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Green

Quiet Company

Image of a small butterfly on an aster bloom. A delicate, Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly rests on a vibrant purple aster bloom, its wings softly spread. An out of focus bee can be seen zipping by in the background above.

Look closely at the bottom of the butterfly’s hindwings; you’ll see tiny, delicate hair-like tails that give the species its name. Here’s a fun fact…the Eastern Tailed-Blue often rubs its hindwings together when perched. This movement makes the tiny tails wiggle, which is thought to trick predators like birds or spiders into attacking the “wrong end” of the butterfly, allowing it to escape with only a small piece of wing missing.

You can get a better look at those hair-like tails by clicking on the photo.  That will bring up a much larger, more detailed image in a new browser tab.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Going for Gold

Bee, Bumblebee, Orange-Belted Bumblebee, Wildflower, Yellow

While hiking a trait to a waterfall in Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota, I spotted a patch of yellow wildflowers.  The flowers were humming with busy bees. As I focused in on the bees, I noticed the orange area of their abdomen. While processing this image I did a quick internet search and learned these are orange-banded bumblebees. I don’t think I’ve seen this variety (Bombus ternarius) before.  If you zoom in, you can see the legs of the bee covered with pollen from the flowers. You can learn more about this variety of bee at Bees Wiki.

For a larger, more detailed look at this image, click on the photo.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Behind the Bloom

Hibiscus, Pink, Flower, Buds, Dew

This is the backside of a hibiscus bloom; with buds waiting for their turn in the foreground. This was taken in the early morning, while the dew was still lingering. This is from a hibiscus plant in the back yard of our northwest Missouri home.

I like this close-up capture because it showcases the delicate fold of the petals adorned with dewdrops. The green buds and leaves contrast beautifully with the vivid pink.

You can view a larger version of this image by clicking on the photo. When you do a full-screen version will open in a new browser tab.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Rambling Wild Beauty

Wild Rose, Wildflower, White

These delicate white flowers are a version of a Wild Rose. This plant was found on a hike through the woods of northwest Missouri. Don’t you love the pink bud?

You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image by clicking on the photo.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Fall Creeping Up

Vine, Tree, Fall Colors, Autumn

Autumn leaves in shades of red, orange, and green climb a tree trunk with rough, textured bark. This seemed like a nice mix texture and autumn hues which I captured on a hike through the woodlands of Branson, Missouri.

You can view a larger, more detailed version of this photo by clicking on the photo.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Where the Deer and the Antelope Lay

Pronghorn Antelope, Antelope, Buck, Horns

A pronghorn antelope buck was resting in a patch of prairie in South Dakota’s Custer State Park.  He wasn’t alone.  A hundred or so yards away his harem of does (6 or 7) were grazing in the prairie. Apparently, that’s the way it works in pronghorn culture.

You can view a larger, more detailed version of this image – where you can count the flies on the buck – by clicking on the photo.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Tall Drink

Waterfall, Silver Falls State Park

A picturesque waterfall cascades down a rocky cliffside into a tranquil pool below, surrounded by lush greenery and moss-covered rocks. This is South Falls – a 177-foot (54 m) drop – at Silver Falls State Park near Portland, Oregon.

You can see this same fall from a different angle on my earlier post, South Falls at Silver Falls State Park.

You can view this image in a larger, more detailed version by clicking the photo. When you do, it will open up in a new browser window.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Baubles of Nature

Leaf, Dew, Drops, Rain

A vibrant green leaf is adorned with multiple water droplets along its scalloped edges, creating a fresh and dewy appearance. I like the serene feeling the soft background lighting gives this image.

This is an image from one of my slow walks through the woods of northwest Missouri. The colors and simplicity of this image makes it one of my favorites. This was actually taken a few years back.  I have plenty of nice shots I just haven’t gotten around to processing.

If you want to get a better view of the detail in that leaf, click on the photo and a larger version will open in a new browser tab.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Keen Green

Green, Butterfly

This was one of my favorite butterflies found at the Butterfly Palace in Branson, Missouri.  Whenever I’m in Branson, I try to make it to the Butterfly Palace and gather a few out-of-the-ordinary images.  I’ve never seen or photographed this species.

According to Wikipedia, the Philaethria dido, the scarce bamboo page or dido longwing, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Central America and tropical South America, both east and west of the Andes, from Brazil and Ecuador northwards to Mexico.

Get a closer look by clicking on the photo.  The eyes are always cool and the antennae are particularly long.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.

Be Anxious for Nothing

Inspirational, Philippians, Girl, Relax

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – – Philippians 4:6-6 

This is a photo I took of one of the grands. She had such a carefree attitude I thought it would make a good image for this scripture.

You can view a larger, full-screen version of this image by clicking on the photo.

All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.