This photo was taken by my trail cam early one morning. I’m not sure what set off the motion sensor but the diffraction of light through our ligustrum hedge made an interesting abstract pattern, almost like a veil.
This painted bunting (Passerina ciris) was spotted at Felts Audubon Sanctuary. The Audubon Society Guide to North American Birds says that the painted bunting is often called “Nonpareil,” meaning “unrivalled.” Coming from Illinois the most colorful bird we had was the cardinal. Facebook friends from northern climates were amazed that such a bird existed outside of the rain forest. We are lucky to have such visitors in Florida.
Taken with a Canon 80D camera, Tamron 150-600 mm lens at 600 mm, f/8, ISO 1000, 1/50 sec.
I was able to capture this dragonfly resting on my orchid today. The silhouette against the sky seemed to work well in black and white. The face seems a little unworldly. Have a happy and safe 4th of July.
Selby Garden announced that they will have a future exhibit of Lichtenstein’s take on Monet’s Garden. This inspired me to look at some of the pictures I took at Giverny.
On a recent trip to Costa Rica at Bogarin Sloth Trail in La Fortuna, we caught this 3-toed sloth on the ground. They live in trees most of their lives but come to the ground about once a week to go urinate. Most of the group was looking for sloths in the trees so I was looking on the ground for frogs and flowers and happened to spot this fellow our guide missed. They have algae in their fur, hence the green color. The translation of the Latin word for sloth is without care.
My eastern black swallowtail larva are now mature. About time since they have stripped my parsley bed. They are so desperate they tried to eat the sage. I liked the details of the head of this eating machine. I am reminded of the book I used to read to my boys, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
While exploring my back yard for interesting subjects for macro photography I encountered this interesting beetle. A search of the internet revealed it to be Artipus floridanus Horn, AKA the little leaf notcher. It is a Florida Native and a pest on citrus and many ornamentals .
Every year the eastern black swallowtail butterfly, Papilio polyxenes asterius (Stoll) lays eggs on my parsley. This was taken on 6/4/2020 and is the 2nd instar larva. There are 5 instars (stages) between the egg and pupa. I enjoy watching the life cycle of these animals and don’t mind losing a few herbs.
I was attracted to the abstract nature of these lychens on a piece of bark that fell off a Live Oak in our yard. In a search for other images online I came across this quote from Dick Rauh (https://www.asba-art.org/article/science-botanical-art-lichens). He draws a relationship between the symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae and the relationship between other dissimilar organisms that should life in harmony. Seems appropriate in these times.
“For me, used to the symmetry inherent in flower morphology, the almost rampant irregularity of the groups’ structure has a special appeal. Within the vast range of lichens I have yet to come upon any surfaces that were predictable, or exactly duplicated any other. I think it is perhaps this challenge, more than any other, that draws us to these amazing organisms. Or perhaps it is the sentimental wonder in this contentious world of ours, that there are actually two disparate living things that get along in mutual harmony.” – David Rauh
May 25, 2020, On this Memorial Day I am reminded of all of those who have sacrificed for us. These flags were flying over Normandy, France at the D Day memorial. It highlights the people of many nations that gave there lives.
I noticed this venusta orchard spider in our lanai while I was photographing flowers.
I am posting this one for Carolyn Eliason. I found this light pole in Jaco, Costa Rica. Most of the surfaces near this city park were painted. This seems like a great idea to brighten up the city.
