First signs of Spring

These little beauties survived single digit temps this past week to greet me this morning.

Don't you just love Spring?

Snails

Early Summer of 2006 was very wet here.
They were everywhere.

Flash Frozen

While much of the country got snow on Wednesday, we got rain. Lots of rain after 2 inches of snow/sleet over frozen ground. Then the temperature dropped very fast. So fast that the runoff was frozen in place.
This is not flowing water, it is all ice.
I shot these the next day near sunset, it was 17 degrees at the time and very windy. The wind chill was below zero, too cold to worry much about camera settings.

First Amaryllis Flowers

This is the first time this baby 'Apple Blossom' bulb has flowered.

It was a little sprout on the original bulb, 4 years ago. It bloomed exactly 4 weeks after being planted. They usually take 6 weeks or more. I have a big 20 year old red one slowly waking up.

Insect Collage

I got the idea for this last night.

January Shots

A couple recent shots. The last of the Milkweed seeds as they are captured by the wind.
A very early Vinca / Periwinkle.

Winter Color

One of 5 Hibiscus flowers gracing my living room, yesterday.

Global Warming ???

We should be knee deep in snow and Ice Fishing now. In stead we are breaking temperature records and getting a tan. The Swan didn't even bother to fly south. Shots taken yesterday at Ames Nowell State Park, 7 minutes from home.
Happy New Year.

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.