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Baca resident Lynn Drake walks with Bella during the March 25 snowstorm that blanketed the area. More than two feet fell in the foothills to the east. photo by Matt Lit 

A great horned owl flies out of a cottonwood forest in the Baca Grande, near South Crestone Creek, to start its nightly hunt. Owls are getting very active this time of year as the nesting season approaches. photo by Peter Ismert

Phia, soon to be 5 and her sister, Eva, 2.5, watch as Helios tries out some electric drums at a music swap held at T-Road Brewing Company, Jan. 20. Photo by Matt Lit

Elk grazing just northeast of Laurel Road and Wagon Wheel on a wintry evening following a brief snowstorm. Photo by Lori Nagel

A Yak at the Chokurei Yak Ranch wishes everyone a season’s greeting. Photo Autumn Brooke Grinath

Three phases of the solar eclipse. The “ring of fire” solar eclipse, Oct. 14, was visible in a narrow path over North America and partially in the San Luis Valley. The second great American eclipse will come early next year. It will be the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024. Photo composite by Lori Nagel. 

Sunrise brings with it vibrant sun rays stretching out into the Valley in August. Photo by Mike Lewinski

A bumblebee enjoys a sunflower. With 20,000 bee species worldwide, Colorado is home to 1,000 of them. Read the bee story in section B of the August edition. Photo: Matt Lit