. The Boulder-based group is currently doing their Rock The Halls holiday tour…
Lenny Frieling
December 16, 2025
We've recently been treated to shockingly bright and colorful sunsets and sunrises. Last night, 12-14, we were treated to a more subtle banding of red over a blue sky. In the interest of transparency …
We've recently been …
We've recently been treated to shockingly bright and colorful sunsets and sunrises. Last night, 12-14, we were treated to a more subtle banding of red over a blue sky. In the interest of transparency (pun intended) this sunset photo is slightly enhanced to bring out the banding in the red stripes which treated us. The air in front of the front range is known for dangerous flying. A band of updraft follows a band of downdraft and that pattern repeats. Pilots unaware of this phenomenon get caught in a downdraft without knowing that simply moving over can put them into a band of updraft. While …
Lenny Frieling
December 15, 2025
Lensworth here! Still buzzing with Jorma magic! What a show! Next to Boulder, 30 minutes up the road, at the iconic Paramount art deco theater, Jorma Kaukonen played as part of his 85th Birthday tour…
Lensworth here! Stil…
Lensworth here! Still buzzing with Jorma magic! What a show! Next to Boulder, 30 minutes up the road, at the iconic Paramount art deco theater, Jorma Kaukonen played as part of his 85th Birthday tour. Jorma , of Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, and so much more, stepped onto the famed stage and reminded everyone why his name sits so comfortably among the greats. He was joined by friends, including his long-time bass genius partner Jack Casady. Jorma was joined by a band that included fellow musicians who elevated the evening into something truly rare. Among them was Carlos Nakai, widel…
Lenny Frieling
December 14, 2025
Lensworth sunsets here! December Sunsets are always familiar and never the same. They are always uplifting and always shifting. When someone says "hey, look at this sunset," do NOT wait. They chang…
Lensworth sunsets he…
Lensworth sunsets here! December Sunsets are always familiar and never the same. They are always uplifting and always shifting. When someone says "hey, look at this sunset," do NOT wait. They change instant by instant and are part of the reason we need a camera within reach. Phones seem especially great for sunrise and sunset pictures. The lighting on computer screens is also especially good for these glowing photographs. December sunsets never get old. I’ve tried. I go out night after night thinking, “I’ve seen this one before.” And then the sky politely proves me wrong. Th…
Lenny Frieling
December 13, 2025
Let’s talk about that delicate dance between good cheer and good judgment. The holidays bring out the best in us: warmth, music, lights, friends, and the clink of glasses. They also bring out a clas…
Let’s talk about t…
Let’s talk about that delicate dance between good cheer and good judgment. The holidays bring out the best in us: warmth, music, lights, friends, and the clink of glasses. They also bring out a classic seasonal combo that has been tempting fate for generations. Entertainment and alcohol mix easily. Add a touch of cannabis to the blend, and suddenly New Year’s Eve earns its nickname of amateur's night all over again. The risks are real, and the good news is that they’re almost entirely avoidable with a little planning and a bit of Lensworth-style common sense. Start with the drinks we te…
Lenny Frieling
December 12, 2025
Today's Pic of the Day is the Moth Orchid. The genus name is derived from the Greek words phalaina (moth) and opsis (like), as the flowers resemble moths in flight. These orchids are popular housepla…
Today's Pic of the D…
Today's Pic of the Day is the Moth Orchid. The genus name is derived from the Greek words phalaina (moth) and opsis (like), as the flowers resemble moths in flight. These orchids are popular houseplants because they are relatively easy to grow indoors. Their blooms are known for being long-lasting, often for months with proper care. Phalaenopsis orchids are native to tropical and subtropical Asia and northeast Australia. They prefer bright, indirect light and require a special orchid growing medium rather than standard potting soil. The orchid in the image is a Phalaenopsis orc…
Lenny Frieling
December 12, 2025
Debi got Phlash when Debi was 8 years old, Phlash cost $0.25, and was about an inch and a quarter across. Debi has been in continuous companionship with Phlash since then. He is a member of the family…
Debi got Phlash when…
Debi got Phlash when Debi was 8 years old, Phlash cost $0.25, and was about an inch and a quarter across. Debi has been in continuous companionship with Phlash since then. He is a member of the family for decades more than me!!! I consulted with chatGPT AI to see just how old that really is. Here's the response. Guiness here we come. chatGPT: Good morning — and wow, Phlash at 66 years old is truly remarkable! 💚🐢 When it comes to red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans), documented lifespans can vary a lot, but here’s what records show: Oldest reliably recorded red-…
Lenny Frieling
December 11, 2025
Commonly called a "fern wall," the bank of clouds behind the foothills is actually a "Foehn" wall. The name Foehn (German: Föhn, pronounced [ˈføːn]) arose in the Alpine region. Originating from La…
Commonly called a "f…
Commonly called a "fern wall," the bank of clouds behind the foothills is actually a "Foehn" wall. The name Foehn (German: Föhn, pronounced [ˈføːn]) arose in the Alpine region. Originating from Latin (ventus) favonius, a mild west wind of which Favonius was the Roman personification When winds blow over elevated terrain, air forced upwards expands and cools due to the decrease in pressure with height. Since colder air can hold less water vapor, moisture condenses to form clouds and precipitates as rain or snow on the mountain's upwind slopes. The change of state from vapor to liquid water …
Lenny Frieling
December 11, 2025
Lensworth here.Some stories announce themselves the moment you see the expression on the protagonist’s face. This one belonged to a very wet, very unimpressed European starling who had just been plu…
Lensworth here.Some …
Lensworth here.Some stories announce themselves the moment you see the expression on the protagonist’s face. This one belonged to a very wet, very unimpressed European starling who had just been plucked from an accidental dip in a hot tub. If ever a bird mastered the art of the glare, this little survivor had it down cold. Most birds rescued from mishaps arrive looking confused, relieved, or soggy-but-grateful. Not this one. This starling radiated pure indignation. Soaked feathers slicked tight against its tiny frame, beak slightly open in what could only be described as a verbal complaint …
Lenny Frieling
December 10, 2025
Winter sunrises often look shockingly colorful – especially those intense reds glowing against the cold blue of a brightening sky – because several winter-specific conditions line up perfectly to …
Winter sunrises ofte…
Winter sunrises often look shockingly colorful – especially those intense reds glowing against the cold blue of a brightening sky – because several winter-specific conditions line up perfectly to paint the sky more dramatically than at other times of year. That's all fine, but WHY is it so??? Why winter sunrises explode with color: Lower sun angleIn winter the sun rises at a much shallower angle. Its light travels through more of the atmosphere before reaching your eyes. The longer the path, the more blue light gets scattered out, leaving behind deeper reds, pinks, and oranges. Cold, dr…
Lenny Frieling
December 10, 2025
Lensworth here next to Boulder, and what better way to spend a Colorado day than wandering through the warm, living wonderland that is the Westminster Butterfly Pavilion? If there is one place where c…
Lensworth here next …
Lensworth here next to Boulder, and what better way to spend a Colorado day than wandering through the warm, living wonderland that is the Westminster Butterfly Pavilion? If there is one place where curiosity flutters louder than wings, it’s here – especially when the Pavilion is packed with kids. Their reactions are half the show, and sometimes the best part. Walk in the front doors and you can feel it instantly: the mix of humidity, excitement, and the quiet hum of thousands of delicate wings. Kids freeze mid-stride as a blue morpho coasts by, doing that slow, dramatic flap that looks…
Lenny Frieling
December 8, 2025
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