It's July in central South Dakota.  The day's are long, its hot and the landscape is changing from the greens of spring to the golden colors of later summer.  Above is a grain field located near Lake Oahe.  The blue, gold and green makes a pleasant contrast.  Below is a wild flower that was attracting a number of yellow butterflies just to the north of this field.

Because of the cooler, wetter spring, the western and central part of the state are covered with swarms of grasshoppers.  The final image was a late afternoon thistle with one of the many "hoppers" at rest on the top.