Tuesday in the park

Well, the groundhog may have seen his shadow, but plants, animals, and fungi around here sure think it is early spring. Earlier this week, we had the chance to take the kids to a park. 

These photos are part of what I found.

Does anyone know what the flower below is? It is quite small and grows in the woods. 

I haven't been able to identify it.

Below is one of my all-time favorite trees. It's a favorite of my mom's as well. 

It was my grandmother's favorite tree, too. I love it.

I don't know if I am more taken with the moss or the roots.
Decisions, decisions!

The photo doesn't do it justice, but the moss was aglow.

Why, yes, I did photograph mushrooms! How did you guess?

I don't know what these are, except pretty. Of that I am sure.

See the mushrooms in the next picture? They are red.

I think they are Sarcoscypha coccinea. They are commonly known as Scarlet Cups or, 

more fancifully, as Scarlet Elf Caps. 

In the guides, these are listed as an early spring mushroom. How exciting!

As always, feel free to click on any picture for a closer look.

Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you think.

Don't forget to stop by

blogging from bolivia to link up your own Macro Friday post!

-Susan

Critter of the Day

Today's Critter of the Day is an immature male Magnolia Warbler.

This adorable little guy collided with my living room window earlier this week.

At first, I didn't know what he was- except that he was a warbler. He definitely has an insect-eating beak.

They don't call them confusing fall warblers for nothing. My mom, expert birder that she is, thought he was a Magnolia Warbler despite him not looking quite like the book.

After a bit of searching online, I found a photo of a first year male.

It looked just like him!

Aren't the feathers on his back pretty?

After a few minutes resting in a cardboard box, he became restless. He flew almost as soon as I opened the box, but wasn't quite ready to fly into the woods. He posed for a few moments while he regained his bearings. I'm glad he did. I only wish the sun hadn't be so close to setting.

The light sure could have been better.

You can tell he is feeling better now.

This was my last glimpse before he flew away.

As always, you can click on any of the photos for a closer look.

Don't forget to
stop by

blogging from bolivia
to link up your own Macro Friday post!

-Susan

                                                                  

More Mushroomy Macros

It has been quite dry of late and, unfortunately, that means not many mushrooms about. I do understand that not all of my readers are fungi-philes, but I am. Ticks are the other problem I have had lately. It is impossible to go out into the woods without bringing in passengers. But we had some rain yesterday, and the days are shorter so the ticks are less of a problem. I'm looking forward to a wonderful autumn!

This particular mushroom I photographed a while ago at Land Between the Lakes.

It was growing right in the road.

At first I thought it was a rusty piece of metal.

Then I thought it was a puffball.

It is neither.

I strongly suspect it is a Pisolithus tinctorius, also known as

the dyemaker's puffball.

It is not a true puffball, merely a mushroom with a thin outer "skin" that disintegrates upon maturity.

When immature it can be used to dye wool.

Once I got home and looked it up I wished I had taken more pictures of it or even collected it.

Maybe I'll find one again sometime.

Have a super weekend!

Don't forget to
stop by

blogging from bolivia
to link up your own Macro Friday post!

-Susan

Macro Friday- A Walk in the Yard

Most of what I photograph is within a quarter of a mile of my house, unless otherwise noted. This time, all of the photographs were taken literally in my front or back yard.

This male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) appeared to be drinking water off the gravel of my drivaway after a rain.

This Leaf Footed Bug (Acanthocephala terminalis) was enjoying my deck.

Yes, I love a good mushroom photograph. I wish I knew what kind it is, but I don't.

An adorable grasshopper nymph on a red clover leaf.


After turing over a board I discovered this
Common Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris).


I also found a female spider with her egg sac.




Spider photos to follow!





Arachnophobes proceed no further!

Unfortunately, I was unable to determine what kind of spider she is.


She looks similar to a Rabid Wolf Spider (Rabidosa rabida),

but she also resembles a Fishing Spider (Dolomedes okefinokensis).

If I can find her again and if her babies have hatched and if they are riding on her abdomen, she is a Wolf Spider. That is a strangly maternal behavior unique to Wolf Spiders.

As always, you can click on any of the photos for a closer look.

Don't forget to
stop by

blogging from bolivia
to link up your own Macro Friday post!

-Susan

Macro Friday

This is a male Slaty Skimmer (Libellula incesta) who posed just a few seconds.
I wish I had had the opportunity to snap a few more of him.

As always, you can click on any of the photos for a closer look.

Don't forget to
stop by

blogging from bolivia
to link up your own Macro Friday post!

-Susan

Butterfly Macro Friday

It's Friday again! As a stay at home mom, I enjoy weekends with Hubby, but the perpetual Moday-dread I've had most of my life is gone. I love having adventures with the kiddos, too! Happy Friday!

So far this year the butterflies have not been as cooperative as they were last year, but I did manage to get a few shots this week.

Here is a male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) who was posing outside my back door.

He didn't seem to mind my photographing him, but, even so, he didn't stay long.


Below is the dark morph female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

She was really enjoying the monarda, but wouldn't hold still. She has a lovely solid (or nearly so) black body, which turned out blurring in all my shots.

The next butterfly pair took a lot of identifying. And I'm still not sure.
I *think* this is a pair of Pearl Crescents (Phyciodes tharos).

According to Butterflies and Moths of North America, they are quite variable, but the males usually have black antenna knobs. Black antenna knobs- check!

They also have those cute, little upturned "noses."

They are also quite pretty when they finally open their wings.

As always, you can click on any of the photos for a closer look.

Don't forget to
stop by

blogging from bolivia
to link up your own Macro Friday post!

-Susan

Mushroom Macro Friday

In May, I got a mushroom growing kit. As a big-time mushroom eater, I've wanted one of these kits for quite a few years. I purchased mine from Field and Forest , although they are available from other places, too. It grows Crimini or Portabella mushrooms. The difference being when they are harvested. When they look like ordinary button mushrooms, they are called Crimini. When they open fully, they are called Portabella (or Portobello, depending on whom you ask).

Above is one of the first mushrooms I harvested yesterday.

I started these on May 21st.

Each of these teeny balls will become a mushroom.


Mushrooms grow in cycles, known as flushes, every one to two weeks.


This kit should continue to produce mushrooms for two to three months. It was my first mushroom kit, but will not be my last!

As always, you can click on any of the photos for a closer look.

Don't forget to
stop by

blogging from bolivia
to link up your own Macro Friday post!

-Susan

Macro Friday

Fun at the duck pond.



Like water off a duck's back. . .

As always, you can click on any of the photos for a closer look.

Don't forget to
stop by

blogging from bolivia
to link up your own Macro Friday post!

-Susan