25 Jan
Stem Flow
We’ve had on and off rain recently.
Chemicals from the pine bark form a white flux when it rains.
It only flows from near the base of our only pine tree,
and can easily be seen from a distance.
The foam gradually slides down the bark of the pine tree and evaporates on the way down.
It will dry rather quickly after the rain stops, and the sun comes out.
13 Nov
There’s nothing like a close-up seat for viewing a visiting bird.
This visitor was a female Cooper’s hawk.
The females are bigger than the males.
This one spent time checking for any visitors in the yard.
Apparently, the large oak tree across the highway was the main tree magnet.
This last picture was taken after the clouds thinned later in the afternoon.
30 Sep
Ladybugs have held my attention lately. There’s been so many of them.
This pupa stage of a ladybug was on the trunk of a maple tree,
and the shed of another one was the other trunk. There were several of different sizes on the bark of the three maple trees in our backyard.
I doubt if their nymphs are pestered by other insects! Their spines look like they mean business.
This is a younger, smaller instar.
Ladybugs do overwinter as adults.
9 Sep
I have lots of rocks in the house and many many more edging the gardens in my backyard.
Most were picked for their shape, color and design.
This rock “bowl” holds water and attracts birds. It also reflects any nearby plants.
Any water movement in this “bowl” reflects small objects, clouds, nearby plants,
and clouds in the sky.
A light wind moves the reflections of a nearby vine.
1 Aug
I got up in the morning and looked out the picture window, and this spider was weaving his web.
He had it almost done.
He was a talented spider.
That came out every morning to recreate his work of art.
29 Jun
What fun it would be to watch the earth from a cloud way up high!
There’s a young cloud-girl on the right side of a cloud, way up high in the sky.
Her dog sits on the opposite side of the shallow cloud-bowl they’re sitting on.
I wonder what their view looks like from way up high?
2 Jun
A new animal set up residence in our backyard recently … a raccoon.
There are enough places for the coon to hide, especially under the barn.
The raccoon must be mostly nocturnal or have other small places to hide. The animals — foxes, raccoons, ground hogs take turns living there.
It stays close to barn where it can easily hide.
I wonder what it’s watching? Is it worried about another animal wanting a new “home?”
Our two-acre yard offers many places for wildlife to set up residence.
15 May
The bluebirds moved into my yard recently.
They wouldn’t show up if it weren’t for their bright colors. They can be easy to see if they’re perched just right in the sunlight. They do brighten up a person’s day.
This picture was taken the same day as the ones of the bluebird. I can’t explain why the picture turned out like it did. The white lines in the foreground are strands of spider silk. The other finer strands are part of a spider web. What I don’t understand are the tiny round spots?
9 May
This bluebird wasn’t hidden as much as it thought it was.
He reverses the direction for this picture.
The pale rust and pale blue blend in with its surroundings (squint and look at him.)
A different angle changes the shadow on the bluebirds.
Shadows help the bluebird to blend in with its surroundings.
