Last Day of Spring 2011

Well Summer starts tomorrow and I'm ready for it.

Today I stayed around the house and did some gardening and spent a few hours around the yard taking photos. The Mock Orange Bush is in full bloom now and the bees and other insects are working it like crazy. It is buzzing with life and the smell form the flowers is so awesome. In the evening it blows in the window...such a sweet smell. Another one of my favorite butterflies stopped by to enjoy the sweet nectar. 

The Red-spotted Purple

Also the Mossy Stonecrop is now in bloom and I plan on moving some of it to my rock garden. It adds a great color to the garden. It don't get tall, but sure is bright yellow.

The Bird'sfoot Trefoil is starting to bloom and it is another yellow flower that adds some beauty to the yard.

Birthday Images

Well I turned one year older today...no big deal. I don't feel any different.

Anyways I went out to the meadow for a short time today and took a few images. Mostly I wanted to see what was blooming or what new insect species I could find. I ended up shooting mostly daisies today. I did locate another American Copper and took some shots of it. I will not be going back to the meadow for a few days, because I need to check on some other locations. So here is two images from the meadow.

Failed Sunset...

I was hoping for some great sunset light tonight, but the clouds cleared in 30 minutes, so I came home to search for spiders in the garden. Tomorrow I am planning on going to the meadow again. I never get tired of going there...so much to see and photograph.

Black Berry Flowers

Not much to really write about this evening, but I did find a Male Six-spotted Orb Weaver.

Six-spotted Orb weaver

I'm Back

Been a few days since I last posted anything.

 Been busy with company and the weather has been nasty, so I have not got out and done much photography. I was able to get out in the yard this afternoon and do a bit of shooting. It is slowly warming up again, so I will be out shooting photos again. This first image is some sort of bee, but not sure what yet. Still working on trying to ID it.

This next image is one of my garden flowers that I have no idea what it is called. So trying to ID this also. It grows every year in a different location. This year it is growing in two places.

Sunset

Had a very busy day...

I decided to go get a few more shots of the Pink lady's Slipper.

I also spent a few hours doing some yard work and photographing around the yard. The rain Lilies are starting to bloom. I have the white kind and the are really beautiful.

The spiders are out and about and hungry. This Flower spider is making a meal out of this moth.

To end my day I went down to the pond in hopes of a great sunset, but the clouds moved in quick and was only able to get a few shots. Plus my new photo back pack came today and I love it.

New Life Bird...

Golden-winged Warbler....new life bird.

Did some birding this afternoon with some friends...one new life bird made my day.

First we heard it's buzzy "zee bee bee bee"

Then the search was on. 5 minutes later we found the little guy singing from the lower branch of a pear tree. We all tried getting photos, but it flew deeper into the bush. We seen 58 species this afternoon...it was a great afternoon. Here are a  few images from today...

 Syrphid Fly

 Flower Spider

Flesh Fly

Spider and Slipper

A very warm day...

Well this morning I found this Running Crab Spider feeding on a Leaf Hopper in my garden. This is one of the 9 species of spiders I have in my garden. This species is my 3rd favorite of the local spiders.

This evening I rode down by the park and photographed some Pink Lady's Slippers. I counted 58 of them and decided to shot this one. I need to get some arm pads or where a longer shirt when I get this low to the ground. This one slipper has been growing in the same spot since 2005 when I first found it. They can live  along time if they are not disturbed.

Six-spotted Tiger Beetle

I spent most of the day chasing this beautiful beetle. I all most gave up, but just when I thought I would have to try another day one landed near my pond on a large rock. I put on a 36mm extension tube on my 100mm macro and placed my camera on my trusty tripod and moved in slow. Inch by inch I moved...I was in range and composed and fired away. Only shot 23 images before it flew off.

Heading out to a swampy place tomorrow in search of lady's-slippers and if I'm lucky will find the Ram's Head Lady's-slipper. I know they grow here in the county and the place I'm looking I have found them years ago. Another bike ride, but I enjoy it.

Wildflowers!

I went out and searched for subjects to shoot, but did not have to look to hard. Wildflowers were every where. The warblers kept me company and so did the mosquito's. I shot over 8 gigs of images today and will have images  to edit well into the summer and fall. I just picked out a few to post and share.

 Wood Anemone

Wood Anemone

Pink Lady's Slippers

In a few days the slippers will be in full bloom. This is the first time I have been able to get shots of them before they opened. I found close to 100 plants in this place they grow every year. After this big weekend I will go back and take some photos. Also going to check on some other flowers that grow near by. I'm very sore...bought a new Mountain Bike today to use as my transportation to get to my photo sites close to home. I guess it will be some getting used to again. It will be some great exercise...

Lilac's Everywhere

This is the first year in a long time that I can remember so many lilacs blooming. All 15 bushes in my yard are in full bloom along with the 3 flowering almond bushes. All over town they are blooming and it is so beautiful. Just wish I could open my windows and get the scented breeze blowing in. Only 45 degrees out now and raining.

What a beautiful Day!

Warm and Humid sums up today.

I took many photos today and was busy all day and it is so nice to see the sun and blue skies.

