Macro Monday

The other day while in the woods, I saw a spider unlike any I had ever noticed before. I took some pictures. (I know that is shocking!) I then walked about ten feet and found another of the same kind!




Spider photos follow!




























These female Spined Mucrathena Spiders (Micratthena gracilis) were easy to identify because nothing else looks anything like them.

Only the females have the black and white spines. I saw the male on the web of the first spider, but he was so small and non-descript, I couldn't get the camera to focus on him.

Even the females were less than half an inch long.
The spines are supposed to both act as camouflage and
make them look unappetizing.

The web was perfectly round. Click to enlarge to actually see the web.

I'm linking to Macro Monday at Lisa's Chaos.
Stop by and see what macros you can see today!
-Susan

Macro Friday

I really will get back to critter photos soon. But lately, I've been a bit fungus-obsessed. Unlike most of my obsessions, mushrooms don't move. And they are around virtually anytime I look. And they are nearly infinitely variable. And often bright colors.

Soon I hope to be able to identify some of these mushrooms, too.
I have a book on the way.

So, without further preamble, here are today's msuhroom macros.

This is the bottom of the bright orange shelf-type one from the other day.



I think these look like shells.

I love the scalloped edge.




This one must be good to eat, at least if you're a slug or bug.



These look like flowers to me.

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

Watery Wednesday

This is my creek. After a rain, I can hear it splashing and talking from my deck. I have played and waded and skated on this creek. I've thrown and skipped rocks. My daughter has done the same. I've tried to catch fish. I've successfully caught many crayfish and frogs and toads in it. I've even caught a snake or two sunning on the banks. From standing in the creek, I have spied deer, pileated woodpeckers, bluebirds,
and even morels.


It's not a big creek.
Many branches are down in it from the ice storm in 2009.
There are sandstones and salamanders and snails.
It seems cool down at the creek, even when it is sweltering.
If it weren't for the ticks, I'd probably live in the creek.

I love my creek.

This is linked to Watery Wednesday.

Thanks for stopping by!
-Susan

Mushroomy Macro Monday

Well, it would seem I have been on a bit of a vacation the last week. In truth, I've just been insanely busy and a bit uninspired. But, I'm back and enthusiastic! Part of my enthusiasm comes from discovering simply the coolest mushroom blog ever! If you like the stuff I photograph, but with a fungal-emphasis, then you will love Mycologista! I wish I knew how I found it, but the important thing is I did.

So here are just a few of the mushrooms I found yesterday on my walk in Shakerag Woods.

The above mushrooms seemed to be on every fallen log.

I liked the light coming through this one.




It was a good day for orangey-yellow mushrooms.





Below is the underside of the same mushroom.

The following were inside a hollow log.


My mom thinks it looks like meringue that is browning. It sort of does.

More merunigue?



Above and below are the same mushroom.



I haven't identified any of these mushrooms partly because I haven't really had the time to try yet and partly because it can be really hard.

I'm linking to Macro Monday at Lisa's Chaos.
Stop by and see what macros you can see today!
-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 Monday

I'm linking to Macro Monday at Lisa's Chaos.
Stop by and see what macros you can see today!
-Susan

Flowers on Saturday

Yesterday, we got to go back to one of our favorite places-
Land Between the Lakes.
Anyone who has been reading this blog long knows we go any chance we get. Much like a day spent in Shakerag, a day in LBL will certainly lead to adventure.

While not actually LBL, a trip to the area always includes a visit to Barkley Dam. Yesterday, we saw a dozen or so Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons a plenty, and several Double-Crested Comorants flying about.

As we were leaving, we saw a White-Tailed Doe with her frolicking twins. I see deer nearly everyday in Shakerag, but I can't think when I've seen deer playing.

Not twenty yards beyond the deer, we saw a pair of Northern Bobwhites crossing the road. Seeing and hearing Bobwhites used to be quite common, but not anymore.

We went to our favorite lake access and had a picknick, then played in the water, and went to the Nature Station.

There we saw the usual assortment of amazing animals, most of which we never get to see up close in the wild, and some, like the pair of Red Wolves, that we'd never get to see at all otherwise.

But for all this adventure, nearly the only photos that turned out well were the ones of the Wild Bergamot. You see, unlike the abundant Ruby-throated Hummingbirds or my children, the flowers didn't move around much at all. Keeping track of two kiddos even with the assistance of my mother, is quite a job these days. Maybe soon we can go back again to LBL and between my mother and Hubby, I can actually take a few pictures!




Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is a native wildflower. It's a member of the mint family, and the leaves smell lovely when crushed, but not minty. Bergamot comes in many varieties including a cultivated type with red flowers. No matter the color of the flowers, hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies love bergamot. Another name for it is Bee Balm. Grandma used to call it shaving brush plant.

Don't forget to stop by Blueberry Craft and Hobby Time by clicking on the logo at the top of this post to see what other flowers this Saturday brings.

-Susan