Petals & Wings

It seems that I have an abundance of flower and bird images and so please bear with me for one more round of photos depicting what has caught my eye through summer.



I love the simple beauty of the wild chicory. I photograph it often.





Touch-me-nots (or Himalayan Balsam) are so named for the pods which grow and ripen late in the summer. One very gentle touch and they pop open to reveal the seeds inside. They're irresistible - kind of like nature's bubble wrap.





The pods were just beginning to grow on this plant iwhen the photo was taken. They sure do look pretty in the late-day sunlight.




As do these blushing rose hips.





I'm sure somebody, somewhere knows the name of this wildflower, but it isn't me.





Likewise for this lovely purple plant.





This one I know. It's a coneflower or echinacea.





Sometimes a blossom looks just as pretty from behind.
 

On to the birds...


Mallards are lovely creatures - even when they're moulting heavily. You can see the wee bits of green feathers just beginning to grow back on this fellow's head.





Male cardinals certainly add a splash of colour to their surroundings. This guy is eating Chez Frank.





And this sweet little sparrow became familiar to us over the course of a couple of days. Frank dubbed him Big Nose. Unfortunately, he wasn't coping as well as his mates. He'd stop by the feeding station and eat well enough, but he appeared to struggle and flutter to keep his balance. He flew just fine the first day but his wings didn't seem to be able to give him quite the lift he needed by the next day. By day three, he was clearly ailing - unable to fly at all. Frank tried to coax him into a cage where he'd be able to find food, water and safety from predators overnight but that was just not to be. I think a swift kill (if that happened) was probably the kinder end for Big Nose. We never saw him again after day three. In retrospect (and by Googling) we determined that he probably had the West Nile virus.





Rest in peace, little Big Nose.

Stay tuned for more photos in a few days.

Dreamy, Spring Day

It was a dreamy, spring day in March, and I felt as if my camera and I had a personal invitation to come out and watch the buds grow into their own. The little pond in the park is always a good place to enjoy life in progress.

Ordinarily, I wouldn't have have posted this photo. It's not in sharp focus. The mallard is not really in view, though he is striking an interesting pose on one foot. I snapped it through the twigs of a newly-budding bush and you can see its out-of-focus lines in foreground while still viewing the duck, rock and tree in the background. For some reason, I like how it all turned out. To me, it has something of a dreamy effect.

This leaf is about to unfurl. You can see the tiny, downy fluff protecting the tender shoots.

Poplar trees are beautiful in spring. Before they sprout their leaves, catkins emerge. At first they look a bit like pussy willows - all grey and fluffy, but that soon falls away and lovely, pink, miniature flower appear. They'll elongate and lighten in colour before they drop off to make room for the leaf.

This isn't new growth, but last year's rose hips. They looked so pretty in the golden sunlight and I couldn't resist snapping a shot.

Maple buds look something like a sea creature at this stage. Or maybe a koosh ball.

This is my climbing rose bush about to put out leaves. You can see the thorns which are out of focus. The plant was a gift from my son and is doing nicely for the third season.

A sunny, side view of a crocus. I took so many shots from this angle and that. And then Frank thought I should take some more. And I did. I couldn't quite get enough of it but I'll spare you by showing just the one.


In a few days, I'll share my foggy excursions with you.

A Floral Arrangement

I have flowers to share...

For openers, a view of a globeflower in my neighbour's garden.

My Croton stays indoors all winter but enjoys the outdoor weather in summer. It had just been rained upon.

The first Iris to bloom in my garden this year. I had a grand total of two. On the same stalk.

A solitary rose hip left over from last year's climbing roses. The blooms are profuse this year. I'll have photos somewhere down the blogging road.

Daisies growing along the edge of my yard. That's the driveway you see behind them.

And a closing shot of another Globeflower.

More photos coming up soon if the Blogger scheduler will oblige.

The Great Blue - Yonder (and Beyond)

It seems that every day recently, we've been seeing pairs of herons - often together, but sometimes just a short distance apart. A few of these encounters have been fly-by visits. A couple of majestic herons appear out of nowhere in the late-day sky, then swoop and dip as they follow the creek for a few meters in front of us, only to rise and continue flying high and far.



Other times, our walk through the off-paths often reveal a Great Blue Heron fishing for its breakfast. (Please click to enlarge)



This one was spotted about a five minute walk upstream of the first.

The herons seemed very nervous early on in the season. I would find myself startling them with even the slightest threat of inching in their direction. But after several encounters, they remain wary, but less concerned about my approach with the camera.



This wonderful creature watched as I approached him one morning, but never left its roost while I snapped photos. (Please click to enlarge)



Early one evening, I wandered out alone and saw this beauty fishing in the nearby pond. It seemed totally unconcerned with my presence - possibly grateful that Benny did not accompany me. (Please click to enlarge)



Kingfishers are rather elusive birds. You can often tell when one is nearby. Its rattle-like call alerts us to its presence. It seems that I no sooner focus on one, when it flies off to the next tree - just out of range. This Belted Kingfisher kindly posed for a shot before moving on. (Please click to enlarge)



A Comorant rests between fishing expeditions. (Please click to enlarge)



For those of you who don't like the creepy crawly things (myself included) don't look! I just liked the appearance of this web in the sunlight. (Please click to enlarge)



It's no wonder that the birds are attracted to this area. The fish are plentiful and the scenery is tranquil. (Please click to enlarge)



The sun's rays spill light upon the local pond and its banks, bathing it in diffused light. (Please click to enlarge)



On our way back from the evening walk, we usually stop and sit for a short while. There are apple trees across the path from one of the benches. These appear to be ripe, but were extremely tart to the taste. I didn't try one myself, but I could tell by the face Frank made. Too bad I didn't think to snap a shot of him. (Please click to enlarge)



I found this solitary clover growing in the early evening shadows of the cedar grove. (Please click to enlarge)



Nearby, chicory and rose hips (thanks for that ID, Blog Princess G) create a lovely contrast of colour. (Please click to enlarge)



And finally, for the ever-growing Benny Fan Club, here's one of our furry friend testing his swim and fetch skills. (Please click to enlarge)