A real life "Spring Beauty"

Yesterday I had the fun  of visiting Helen Lee's Daffodil Garden near Gladewater Texas to see and shoot daffodils. One of the great surprises of the day was getting to see a flower I had long overlooked. This is the very small blossom of Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica). This plant is an early spring bloomer throughout most of North America. It is often one of the earliest signs of spring. I also learned that the coal miners of Appalachia refer to it as "Miner's Lettuce" as it was often used in hand picked salads.

Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

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Virginia Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica)

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Preposterous & Pink!

On a visit to the Fort Worth Zoo last week I spent some time  really watching the flamingos. The more I watched them and zoomed in on them with my 400 mm lens the more preposterous they seemed to become. After sifting the water for food, they would raise their heads up and always seemed to have a perplexed look as if they were startled that the world was still there all around them.  I was particularly taken by the beads of water than remained on their feather. I think these add a nice touch to this image.

Their bill is also a bit on the preposterous side as it seems so awkward up close. It also appears more leathery than I ever expected.

Oh, in case you did not notice, they are preposterously pink in color as well ! This is a result of their diet and the fact that they extract the pigment beta carotene (among others) from the microbes and zooplankton they sieve from the water. These pigments are then added to the growing feathers. A young flamingo appears grey until it has eaten enough to begin to turn its plumage pink.

Pink Flamingo

Ft. Worth Zoo

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Thoughts & Prayers for our Kiwi Brothers & Sisters....

In honor of those impacted by this week's devastating earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand. A view of New Zealand's tallest Peak, Mt Cook (Aoraki) reflected in the Tasman River.

Mt Cook (Aoraki) reflected in the Tasman River

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Beebonnet

Last year I was lucky enough to get word of a small (several acre) patch of bluebonnets just a couple miles from my home here in  in North Texas. I spent portions of several days visiting this patch hoping to get some good landscapes of these iconic Texas flowers (bluebonnets are the state flower of Texas and Texans are rightly proud of this!) I was successful at composing some pleasing landscapes, but I also was able to get a few good macro shots of individual blossoms. This image, titled "Beebonnet" is my favorite of the bunch as the bee was a most willing and cooperative "model"!  

Beebonnet

Allen, Texas

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The Fires of Mordor

I took this image near Queenstown, New Zealand looking across Lake Wakatipu  toward the Remarkables mountain range. The sky was not looking favorable for much of a sunset shot and then a break in the clouds allowed me to see the front of the Remarkables bathed in the last light sandwiched between the lower clouds and a fog bank just above the lake surface. I named this shot "The Fires of Mordor" as it had the foreboding feeling straight out of the Lord of the Rings books.

The Fires of Mordor

Queenstown, New Zealand

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FOCUS

"FOCUS"

Tawny Eagle

Center for Birds of Prey, Awendaw, South Carolina

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A Splash of Winter Color

The past two weeks in North Texas have been unusually cold and wintry with plenty of snow and ice for us. Over the first eight school days of February, our students only went to school for 3 of them -- unheard of here in Texas! The cold weather also put the natural world to sleep here as we had the coldest temperatures this area has seem in 20 years with night time temperatures down to 9 degrees F with windchills below zero! I was very lucky to have the pleasure of several cardinals visit our yard to grab a nutritious snack in the midst of the brutal cold.

Lady Cardinal

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Male Cardinal Perched in our Globe Willow Tree

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Teton Twilight - An Ode to Maxfield Parrish

Even as a kid I really enjoyed the look of  Maxfield Parrish's work. He seemed to always find the perfect hue of blue to supplement the mood of whatever piece he was creating. I am especially keen on his tones of cobalt blue.... this twilight silhouette makes me feel that I captured some of his spirit as I clicked the shutter here.

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Visions of Spring......

This week's WORDLESS WEDNESDAY post.... click the link to see other wordless offerings....

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TODAY'S FLOWERS has lots of other floral images!
MACRO FLOWERS SATURDAY  & FLOWERS ON SATURDAY are also a great places to get your "floral fix"!
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Urquhart Castle - Loch Ness

Today's post in honor of Scenic Sunday & My World is from a trip I took to Scotland. Urquhart Castle dates from the 13th century and it's ruins are one of the most visited sites in all of Scotland. This is probably due (in part) to the fact that it is located on the shore of Loch Ness and most of the "Nessie" sightings have been within a mile or so of this  castle. The local folks we chatted with were of the opinion that "Nessie" was most likely a large Sturgeon. That theory does not get much press as it would not be good for tourism! I hope you enjoy  your short visit to medieval Scotland!

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Avian Condo

This week's SKYWATCH FRIDAY post is the view of a silhouetted birdhouse from Pawley's Island, South Carolina. Talk about prime real estate!

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Marmota flaviventris- The Rockpile Sentinel

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Yellow Bellied Marmot

Grand Teton National Park

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