Nature Appreciation

[John Roberts]

Probably a Gray Hairstreak Butterfly, still have not found my butterfly book.

Yes! I never found my butterfly book, ordered another and .......A Lifer! This is a Fulvous Hairstreak....first time I have seen one of those.

Note the intricant design.....his head is actually in the flower....the tail end is designed to confuse predators......let me put up another blurry photo to further illustrate what I am talking about.

 

[John Roberts]

Which end is the head? left or right?

 

[John Roberts]

This morning's sunrise over the Indian River Lagoon, gave up my third cup of coffee for this shot

 

[TamedTiger]

This morning's sunrise over the Indian River Lagoon, gave up my third cup of coffee for this shot

I'd say it was definitely worth giving up every drop of that third cup of coffee. I'd give up coffee all together if I could wake up every morning to such a sight.

Very beautiful.

 

[John Roberts]

Here is Candlelabra Plant - Cassia alata
A host plant for Orange-barred Sulphur and Cloudless Sulphur butterflies.

 

[John Roberts]

Another Gulf Fritillary in the garden today on the firespike

 

[John Roberts]

another view of the same

 

[John Roberts]

Found an orchid I have been looking for. A small compact orchid....very nice......I will post photos again when more flowers are open.

Phalaenopsis amabilis- native to the Philipines....I forget which particular island.

 

[done_got_old]

Found an orchid I have been looking for. A small compact orchid....very nice......I will post photos again when more flowers are open.

Phalaenopsis amabilis- native to the Philipines....I forget which particular island.

You always bring a smile, when I see your name. Your pictures are wonderful!

 

[John Roberts]

You always bring a smile, when I see your name. Your pictures are wonderful!

Thank you DGO,
they are for those such as you.......beauty is all around us and within us, we have only to see it......

 

[done_got_old]

Thank you DGO,
they are for those such as you.......beauty is all around us and within us, we have only to see it......

......but so often we see the thorns and not the roses.

 

[John Roberts]

......but so often we see the thorns and not the roses.

Dang those things hurt! I had a dream last night.....watching a tidal wave encompass some vehicles rearrange them...smash them a little.....all those wonderful people I was with were caught up in the wonder of nature, they did not focus on their losses but were filled with an excited curiousity about the wave, where it came from, the power of it, what it did.
Certainly was telling me where I desire to be.
The switch in the mind is a powerful thing.....maybe if I flip it enough I can keep the light on.

 

[John Roberts]

Fly on Mexican Milkweed(scarlet milkweed) Asclepias c.

a host plant for Monarch and Queen Butterflies,

Not many Monarchs around Florida since the hurricanes, one very battered Monarch female was laying eggs in the garden last week, I am happy to say I noticed quite a few little Monarch catepillars munching away on my milkweed today.

 

[John Roberts]

Here are some of my babies.......the white and black is the larval Zebra longwing, the orange and black the larva of a Gulf Fritillary.
I collected the eggs and raised the catepillars......

 

[John Roberts]

Here is a shot of me releasing one of my Zebra Longwings.....the photo is blurry taken with my left hand....being righthanded I was not adept at using the camera....as you can see my right hand was occupied......the butterfly flew off before I could try for another shot.....These butterflies have been very rare since the Hurricanes went through.

 

[Cathleen]

Beautiful John.... thanks for sharing.

 

[John Roberts]

Beautiful John.... thanks for sharing.

You are welcome Cate....

 

[BareFootPagan]

Full Moon

I agree with most (probably all)of what has been said about full moons here

Last Night's was so gorgeous I felt compelled to go out BareFoot in the snow to enjoy her for a few minutes

 

[pleasteasme]

I did this a longggg time ago....like when I was 10 and didn't appreciate it as much as I do now.

My mom was house sitting for these people.....they had a very nice house in the country, off the road, surrounded by gentle rolling hills and lots of oak trees. They had a hot tub and we were invited to use it while we were there.....it was winter and oh soooo cold out.....but, sitting in the hot tub, with snow gently falling and watching the steam rise from the warm water.......and enjoying the beautiful scenery around us.....very serene, peaceful and how I would love to re-live that again

 

[John Roberts]

I did this a longggg time ago....like when I was 10 and didn't appreciate it as much as I do now.

My mom was house sitting for these people.....they had a very nice house in the country, off the road, surrounded by gentle rolling hills and lots of oak trees. They had a hot tub and we were invited to use it while we were there.....it was winter and oh soooo cold out.....but, sitting in the hot tub, with snow gently falling and watching the steam rise from the warm water.......and enjoying the beautiful scenery around us.....very serene, peaceful and how I would love to re-live that again

Thanks for sparking a memory pleasteasme,
I love how hushed the air is in snowfall.

 

[John Roberts]

Here is a Red Admiral Butterfly, the wind was whipping the Duranta repens where she perched sipping nectar, I had to chase her image all over to catch it.......these butterflies are shy in nature, I have been trying to photo one for sometime and they always fly off........I know what they think...."Pesky Humans!"

 

[Guest]

Just started some indoor roses, so where is the Spring?

 

[John Roberts]

Just started some indoor roses, so where is the Spring?

just a couple of months away at least here in Central Florida
I have not engaged in Rose gardening yet.... <grinning> I am sure I will get around to it and add it to my growing list of passions....I certainly need to win the lottery so I can indulge full time.

 

[John Roberts]

Re: Full Moon

I agree with most (probably all)of what has been said about full moons here

Last Night's was so gorgeous I felt compelled to go out BareFoot in the snow to enjoy her for a few minutes

You are bolder than I, being from the sub-tropics such cold would be unbearable to me.......How long can you last out there before beating a retreat? However I would like to observe a full moon in a snow clad landscape.

 

[Guest]

Now if I just survive getting past the Flu season in one piece.