Calm day at Cooper's pond

Not even a goose or turtle to stir up the water.

 

Boo!

 

Happy Halloween

Machinery

Was it left right where it stopped working?  Or is it really just a decoration for the garden?

 

Friends

Maybe they're whispering secrets to eachother, or just going for the same bug.  But they look like friends.

 

Monet

It looks like a Monet painting, but it's the reflection of a tree on the surface of the pond.

 

Fall sneaks in

The trees here don't change all at once, each one takes it's turn.

 

Mushroom colony

This tree stump was home to a colony of little mushrooms.

 

Buddies

 

A great blue heron and great egret were hanging out together at Lynn Lake.  They flew off in unison.

Afternoon at the lake

 

Killdeer

Two Killdeer hung out at the lake side

 

Jewel weed

This little flower is called Jewel weed, probably because it looks so bright.  It's native to most of the US and Canada, and was used as relief for poison ivy.  It's sap is also antifungal and can help with athlete's foot. (here)

 

A walk in the woods

The day after a rain, it was good to get outside.

 

Mr and Mrs. Bluebird

Mr. Bluebird and his wife stopped for a bit.

 

Along came a spider

This spider looks like it could scare Miss Muffet away.

 

Path

The path over the dam at Wilkerson Nature Preserve on a cloudy day.

 

This old persimmon tree was loaded with fruit and birds.

A chipping sparrow enjoyed the view.

 

Menace

How could such a pretty little beetle be a problem?  If it's a spotted cucumber beetle it is.  (here)

 

Frog on a log

This frog was happy on his log until I got too close.  Plop and he was gone.

 

Velociraptors everywhere

Is this a thing?  Everywhere I go I find little dinosaur models.

Either kids are losing their toys, or someone is trying to make a statement?

 

Turning

We've had some cooler weather, and the leaves are just beginning to change.

 

Kingfisher

I heard him laughing before I could see him.  A belted kingfisher looking over his domain.

 

Beauty

The American beauty bushes have their berries ready for birds.

 

End of summer blooming

Sometimes you have to look closely to see them.

Threadleaf Gerardia

Sometimes they're blazing in the sun.

The bees are still busy.

 

End of summer

End of summer doesn't mean the flowers are gone.  The bees are working on the asters.

The goldenrod is brilliant yellow.

 

Two lakes, two birds

Durant Nature Park has two lakes.  One large one small.

On this day, there was a heron fishing in the bigger lake.

And another, resting on a log in the smaller lake.

 

Welcome to the garden

The gate between the butterfly garden and the bird garden at Durant Nature Park.  

 

Resurrected

The resurrection ferns are thriving after a rain.

They are epiphytes, here they are living on rocks.  (here)  In a drought they shrivel up and look dead.  With the rains, they spring back into life.

 

Pearl crescent

This Pearl crescent butterfly was enjoying the yellow crownbeard.

 

Cloudless sulfur

Another butterfly.

 

What did Katy do?

The yellow crownbeard was a favorite for all kinds of insects.  This katydid was just enjoying the scenery.

 

Yellow crownbeard

These flowers always look messy.  They only have a few petals so they don't look right.  Like a symmetrical daisy that has lost its petals.

It's like a forest of yellow when you walk through the field.