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
Spring
Singing for Supper
These young tree swallows are hungry and waiting for mom to serve up lunch. They are only about a week old, but growing fast. There are six in this nest box; one of several around our property.
Normally, when you open the nest box to look in our their progress, these young birds are very calm and sleep-like. I trick them to stretch and open their mouths my faking them out with a little whistle. When the mom returns with food, her motherly chirp will perk them up and they open up for the meal she’s brought. So, all it takes it is a little chirp of a whistle and they all bob up, mouths open, waiting. Don’t worry, they don’t stay hungry and wanting for long. Within in moments after close up the house, the parents are flying back in and out with food for them.
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Overflow Seating
Every spring we look forward to the return of bluebirds and tree swallows. We have next boxes around the edges of our yard to encourage homesteading. It’s always a treat to see them building their nests and then watch as the eggs hatch and the babies develop.
This is a view inside a nest box claimed by Eastern Bluebirds. These baby bluebirds are becoming quite cramped in the small confines of the nest box. Though you can’t see all of them, there are five youngsters piled on top of each other. In a short time (I’m guessing a week or less), they will leave the nest.
When looking in on this crowd, we had to be sure none of them spilled out…which they almost did.
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Apple Blossom Time
It’s A Spring Thing
The fanciful colors of spring are sprouting with the new branch of a young tree. Spring came late this year but, in this case, it came with a burst of color.
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Meeting of the Ferns
This is an interesting study in natural design and form. These are bracken ferns in the early stages of their season. I found these on a recent springtime walk through the woods.
Like a flower blooming, these ferns uncurl upward and spread their fronds. In a couple of weeks, they will cover the forest floor with lush, green foliage.
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Heavy Lifting Morels
These are morel mushrooms. I photographed them just as I found them. As you can see, they were growing in a rocky area. It seems, as they grew, they picked up a couple of stones between them. They remind me of a pair of hands with mittens reaching up from the rocks.
Morels are edible and highly prized by their culinary fans. My wife is a true fan…as in fanatic. Her passion lies as much (or more) in finding them than eating them. It’s hard to keep her out of the woods this time of year.
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Simple Pleasures
Sometimes, life’s simple pleasures are the best. There’s nothing fancy about these wildflowers; found growing along a roadside. They are simple and beautiful in their simplicity.
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Siblings
On my way to an appointment, I happened to pass by a small pond in the city. I was running a little early so I stopped for a moment to snap a few frames of the new arrivals.
It’s hard to find anything cuter than newly hatched ducklings. These are your basic, wild, mallard variety babies. They just stepped out of the water so they’re still a bit damp.
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Spring Floral Flair
Daffodils are a common sign of spring. I found these growing naturally on a hillside in town. I particularly like the red flourish of this variety.
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Fresh Trillium
The trillium is a very common, early spring bloomer in our area. This specimen is at the very beginning of its bloom.
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