Hey daddy-o what’s up?
Just hanging out enjoying the flowers in the garden.
Given the huge number of species might explain why we see them running about everywhere in the yard and often in the house all the time.
Tag: nature journal
Pearly Everlasting: Anaphalis margaritacea
The understated beauty of Pearly Everlasting is something in and of itself. A beautiful wildflower that attracts several species of butterflies most notable the Painted Lady. Simple yet elegant, rustic yet refined, perhaps everything a wild wildflower should be.
Like fingers
A wonderful and unusual fungus growing like fingers from the earth along the path of old tree decomposing lying just below the earths surface.
There were several cluster each with a wonderful beauty that made us ponder life myriad forms. Each form with a place and each important to the whole.
The diversity of life is natures greatest gift.
Wings of August
With wings tattered and torn a Fritillary takes a sip of nectar on the coneflowers. Those tattered wings sure feel like a metaphor for the month that has passed.
We don’t know about you but we are looking forward to autumn this year.
When the chokecherries are ripe.
It was bound to happen.
Just as the chokecherries become ripe the Black Bears in the area make themselves just a bit more conspicuous.
This Bear sure looks like the little bear who was roaming the neighborhood last chokecherry season but all grown up.
It is sure nice seeing them if it is only an infrequent visit every now and again.
The big box
This summers bounty of Indian Paint Brush was like getting that big box of crayons you always wanted as a child. So many colors, so much fun to be had.
And the best thing about getting the big box is that there are plenty of crayons to share.
Orobanche uniflora
I can’t say it better than it is stated in this NY Times article “There’s simply no way to talk about the beauty of Orobanche uniflora without raising a lot of eyebrows.”
Commonly called Naked Broomrape or sometimes Flowered Cancer Root this wonderful flower with unflattering common names was a new one to us when we came across it in meadow on a recent hike.
It is a short leafless plant unable to photosynthsize thus gaining it’s nutrients by parasitism. Often using sedum, saxifrages and asters as a host plant. Typically growing only up to 3 inches tall we found this cluster buried deep in the grass.
It is a beautiful little flower and very unique to say the least.
Foraging
A male Yellow-rumped Warbler bringing home a mouthful to feed the family. It’s hard to believe that while this photo was only taken just a few weeks ago the Yellow-rumped Warblers have already left our forests for the season. August is always a strange month and now that most of the migratory birds have left just seems stranger.
Lorquin’s Admiral
The Lorquin’s Admiral is one of those butterflies you see flittering through the air all summer. Flying nearby but not to near heading left then heading right but one you half-heartedly chase around while eon the trail hoping they will land close enough for a halfway descent photo and if they do land and you chose not to have the wrong lens on your camera it will be a photo well rewarded. This was one of those days we were rewarded. We spotted The Lorquins perched near the top of a small pine tree and as soon as we could get the shutter clicked they flew down to a small streamed for a quick drink.
Isn’t amazing how many colors butterflies eyes come in?
El Rey
Meet “El Rey” the biggest baddest toad on the pond this summer. Happily surveying their domain from the comfort of a well placed rock along the waters edge. Easily a giant to the more numerous frogs that inhabit his kingdom yet a benevolent ruler by any standard.
While we usually see the king along the shady side of the water every once in a while a nice sunbath is in order.
After a sun bath a little dip in the pool is always a good way to cool down and moisturize the skin.
“El Rey” truly king of the pond and a good king at that.
nature has no boss 
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