03-Sep-2019
Widow Skimmer
I thought this dragonfly looked great on that dead stem and a dark background.
"Widow skimmers have large bulky bodies, with large head. Adults have a steely blue body area but juveniles are yellow with brown stipes.[1] Eyes are also large and close together meeting in the middle of the head.[2] They have three pairs of legs. Legs are black in color. They have two pairs of wings: forewings and hindwings. Wings of both sexes are marked with prominent black basal bands. They keep their wings extended over their bodies. Adult males develop broad white spots at midwing as they mature. The abdomen measures 24–32 mm.[3] They also have a slight white hue on their abdomen and thorax." - (Wikipedia)
Thanks for the link, Laura.
02-Sep-2019
Samara
I think we all have marveled at the wings or 'helicopters' of maple trees as they spiral to the ground. I never paid much attention to the details as a kid. I just liked watching them. Turns out they are called 'Samaras', and all maple trees produce them. But I had no idea that there is technical precision involved. It should cause us to ponder the wisdom found in nature.
01-Sep-2019
Come On Guys! Go Get the Ball!
It almost looked to me like these two dogs are thinking, 'you want us to go in that cold water and get all wet? No way!' But I know how most dogs seem to love the water, so I don't know what was holding them back. The scene made me smile. :)
31-Aug-2019
You Better Go Left or Right!
This motorcyclist went through the Coyote Creek covered bridge to Coyote Creek Road as I was photographing it. Of course, I just had to get a picture of him too. He hesitated, likely to make sure it was clear, and it looked like he couldn't decide where to go. So I thought maybe we would tell him. :) He turned right!
23-Jun-2019
Hay There!
I love to see golden fields after the hay has been mowed and baled. Farmers play a huge role in providing for our needs. This field is next door to our daughter's place. Some of the hay was purchased by our daughter for her horses. In my childhood days, we lived on a nine acre farm where my father raised pigs, chickens, cows plus having fruit trees and a huge garden. We had a big barn and my father harvested the hay from a field that made up part of the property. In addition, my father held down a full-time job. But we were pretty much self sufficient. Now we buy most of what we eat.
28-Aug-2019
Bathed in Lovely Light
I thought this wild rose looked so beautiful when bathed in wonderful sunlight. Wild roses are lovely in any light but this light made it look even better. And, of course, the sunlight also made some nice detail stand out.
27-Aug-2019
High Stepping!
I paid a visit to my friend, Mr Pelican, today, early before the day got hot! Turned out that he was doing a hot dance routine. The trouble was that no one in his audience paid any attention, even when he did this amazing high step. I felt bad for him so I applauded. Guess he wasn't used to applause. He flew off and circled a bit then came back to his log to try again. I thought he put on a good show!
26-Aug-2019
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
Talk about a gorgeous flower! Take a look at a Gaillardia, commonly called the 'blanket flower'. It is a wildflower, native to the US. I saw these flowers at Richardson Park.
According to Wikipedia: "Gaillardia is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family, Asteraceae, native to North and South America. It was named after a M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th-century French magistrate who was a patron of botany."
"Native to the American prairies, gaillardia, commonly called blanket flower, is a tough, drought-resistant, sun-loving perennial that's super easy to grow. Blanket flower's festive, solid or patterned flowers in red, orange, or yellow appear throughout the summer and will attract scores of colorful butterflies to your garden. The flowers appear on sturdy stems held high above the plant's foliage. Most varieties of blanket flower grow 18 to 22 inches tall. Hardy from zones 5-9."
24-Aug-2019
Lavendar Orpingtons All Grown Up!
Back on May 5th I posted a photo of one of our daughter's Lavendar Orpingtons, along with information about this breed of chicken. Now they are fully grown.
On May 5th I posted this image:
http://pbase.com/fotabug/image/169157031 Along with that post I included this information: the Lavendar Orpingtons are a unique breed of chicken, and have quite unusual coloration as adults. Here is what the website, "Pure Poultry",
http://www.purelypoultry.com/lavender-orpington-chickens-p-…), says about them: "Lavender Orpingtons are a shimmering, grayish, silver color with a definite purple tone. Orpington Chickens, in general, are big, round, fluffy chickens and could arguably be the softest of all the breeds. Combine that soft fluffiness with a shimmering lavender-gray color, and Lavender Orpingtons are chickens to behold!"
22-Aug-2019
Ever See a Pelican Do This?
I am not exactly sure what the pelican did, but it looked to me like it turned the pouch on the lower beak inside out! I have never seen such a thing until now! It did a lot of stretching and just before this stretched its neck up completely with that beak and pouch showing. Sometimes when just sitting one doesn't see the pouch at all. It is used for scooping up fish.
Here is what 'Projectbeak.org' has to say about it: "The American White Pelican uses its beak to scoop up fish. Sometimes, these birds will fish in semi-circular or circular groups so they can concentrate fish for easy feeding. A pelican expands the pouch on its beak when it's fishing, and sometimes when it's stretching. Otherwise, the pouch on its beak is folded up."
I learned that pelicans do indeed turn their pouch inside out. The website 'www.beautyofbirds.com' said: "pelicans perform exercises, such as stretching and turning the pouch inside out, to keep it flexible." Thanks for finding this information, Laura!
21-Aug-2019
EAT MY DUST!
It would seem that the jet ski would be the only way to go, and I guess it would be if one was in a hurry to get across the lake. But the slower, leisure pace of a sailboat would appeal more to many, and in a way both would be fun.
Why is this called a jet ski? The answer, according to Wikipedia, is interesting - "Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal water craft (PWC) manufactured by Kawasaki, a Japanese company. The term is often used generically to refer to any type of personal watercraft used mainly for recreation, and it is also used as a verb to describe the use of any type of PWC."
So in actuality, it is a personal water craft or PWC.
20-Aug-2019
A TINY VISITOR TO A RED HOT POKER
I didn't notice the little bee or fly at the left top of the flower at first. But then it stood out to me and seems to draw the eye after it moves up the flower, led by its angled pose.
"If you're looking for a stunning plant to add an accent to your sunny flower border, consider the Red Hot Poker plant. There are more than 70 species of Kniphofia or the Torch Lily from South Africa, but few have made it into the commercial trade."
"This plant once was popular in England and Europe, but during the second World War, many were replaced with edible plants in an effort to feed the people. But the interest in Red Hot Poker plants has returned, as gardeners further their search for showy, unusual, low-maintenance plants."
