Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
Another Day at Work
Apis Workers' Party
Predator
Some of Your Beeswax
Sedum Bumbler
Look of Defiance
Chicory Bee
Bumbling Bees
Garden Cafe
Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond
Pick Your Poison
Blind Side Attack
On a Mission
Honey Bee on Sedum
Covering the Cosmos
Center of the Cosmos
Three's a Crowd
Popular Spot
On A Pedestal
Big Harry Fireworks Display
To Impress the Girl
Different Perspective
Sweet Ride
Perfect Little Piggies B&W
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Festival of Flights
To the Crowd's Delight
Amish Go Round
Wondersome One
The Stars In Her Eyes
Tuesday's Child
Sleeper Hold
Considering the Next Move
Sugar and Spice
Front Porch Portrait
Caged Competitor
Early Adoration
Child In the Ligtht
Stroll Through the Weeds
Attention Grabbing
Eye Contact
On the Line
Eyes of Wonder
Rounding the Curve
Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Down by the Creek
Sun Day
Catching Some Light
EAA Fireworks
Hear Me Roar
Pops Photos
Thick as Thieves
This seems to be an early autumn convention of Boxelder bugs. They’ve congregated at the bottom of a tree.
When it begins to cool down in Wisconsin, these bugs may form large aggregations while sunning themselves in areas near their host plant – usually maple or ash trees. I’ve also seen them gather in other odd places…the corner of a building, around a door way, etc.
They are harmless to humans but considered nuisance pests. When the temperatures begin to cool in the fall, they sometimes invade houses and other man-made structures seeking warmth or a place to overwinter.
People often mistaken them with insects known as Stink Bugs – a different species. However, boxelder bugs will release a pungent and bad-tasting compound upon being disturbed to discourage predation; this allows them to form conspicuous gatherings without being preyed on.
To get a better view, click on the top photo and a larger image will open in a new browser tab.
Homestead Fog
We’ve had a number of foggy mornings. On one of those mornings, I took my camera out into the field behind our house and snapped a few. The foreground of chopped corn stalks adds something to the scene – I think a bit depressing.
To view a larger version of this image, click on the photo.
Red Velvet
The light behind these red leaves gave them a unique, velvety quality. Thanks you, Autumn, for brightening our lives.
Get a look at a larger version of this image by clicking on the photo.
Autumn Upshot
The wild sumac plant provides plenty of color and interesting patterns. It’s one of the first plants to change color – to a bright red – in early autumn.
To view a larger version of this photo, click on the photo.
Wonder Leaf
This is another view of the sumac plant in early fall. This example is in transition. In a short time, all the leaves in this frame will be bright, scarlet red. (As you can see, in the previous post.)
Click on the image to view a larger version.
Scarlet Barbs
It’s bright! It’s bold! It’s serrated! It’s red! It’s sumac in the fall! The slender green leaves of the sumac plant turn this bright red color when autumn arrives in N.E. Wisconsin.
To view a larger version of this image, click on the photo.
Autumn’s Palette
I love the way the color and light were dancing among these leaves of autumn.
This is another shot taken while waiting to pick up my wife at her place of work. The earlier post – Fall Arrangement – was from the same shoot.
This looks even better in the larger version. Click the photo to see for yourself.
Cascading Sumac
One of the first plants to show it’s autumn colors is the sumac. The leaves turn from a deep green to a bright scarlet red.
To get a closer look at this photo, click on it.
Fall Arrangement
This is another image opportunity, made possible by having my camera close. I was picking up my wife from her place of work and while I was waiting for her to emerge, I decided to snap a few images of the colorful, changing leaves on the trees nearby. After a few minutes, she came out and, on my way back to the car, I noticed these leaves on the sidewalk . I knelt down, snapped a few frames, dropped my camera back its case and we were off.
I love the deep, rich tones of these leaves, accentuated by the drops that remained after a earlier light rain.
Coral Fungi
This is unusual stuff. It’s a fresh bunch of coral fungi growing among the decaying mater on a N.E. Wisconsin forest floor.
Coral fungi is also commonly called club fungi. A more accurate name is clavarioid fungi. This type of fungi typically has erect, simple or branched basidiocarps (fruit bodies) that are formed on the ground, on decaying vegetation, or on dead wood.
To get a closer look, click on the image and a larger version will open in a new browser tab.