Listen ! It's a Lime.

Listen ! It's a Lime.
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

In Euell Gibbons' book, Stalking the Healthful Herbs, I was introduced to the idea of listening and smelling for trees. He was searching for the Basswood tree (Tilia americana). The photo above is of a close European relative (Tilia cordata) or Small-leaved Lime also called the Small-leaved Lindin. It too can be found by sound and smell. The smell is of the tens of thousands of small flowers and the sound is of the many insects that it attracts. The tree area just buzzes with insect wing noises. It's a totally neat experience to be there when it blooms. This is one of several of the species that live in the RBG Arboretum.

Yellow Avens

Yellow Avens
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

Stipules, those leaf-like appendages found at the base of the leaf stems, are what separate Yellow Avens from Wood Avens. Both Yellow Avens and Wood Avens have flowers that look like this one. This is the Yellow Avens

Moth Against the Wall

Moth Against the Wall
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

The 365 theme this week is contrast. I did not know that when I took this photo but it seems to fill the bill as the contrast of coloured moth against cement wall is quite strong. Needless to say, it was not very well hidden. It was in the shadow of an axe handle that somewhat matched it's colour but moving the axe handle make it stand out like a beacon. (Maybe an un-beacon?)

Not Quite in the Gloaming

Not Quite in the Gloaming
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

Looking for simple shapes in the environment for a Photoshop project, I saw these thimbleberries showing up against a dark tree trunk a few minutes before sunset. Putting the camera slightly out of focus helped the effect.

Large Musical Instrument Under Construction

Large Musical Instrument Under Construction
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

This will be part of this summer's Earth Art Exhibition at the Royal Botanical Gardens. The instrument was under construction. I can hardly wait to see it finished.

Tall Grass or Short Deer?

Tall Grass or Short Deer?
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

Both actually. I went to our west pond to look for fish and found this little guy instead. When I walked to the left side of the pond to avoid disturbing the deer, it followed me.
The deer may be more of a problem this year as the numbers seem to be increasing and they are increasingly bold.

If the Bench Were Green . . .

If the Bench Were Green . . .
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

. . . it would have been perfectly hidden.
If anyone know the name of this moth, please let me know.
I have lots of keys to sort out wild flowers but I don't know any good ways to sort out butterflies and moths. I just look for photos that seem to match and then read descriptions. It is a very slow and ineffective way to look.

Ant Critic

Ant Critic
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

I was working at photographing a piece of "art" that I am working on and this ant came to investigate. It seemed to like the piece as it spent quite a bit of time there. Something about the beeswax smell perhaps?