Rainy Days

It seem rainy days are the norm right now

so here is some of the beauty it creates.

Beginning to venture into manual camera settings.

 This one reminds me of a water slide.

Large leaves; large drops.

Joining Outdoor Wednesday

Solitary Siloes

 

While out snapping barns I began to notice several siloes

standing alone

 

Siloes, without their barns

 

(raindrops are extra ;)

 

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PA Rhododendron

Rhododendron native to Pennsylvania bloom in early summer.

In the wild they can become bramble like

and when out walking or biking one might wonder

if there is a black bear lurking behind them.

PA. NATIVE RHODODENDRON



Although some species have not been proven dangerous, it is well to consider all members of the laurel rhododendron-azalea group of plants as potentially toxic.

(I didn't know that)

 

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Weekend Butterfly

Guessing some type of Skipper?

small



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Place for a Friend

Side by side with an imaginary friend

 

Click here to join:

 

My Pal

My Pal the Osprey

Getting more acquainted every time.

 



 

 

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State Insect

Venturing into MACROs so . . .

 This week's Critter is tiny.

Photuris pensylvanica, known by the common names Pennsylvania firefly, lightning bug,^[ and (in its larval state) glowworm, is a species of firefly from the United States and Canada.



An iconic symbol of summer — the flashing firefly — is disappearing nationally but appears to be alive, well and thriving in Western Pennsylvania, according to experts.

 

Firefly facts

• The firefly — officially named “Photuris pennsylvanica” — is Pennsylvania's state insect.

• The greenish-yellow light glows from the firefly's abdomen, the result of a chemical reaction.

• Fireflies use their light as a warning to predators at night and as part of a mating ritual.

• The glowing portion of fireflies was once used in medical research to track proteins in researching cystic fibrosis, cancer and multiple sclerosis. Now those materials are made synthetically.

• Firefly season in Pennsylvania usually runs through the mid-summer.



 

 Beneficial Role

Whether you know them as Lightning Bugs or Fireflies, these are beneficial insects. They don't bite, they have no pincers, they don't attack, they don't carry disease, they are not poisonous, they don't even fly very fast. The larvae of most species are specialized predators and feed on other insect larvae, snails and slugs. (They are also reported to feed on earthworms.)

 

 You don't want to miss:

 

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or

here

 

 

Direction in the Sky

The Sky, a Rooster and Direction

 

 It's all Good

 

Click to enjoy the skies at "Skywatch Friday":




Which Side?

Which side of the fence are you on?

 

Do you observe the party before jumping in?

Or are you the first one on the dance floor?

 

Do you enjoy being in the thick of the celebrating

Or is being out of the limelight o.k. with you?

 

Do you like a little alone time to savor the memory?

Or do you relive the fun with someone else as soon possible?

 

There are no 'right' answers.

There are only your answers.

 

And that's what makes you who you are.

 

"Bloom where you're planted"

 

 

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Pretty Pink

The first Astibile to bloom atMuldoon



 

Click to enjoy lots of Outdoors

Blue Tree Swallows Frolic

 

 

 

Click to join Stewart for Wild Bird Wednesday

Blue Roof - Blue Sky

This farmer chose a perfect Sky Blue

 

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Disappearing One by One

Thank you Judy at Cranberry Morning for inspiring these mosaics. Her posts of Wisconsin barns brought to mind many barns that I passed in days gone by which are just that,-- 'gone'.
So I've been capturing some of those that are left.

 

Here and There

 

This one is on an old homestead called The Hermitage



Also like the corn crib to the left with the rusty roof

 

Joining Judith at: 



Breaking Through the Shadows

 

Nature - a photographer in her own right

 edit: just saw the shadow of our chimney on the fence
 

Come out of the shadows and join:



Just a couple

This youth apparently paid attention to his lessons

and is out looking for his own meal.

This Canada Goose finds a muskrat hut makes a solid base.



 

 Joining Anni at



Cactus Bloom

 

Joining Today's Flowers

They aren't all Monarchs

Life was meant to be lived.

Curiosity must be kept alive.

---Eleanor Roosevelt

 

Edit: Butterflies are becoming like Family Research. Just when you think you found a link,

 up pops other information ;)

This is probably a Comma rather than a Question Mark based on the light comma shaped marking

in the center of the underwing.

 

Up until recently I would have said

all orange butterflies fluttering by were Monarchs.

Isn't learning fun?

 

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