Jul 31
Posted: under Plantlife, Wildlife.
Tags: beauty, native plants, observation, photography, Weather July 31st, 2010
Significant rain in July is uncommon, and we picked up inches and inches–after the very dry spring and early summer, this was a relief to us and to everything that lives on the place.
Switchgrass head-high in July
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Significant rain in July is uncommon, and we picked up inches and inches–after the very dry spring and early summer, this was a relief to us and to everything that lives on the place.
Switchgrass head-high in July
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Jul 20
Posted: under Wildlife, photography.
Tags: beauty, insect, photography July 20th, 2010
Today when hanging up the wash, I spotted something small on the end of a clothespin that was hanging upside down from the line. It was the same mottled dull gray-brown as the clothespin itself, and it was between the V of the angled ends. I carefully removed the clothespin from the line and put [...] [...more]
Today when hanging up the wash, I spotted something small on the end of a clothespin that was hanging upside down from the line. It was the same mottled dull gray-brown as the clothespin itself, and it was between the V of the angled ends. I carefully removed the clothespin from the line and put it on the table, then went to get my camera. After a fruitless search for the macro lens (I put it somewhere safe. Very safe. Too safe) I had to use the zoom lens, which is a sort of zoom macro but won’t focus closer than about 18 inches. Read the rest of this entry »
Jul 09
Posted: under Wildlife, photography.
Tags: beauty, dragonfly, insect, odonates, photography July 9th, 2010
Today, after the rains of the past two weeks–and then a hot sunny midday–we had more species of odonates at the lily pond than I’ve seen yet this year. And the males all wanted a landing site on this stick:
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Today, after the rains of the past two weeks–and then a hot sunny midday–we had more species of odonates at the lily pond than I’ve seen yet this year. And the males all wanted a landing site on this stick:
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Jul 01
Posted: under Plantlife, Water, Wildlife, photography.
Tags: Animal behavior, beauty, dragonfly, insect, observation, odonates, photography July 1st, 2010
When I went out yesterday about noon, I found four of these lovely pink waterlily flowers open:
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When I went out yesterday about noon, I found four of these lovely pink waterlily flowers open:
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Jun 29
Posted: under Mortality, Wildlife, photography.
Tags: Animal behavior, beauty, butterflies, dragonfly, photography, predation, spider June 29th, 2010
We had thunder and rain this afternoon for several hours, but around six, sun broke through enough to illuminate the newly refilled lily pond. I went out to see what was going on with pondlife. Two male Neon Skimmers, Libellula croceipennis, were harrassing the four or five male Blue Dashers, Pachydiplax longipennis, and also pestering [...] [...more]
We had thunder and rain this afternoon for several hours, but around six, sun broke through enough to illuminate the newly refilled lily pond. I went out to see what was going on with pondlife. Two male Neon Skimmers, Libellula croceipennis, were harrassing the four or five male Blue Dashers, Pachydiplax longipennis, and also pestering the two female Neon Skimmers who were ovipositing in the pond.

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Jun 06
Posted: under Plantlife, Wildlife, photography.
Tags: beauty, butterflies, insect, photography, prairie restoration June 6th, 2010
A few pictures from a week ago, May 30, and also from yesterday, June 5, as what’s blooming and in what abundance changes rapidly–especially in the hot, dry weather we’re having. (We did get 3/10 of an inch of rain. It barely wet the ground.)
Variegated Fritillary, Euptoita claudia, on Gaillardia
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A few pictures from a week ago, May 30, and also from yesterday, June 5, as what’s blooming and in what abundance changes rapidly–especially in the hot, dry weather we’re having. (We did get 3/10 of an inch of rain. It barely wet the ground.)
Variegated Fritillary, Euptoita claudia, on Gaillardia
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May 29
Posted: under Plantlife, photography.
Tags: beauty, native plants, photography, prairie restoration May 29th, 2010
Near Meadow: Claspleaf Coneflower and Lemon Horsemint
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Near Meadow: Claspleaf Coneflower and Lemon Horsemint
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May 28
Posted: under Plantlife, Wildlife, photography.
Tags: beauty, beetle, butterflies, photography, prairie restoration May 28th, 2010
The basketflower, Centaurea americana, looks much like a thistle at first…but the stem and leaves are not prickly at all. It’s a favorite of Black Swallowtail butterflies (and Giant Swallowtails, if there’s enough moisture for the flowers to last into summer) and many smaller butterflies. And also other insects.
Beetle flying toward Basketflower already occupied by [...] [...more]
The basketflower, Centaurea americana, looks much like a thistle at first…but the stem and leaves are not prickly at all. It’s a favorite of Black Swallowtail butterflies (and Giant Swallowtails, if there’s enough moisture for the flowers to last into summer) and many smaller butterflies. And also other insects.
Beetle flying toward Basketflower already occupied by Black Swallowtail
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May 24
Posted: under Activities, Climate Change, Water, Wildlife.
Tags: Activities, amphibians, Animal behavior, beauty, documentation, observation, photography, wildlife management May 24th, 2010
Young Rana berlandieri with last of its tail showing.
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Young Rana berlandieri with last of its tail showing.
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May 20
Posted: under Wildlife, photography.
Tags: Animal behavior, beauty, observation, photography, reptile behavior, snake May 20th, 2010
If you’re one of the people who hate and fear all snakes, this might be a moment to remind yourself that this one is merely an image in the computer, as well as a small, slender, agile reptile that is harmless to us humans.
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If you’re one of the people who hate and fear all snakes, this might be a moment to remind yourself that this one is merely an image in the computer, as well as a small, slender, agile reptile that is harmless to us humans.
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