Fist Of Fury

This vine caught my eye because it looked like a fist hanging in mid air.

When Red Ants Dream...

...they dream of battle!

Ladybug, Ladybug...

Ladybug, ladybug fly away home,

Your house is on fire and your children are gone.

Bummer!

Along Came A Spider

I found this guy hanging out on the back side of a sign in Tom Sawyer park. I believe it is an orchard spider, one of the many long jawed orb weavers. I like the fact that his legs almost appear to be made of glass.

Posing A Cicada

Yeah, OK... So I didn't actually get this cicada to pose, but at least it came down to a branch low enough for me to get a photo. It's been my experience that they do not stick around once they sense you've seen them.

Milkweed Bug

Just your standard Milkweed Bug but this one looks particularly happy.

Jewelweed, Nature's Poison Ivy Remedy

Up close and personal with a jewelweed flower. Some say that the sap from the jewelweed stems can be used to treat skin irritations like poison ivy rash, bee stings and other insect bites. There is some debate as to how effective it really is for those purposes. It may, however, get you exposed to poison ivy because it seems that wherever you find jewelweed, poison ivy will be nearby.

Return Of The Monarch

The Monarch butterflies are starting to show up in Tom Sawyer Park again. I shot this one on 8/13/2011 and am hoping there will be more where this guy came from. They truly remind me of flying stained glass.

Sunny Face

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do."
~Helen Keller

Passion Flower 2011

I find these plants fascinating. There seems to be a lot going on there. I underwent heavy bee buzzing to get this photo.

There's One In Every Crowd...

"...Because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

~From the Apple ad

Under Cover

A stealthy deer watches from her hiding place.

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Mantidfly

Found this guy lurking on top of my clothes dryer. I thought it was a baby Praying Mantis but, after studying this photo of it, I discovered it's actually a Mantidfly, Leptomantispa Pulchella. Unfortunately, it died two days later. Too bad because I understand they dine on other bugs.

The Tingley Fountain

This is the top portion of the Tingley Fountain at Cave Hill Cemetery. I think this is the first time I've seen it with the water turned on. The kids underneath this lady freak me out a little so I tend to concentrate on just the lady.

Duck

When I look at this duck, I can't help thinking he would look good as a postage stamp.

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Did Not Sound Like A Freight Train!

Download Tornado_Sirens_2011-06-22_22-1.mp3

The sounds of a summer evening in the midwest. Lots of tornadoes this year.

Early Morning Deer Encounter

Even though it has happened quite often to me lately, I still get a bit of a thrill when I spot a nearby deer while hiking in the local state park. They are usually very easily frightened and bolt before I ever get to take a good look at them. Today, however, that was not the case. This doe spotted me before I spotted her (as usual) but when I did see her and aimed my camera, she did not run off. She was definitely on high alert, but she did not panic at the sound of my camera or my movements. She even let me shoot a little video before leaving the area.

Because she was not in a hurry to leave, I was able to take my time while shooting. It was early in the morning, just minutes after a heavy rain, so the plants were all wet and very green, making for a misty, dreamy photo opportunity.