Fun with PaintShop

A couple of my early 'Circles'. A Yellow Swallowtail above and Pear blossoms below.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Fun with PaintShop Pro, the gift I gave myself this year.

Star of Bethlehem (flower)

The name of this flower is appropriate for this week.


I got some new software, can you tell? Stay tuned.

Sun Dog

This is the one year anniversary for this image, taken from my back yard.
It's what is known as a "Sun Dog", when the sun and high clouds are at just the right angle to cause the ice crystals in the cloud to reflect so brightly. Here the real sun is on the right. There is often a second Sun Dog on the other side of the sun but the clouds were too thin for a good reflection.

Autumn Cherry Blossoms

What a surprise to see Cherry blossoms at the end of November but here they are.
They are a variety that occasionally bloom in warm spells. Just a few here and there.

New Hibiscus

This tropical Hibiscus was a gift a few months ago, this is the first flower.

Black Locust tree borer

A colorful adult enjoying nectar and polen of a Sedum flower.

Autumn Mushroom

Two images of the same mushroom taken a week apart.

I'm told that as they stretch and expose the 'fins' they are getting ready to release their spores.

This one is growing under an old Cedar tree.

PhotoShow # 13

Lucky # 13 is ready. Wet Stuff, mostly plants and flowers with a couple bugs for this 4 minute show.

PhotoShow # 12

The hard frost has put an end to my insect photography for the season so here are the rest of my bug pics in PhotoShow # 12, "Bugs 2006".
Please use the link (My PhotoShows) to the right again to see the show.
This little butterfly is an 'American Copper', about an inch wide. It was a real challenge to capture. There are about 4 dozen shots of some common and a few unusual insects from my yard. No scary spiders or snakes in this show that runs about 6 minutes.
Comments are welcome.

Predators

I've just finished PhotoShow # 11, called Predators. Use the PhotoShow link at the right and click on this image to watch.

It's my best and longest so far. Over 40 images set to music. It runs for about 5 minutes. All shots are from this past season in and around my gardens. I hope you like it.

Sweetgum color

Sweetgum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua) are the last to turn color but it is worth the wait. One tree can display almost every Autumn color imaginable at the same time.

"Wolf Spider"

This one caught my eye as I walked by the patio chair. It was casually resting on the arm and was not bothered by the camera lens in it's face.

These are common around here but this one was larger than most.

Good Morning

An early morning shot of a green bee coming out of a Malva flower.

These are the last real flowers in my garden. Every thing else has been killed by frost.

"Grape Hyacinth"

My 'worms eye' view of this small Spring bulb.
Now is the time to plant these beauties for a nice show next May.

"Yellow Swallowtail" butterfly

Sometimes I get lucky and find a cooperative butterfly. This one was an old tattered one enjoying the nectar and pollen on some Candy Lilies.

Balloon Flower

A true blue early summer bloomer. This variety is the dwarf "Sentimental Blue", about 8 to 10 inches tall, heat and drought tolerant. A long lived perennial that's easy to start from seed.

Bug on my laptop

When the weather is pleasant I like to sit on the patio with the laptop.
One day I had a surprise visitor. A small Robber fly.
It's a nasty looking thing but a beneficial predator that eats lots of 'bad' bugs.

Hibiscus "Disco Bell"

One of my favorite perennials that I started from seed.
This was taken in the morning through dappled light after a shower.

Shadow Darner 2

I almost walked into this big beauty yesterday.
It patiently allowed me to snap a dozen shots before the wings started to vibrate. Two seconds later, it was gone.

Green Squash Bug

A nasty little insect that's often called a Stink bug because if you squish it, it stinks. Even the Praying Mantis don't like them.

This may give you an idea of it's size.

That's Sidekick Sarah in the background. You'll meet her later.

Single Malva 'Zebrina'

This colorful gem is about an inch and a half wide, sprouting from the main stem and not always easy to see behind the leaves. The plant is a half-hardy Hollyhock that reseeds itself a bit too well. Plant it once and you will have it for ever.
I enjoy it for the late season color, it can take temps down to 27 degrees F.

Volunteer Petunia

I never know what will come up through the cracks in the driveway. This season, among other things, this little petunia sprouted and bloomed. Today I've added another link, 'Nature Journal'. There are some interesting pics there, as well as links to even more bug, flower and wildlife images. Worth a look.

I hope my blog keeps you interested and you will visit often. Comments are now open to everyone, if you are not a blogger please sign your comments. Each and every one is appreciated.

Keep a positive attitude, it will brighten your day.
Andy P

New Beta Format

I have 'upgraded' to Beta, I hope this works.
I've inserted a small image at the top, here it is full size.
The dragonfly was on the clothes line which afforded me a unique angle, I could look up at it.

Dahlias

I love my Dahlias this time of year. When most other flowers have passed, these beauties keep going right up until frost.
Many gardeners think they are too much trouble because they have to be dug up in the Fall. I always have a few dozen planted around the house. The digging, and storing process takes about an hour on a nice Autumn day. For that I get about 4 months of blooms the next season for free. I like free.
Some gardeners buy them in 6 packs in Spring and use them as annuals. That's OK but they don't reach their full potential until the second season.
They are very easy, relatively pest free and Butterflies love them.

Leaf-footed Bugs

That's what they are called.
The first two are nymphs, note the immature wings.
The last is an adult of a different species.

Another Daffodil

What happened to yesterdays pics? They don't show at full size when I click on them.


I don't have time to re-do the entire blog so I'll add another Daffodil today. Hope this one works.

It's Spring Bulb Planting Time

Everyone anticipates the early colors of Spring bulbs. Now is the time to plant them. They are easy and rewarding. Get digging.
Some extra early Honey Cream Crocus. Small flowers often come up through the snow.

My favorite blue Spring flowers, Chionodoxa, Glory in the Snow. They spread nicely in a few years.

I'll post an interesting 'Life Cycle' series on these later.

Daffodils make a big splash, they also multiply well. The easiest large flowered Spring bulb.Then come the Tulips and Grape Hyacinths.

I hope these few images inspire you to plant some Spring bulbs. They are well worth the small effort.

Wet Plants

Misty mornings offer an opportunity for interesting shots.

The first is a Gladiola leaf.
Second is a Hens & Chicks.
Last is a Sedum leaf.

Mating Mantis

Shortly after posting yesterday I found these two getting acquainted. Little did I know that that Monarch butterfly was her pre-coital meal.
This sequence took place over 3 hours, on and in a large Butterfly bush. Not an easy location to photograph.