Garden visitor

Walking through the arboretum we spied this little guy chomping on the plants.  Do they know they have a hungry visitor eating the displays?

 

Japanese garden

The entrance to the Japanese garden at the R.C.Raulston Arboretum.  The bell made a deep gonging sound, but it would take a good wind to make it sound.

 

Three Amigos

These three Killdeer were running along the edge of the lake.

 

Singer

We could hear him long before we could see him.  Carolina Wrens have a big voice in a small body.

 

Feed Me

The petals look like sharp teeth.  Maybe that's where the idea for Little Shop of Horrors came from?

 

Strolling along

This heron was peacefully walking along the edge of the lake.

 

Stay a little longer

Going back to Shelly lake, we found the same great egret in the same place.  He must have decided he likes it here.

 

Clouds in the Lake

The clouds were reflected in the lake like a mirror.

 

Snap

This common snapping turtle was basking in the water, just waiting for an unsuspecting fish.

(see here)

 

Ready for next spring

This bald eagle's nest has raised many seasons of young.  It's empty now, waiting for the next brood in the spring.

 

Visitor

A great egret came to visit at Shelly Lake.

 

Conversation

What do crows talk about when they meet up?

I'm not sure but it's very loud and raucous. 

Maybe naughty jokes?

 

Cicada season

We missed the 17 year cicada invasion, but we still have our late summer buzz.  You don't so much notice them until they stop and your headache goes away and the constant pressure in your ears stops.

 

Lily

A water lily in the reflecting pool in the Rodin Garden at the North Carolina Museum of Art.  

 

Shades

This group is called the "Three Shades"  by Auguste Rodin.  (see here)  It was originally part of a major work called "The Gates of Hell".  I think it's in a much nicer place in the Rodin Garden at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

 

Not a butterfly

Look who else was enjoying the flower field at the art museum!

They were eating, either seeds or bugs.  There were plenty of both.

 

One last beauty

I think this one is a clouded sulfur.  (See here)

Yet another butterfly in the flower field at the art museum.

 

Tiger

A Tiger Swallowtail snacks on a zinnia in the flower field at the museum of art.

 

Common

This lovely guy is a common buckeye.  I can see the eye part...

 

Butterfly

There were butterflies everywhere in the flower field at the art museum.  This one (I think) is a black swallowtail.

 

Monarch number 3

Unless the same butterfly is following us, we found monarch number 3 in the sunflower field at the art museum.

 

Finally sunflowers

We went back to check on the sunflower fields at the museum of art. 

Finally they're all in bloom in a field of flowers!

 

Are you kidding me?

This sculpture by Auguste Rodin embodies how I've felt this last year and more.  

 

Fun times in the fountain

Any place there's water, kids will find something fun to do.

 

Dragons

Standing in one place by the pond, we saw dragonflies everywhere.

 

Yay for the monarchs

The second monarch of the year!  

 

Canopy

Looking up on a summer day.

 

Fairy walk?

The trail was designated a Fairy walk.

It started out with a few gnomes in the woods.

It added things in the trees.

This one looked a little sinister.

It was the witches cauldron at the end that made me wonder.

 

Bluebird of (Un)happiness

This bluebird was not too happy during the rain.

 

Crane-fly orchid

We saw the leaves last winter, now in summer come the flowers.

Hundreds of little spikes of orchids popping out of the ground.

See here for more about these little guys.

Ironweed

Calling a plant a "weed" gives it a bad rap.  I wouldn't mind having this Ironweed pop up in my garden.

 

Dragonfly

This little guy is an Eastern Amberwing.  That's a pretty descriptive name.  Kind of like calling your dog Spot.