The apple tree is almost in full bloom and spent some time chasing bumble bees and other insects as they fed on the blossoms. I also spent some time down on the ground with the honeybees as they fed on the dandelions.

Apple Blossoms

Blossom of the apple trees!

Mossy trunks all gnarled and hoary,

Grey boughs tipped with rose-veined glory,
Clustered petals soft as fleece
Garlanding old apple trees!

How you gleam at break of day!
When the coy sun, glancing rarely,
Pouts and sparkles in the pearly
Pendulous dewdrops, twinkling gay
On each dancing leaf and spray.

Through your latticed boughs on high,
Framed in rosy wreaths, one catches
Brief kaleidoscopic snatches
Of deep lapis-lazuli
In the April-coloured sky.

When the sundown's dying brand
Leaves your beauty to the tender
Magic spells of moonlight splendour,
Glimmering clouds of bloom you stand,
Turning earth to fairyland.

Cease, wild winds, O, cease to blow!
Apple-blossom, fluttering, flying,
Palely on the green turf lying,
Vanishing like winter snow;
Swift as joy to come and go. 

Mathilde Blind

~

Little Brook

There is this little brook that I like to go set by and just listen to the sounds of the forest. Some days like today I just can't focus on anything, so I head off to sit and think by this little brook. The sound of the water is so soothing and it calms me and helps me think. 

Have you got a brook in your little heart,

Where bashful flowers blow,

And blushing birds go down to drink,

And shadows tremble so?

And nobody knows, so still it flows,

That any brook is there;

And yet your little draught of life

Is daily drunken there.

Then look out for the little brook in March,

When the rivers overflow,

And the snows come hurrying from the hills,

And the bridges often go.

And later, in August it may be,

When the meadows parching lie,

Beware, lest this little brook of life

Some burning noon go dry!

~Emily Dickinson

Nice day....

It was a nice day, but the wind was blowing out of the North East and made it a bit cold. I stayed around the house and did some gardening and watched the birds. I also was also able to watch a feeding bumblebee on the gooseberry flowers. 

 I did some changes to the bird bath so I could get some shots of birds taking a bath. A little change here and there and I got it almost right. This Yellow Bellied Sapsucker was really enjoying himself.

Even had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak stop by and grab some lunch today.

The White Crowned Sparrows were everywhere today. They loved the bird bath and even sang for me.

I would say it was a great day, but it ended on a sad note. While I was watching the birds feed a swift flying Merlin flew in and grabbed a White Throated Sparrow. I guess they have to eat too.

Also I have an UPDATE on Mommy squirrel. She is back with her young ones again, but to my surprise she has three of them.

Evicted Twice!

I thought I had evicted mommy squirrel and her two little ones, but some how one of them did not leave. I had blocked up the hole and it was trapped till late this afternoon. It took me over an hour to chase this little one out. It had chewed a hole into the house boards and went into my attic. When I was trying to chase it out it slipped through the hole. So I blocked everything up and left an opening for it to leave. About an hour later I seen it climbing down the bush. So I rushed out and plugged the hole up. Mommy squirrel moved her other little one to the tree next door and this one seems to be on it's own. It did eat a bit at the feeder and than ran up a tree. I'm hoping mommy squirrel finds it...I'll keep watch. the Choke Cherry is in full bloom and the two Apple trees will be blooming in about 2 days time. I love photographing apple blossoms. Will keep an eye on the tree and as soon as they start I will be shooting away.

Evicted

Well I had to evict mommy squirrel and her two young ones. I had no choice, they had made a bad mess of my eves and started chewing on the house. I feel bad, but she will find another home. I seen them running across the yard and up a large oak tree. Anyways it is going to get cold tonight and I hope it don't freeze to bad. I mostly took photos of the birds and squirrels at the feeders today. It was just to windy out and chilly for any good macro photography today. I covered some plants up and hope the rest make it. One question...where did our spring go?

 Enjoying Lunch

 Making a choice

 I'm trying to eat it here...do you mind not taking my picture!

White Crowned Sparrow enjoying an afternoon bath.

Orange

 A sour bite!

 Baltimore Oriole

 Enjoying the orange

It rained all day and I sat and worked on images I took over the last few days. I set up a small tripod on my computer desk and placed my camera on it and took photos through the window of the feeding birds and squirrels. Mostly what I shot today was just the Orioles and squirrels feeding on oranges. It is really amazing how fast it greened up. Won't be long and I will be mowing the lawn, but will wait till the dandelions are done blooming.

Stormy

It was really stormy last night and I for the first time tried to photograph lightning. 

I was able to get a few shots, but nothing really good. I did get some other shots that were good.

My garden is really growing and I am working in it everyday. I am heading out to do some more photography this afternoon as soon as my batteries charge.

 Trout Lily

 Large-flowered Trillium

 Lightning

Lightning

Cloudy and Rainy day!

I hung around the house today and did some yard work. It rained for a few hours, but i was still able to get some yard work done. I also took a few shots, but nothing to exciting. Did have a Nashville Warbler stop by for a quick drink from my smallest of ponds. Still have a few White Crowned Sparrows hanging around and 3 Baltimore Orioles. They sure enjoy the grape jelly and the squirrels also.