Wild Grasses are Flourishing

I set out to capture the Foxtail

and was delighted with the resulting tiered landscape.

Joining Outdoor Wednesday w/Susan

Solitary

Spied this lone Cedar Waxwing at dusk.

A beautiful 'masked bandit'.

Who to my delight, sat still for long time.

Bombycilla cedrorum

With thin, lisping cries, flocks of Cedar Waxwings descend on berry-laden trees and hedges, to flutter among the branches as they feast. These birds are sociable at all seasons, and it is rare to see just one waxwing. Occasionally a line of waxwings perched on a branch will pass a berry back and forth, from bill to bill, until one of them swallows it. This species has a more southerly range than the Bohemian Waxwing, and is a familiar visitor to most parts of this continent south of the Arctic.

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

Occupation Determined by Name?

The owner's name is Frank R. Crash.

Joining Signs, Signs w/Lesley

Silhouette

Hummingbird in Silhouette

Nice to see they take a break sometimes.

Joining Black & White Wednesday w/Adrienne

Friends?

On a day trip to Pymatuning State Park and Lake,

we spied this domestic goose. 

Graylag Goose ???

It headed toward these Canada Geese.

But was just ignored.

Still following them

And still being ignored.

When alone; fend for yourself.

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart
and
Outdoor Wednesday w/Susan

Floral Wednesday - 04 August 2016

White Rose of Sharon

The color transformation from bud to bloom is fascinating.

This hardy hibiscus is an easy-to-grow shrub. It is valued for its tight, upright form and large summer blossoms, adding color to the landscape when few other plants are in bloom. Flowers are trumpet-shaped and come in a variety of colors including white, pink, red, purple and violet.

The rose-of-sharon is suited to formal or informal plantings, groupings, shrub borders, hedges and screens and grows to a height of 8–12' and a spread of 6–10' at maturity.

Joining Floral Wednesday with Riitta

and

Floral Friday w/Nick

'Sharp' Contrast

Sharp in more ways than one

Canada Thistle

Joining Black n White Wednesday

Meadow Land

Butterflies were scarce in this meadow area 

of the local state park.

But still a pleasant area to wander through.

Joining Outdoor Wednesday w/Susan

Quiet Neighborhood

Recently while indulging my other hobby of family research,

I took a moment to cross the country road 
and look down at this creek. 

It was a calm and relaxing moment out of the heat.

Joining Water World Wednesday w/Kim

Shasta Daisy

For Joanna's Floral Mosaics

and

Riitta's Flower Wednesday

Shasta Daisy

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Crazy Daisy'

Over and Over and Over

Enjoyed watching this training exercise from afar.

   

 

Joining Water World Wednesday

Always Polite

We just love these perky little 

Chippy Sparrows

Occasionally they light on the feeder where

more often than not

they are dive bombed by the larger birds.

But not to worry.

They simply and politely turn the other cheek

and move along to the grass.

Where they know the bigger birds

will have knocked lots of seed to the ground. 

A nice view of his crown.

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

Mother Nature Never Ceases to Amaze

McConnells Mill State Park

McConnells Mill State Park is a 2,546 acres Pennsylvania state park in the United States. The park features a deep scenic gorge accessible by a roadway that winds between large, room-sized boulders on the hillside. McConnells Mill State Park is along the Slippery Rock Creek.

McConnells Mill State Park was chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and its Bureau of Parks as one of "25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks".

Flowing north or south?

Depends on whether you were here in the Ice Age or Today.

Hemlock Trees (the PA state tree) abound in this area.

Geology

The geology of the park was also heavily influenced by the glacial effects of the ice age: a large glacial lake (water that was held in place by a glacier), broke about 140,000 years ago. This break in the glacial dam caused a dramatic change in the flow of the water. The lake that had previously drained in a northward direction was now draining to the south. The drastic change in direction and very high volume of water flow created Slippery Rock Creek Gorge.

 

The bedrock was formed over 300,000,000 years ago as layers of peat, mud and sand were compressed. This part of Pennsylvania was a coastal area at the time. 

The layers of bedrock were built into mountains as the continental plates shifted. The layers of bedrock had different strengths. Some of the layers eroded quickly and others eroded at a much slower pace. The various erosion rates account for the variety of geologic features at McConnells Mill State Park

 Environment

McConnells Mill State Park lies within the Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests ecoregion.

Joining

Trees and Bushes

and

Outdoor Wednesday

A Bit Miffed

This Belted Kingfisher was a bit miffed

at an intruding Green Heron.

Megaceryle alcyon

	Streams, lakes, bays, coasts; nests in banks. During winter and migration, may be found in almost any waterside habitat, including the edges of small streams and ponds, large rivers and lakes, marshes, estuaries, and rocky coastlines; seems to require only clear water for fishing. During breeding season, more restricted to areas with suitable dirt banks for nesting holes.

Joining Wild Bird Wednesday w/Stewart

Lakeside Reflections

Early morning

Simple pleasure

this is the day the Lord hath made

let us rejoice and be glad in it

Joining Water World Wednesday w/Kim

Perfect Ending

to an evening on the lake.

Hoping this thundercloud and others

bring much needed rain.

Joining Water World w/Kim