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
Macro
Bugleweed In Bloom
These pretty little flowers are actually considered by many to be an invasive weed. This is bugleweed, also known as Ajuga, ground pine, carpet bugle, or just bugle. It is a genus of flowering plants in the Ajugeae tribe of the mint family Lamiaceae.
This is a patch from my in-laws yard in northwest Missouri. Bugleweed is a low-maintenance perennial grown for its colorful foliage and groundcover habit. In the spring, it produces purple/blue flower spikes about 6″ tall. Sometimes it bloom again in the summer and into fall.
To get a better look at these flowers, click on the image.
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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
X-Wing Landed
A dragonfly with intricate wing patterns took a rest on the forest floor. The outstretched wings showcase the beauty and delicacy of its structure.
I was on a slow walk through northwest Missouri woods when this small dragonfly zipped by me. My eyes followed it’s movement until it landed. Then I crept slowly, taking photos as I approached and got remarkably close before it zipped away.
This was a small specimen – the body only about and inch and a half from head to tail. I was so impressed by the banding over the eyes that I included a larger crop for you to enjoy.
If you click on either photo, a larger version will open in a new browser tab. I encourage you to click on both to get closer…and even closer. Cool stuff!
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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Springing to Life
Rising from the dead leaves remaining from autumn, we find the crocus. This is one of the very first signs of spring. I photographed these welcome beauties sprouting in northwest Missouri at the beginning of March 2024.
According to Wikipedia… “Crocuses are low growing plants, whose flower stems remain underground, that bear relatively large white, yellow, orange or purple flowers and then become dormant after flowering. Many are cultivated for their flowers, appearing in autumn, winter, or spring. The flowers close at night and in overcast weather conditions. The crocus has been known throughout recorded history, mainly as the source of saffron. Saffron is obtained from the dried stigma of Crocus sativus, an autumn-blooming species. It is valued as a spice and dyestuff, and is one of the most expensive spices in the world.”
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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Siberian Squill
This tiny blue flower is one of the earliest spring bloomers. This is Siberian Squill. You will find it low to the ground and you have to look quick, because they don’t bloom long. It’s one of our favorite flowers in our rural Wisconsin the flower bed.
You can get a larger, more detailed view by clicking on the image.
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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Moment of Reflection
These common wasps seemed to be admiring themselves in the water’s reflection. Actually, they were getting a drink at the birdbath in our yard.
I happened to notice a few wasps at the birdbath one day and keep watching. I found a steady stream of wasps visiting the birdbath all day long. Shortly after, I discovered a steady stream of wasps flying up into a corner of our house. They obviously they had built a nest there.
I also found a couple of wasp nests in the ground of our yard. It must have been a good year for wasps in our area. On a good note, they were never bothersome to us; a little worrisome when one found its way into the house, but no stings. (Ironically, my wife was stung by one while hiking during our vacation in South Dakota.)
You can get a better, more detailed look at these 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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Western Salsify
While hiking though the woods in South Dakota we came upon this blooming weed. It is western salsify. It is also known as goat’s beard. It has been described as a dandelion on steroids because it looks similar to a dandelion but the plant can grow to several fee tall and the bloom can span 4-5 inches.
You can view the very cool details 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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Shaggy Ink Cap Mushrrom
This is an interesting growth I noticed in the newly-harvested field next to our home. A quick search revealed that it is a Shaggy Ink Cap Mushroom. Apparently, they are edible and quite delicious when fresh.
This is a rather large mushroom and it caught my eye because it was standing tall in the field of stubble. This mushroom is also known by the name, “lawyer’s wig.” They don’t last long, as you can see in the photo on the right. This is a view of the same mushroom just two days later. As far as being edible, they are one of the “fool proof four” along with giant puffballs, chicken of the woods, and morels.
You can get a slightly larger, more detailed view of either of these images by clicking on them.
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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
It’s a Trap
When the flowers began to fade and summer was being pushed out by autumn; an opportunistic spider was taking one last shot at securing a store of food before winter.
As I’ve mentioned before, when people ask what kind of photographer I am (as in, Landscape, Wildlife, Portrait, etc.) I tell them I just capture whatever catches my eye. This is one of those photographs. I’m not sure if any will appreciate it but the more I look at it, the more I like it. I like the variety and depth of colors and the near-perfect symmetry of the web.
You are looking at a spider web that was prominently placed in a large flower pot. The flower pot occupies a corner of the cement pad in front of our garage. I captured this on an early morning walk around my yard, while the dew was still clinging to the web. The spider was nowhere to be found.
If you’d like to see a larger version of 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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
War Bonnet
The attention-grabbing, bold color and contrast on this small butterfly’s wings are clearly a work of God’s design and creativity.
Last month, during a trip to the Branson, Missouri area I spent a couple of hours at the Butterfly Palace. They have a variety of winged creatures flitting around their man-made tropical environment. When in the area, I try to make my way there because I’m always sure to get some worthwhile images.
The detail in this butterfly’s wings is amazing. You can get a better view 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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Keen Green
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 (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.