Nature Close to Home

If you have followed or read my blog entries for the current summer of 2014, you may have noticed I have not written about any trips away from my home area. I have not been able make trips as I would like and normally due for various reasons this summer, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing to observe and photograph. The photos for this entry come from my yard, a nearby park, and Dumont Lake which is less than 30 miles away and makes for a good evening trip. While talking to a group this past spring on being a “Naturalist”, I had pointed out that you can start in your own yard and local parks. So that is just what I have done in the past week or so.

Dog Day Cicada Close

While I have enjoyed Monarch Butterflies and prairie flowers in my yard all summer, there is always something waiting to be discovered. While taking out the dog that I was watching for my daughter-in-law, I happened to see something on a tree in my front yard. Upon closer inspection I wished I had seen the nearly emerged cicada a little sooner and been able to photograph it coming out, but there are times you must take what you can and be satisfied with that. Also in my yard are two of my favorite late summer flowers; Stiff Goldenrod and Wingstem.

Ailanthus Webworm Moth

Upon visiting a nearby park I found Tall Coneflower which I had been wanting to photograph but didn’t really like working along a busy road. At the park there are large stands of this coneflower and even some galls insects on them. While working my way along the mowed edges there were other flowers of interest as well. There were also birds on the old gravel pit lake and even an Osprey flying over.

Virgins Bower

The dew was heavy (a photographers dream come true) and made for some great photos and sights. Although the spider web pictures didn’t turn out as I wanted, the dewy Virgin’s Bower was spectacular.

Purple Loosestrife

As I moved along the lake shore I found Swamp Milkweed with Monarch larvae on them. There was also the dreaded Purple Loosestrife which when looked at up close is a beautiful flower, but don’t get me wrong I am not advocating the use or preservation of this plant.

Craig at Dumont Lake

As I shared the other day from Dumont Lake in a kayak, I decided to go back with the canoe and boots on so that I could get out with my macro lens. There in the fens along the shore of the lake are many interesting and beautiful flowers. There were Joe-pye Weed, Blue Vervain, Marsh Milkweeds and Bellfowers, Shrubby Cinquefoil and Grass of Parnasus to name a few. The Sandhill Cranes were back, at least 15 of them at one time.

Grass of Parnassus

As I was getting back into the canoe I noticed a water plant that had been pulled loose and was floating next to me. Upon further inspection I found it was a carnivorous bladderwort that would be a good specimen on which I could photograph the bladders.