Reach For the Light

Reach For the Light
Originally uploaded by Ontario Wanderer

I managed to get close to a Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) this morning. He was very obliging in staying still for a good 5 minutes while I got closer and closer.

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.