Category Archives: photography
Dogbane Beetle- A Natural History
Friends, a friend (thanks Kathy) pointed out this very colorful beetle to me. It is a dogbane beetle and eats leaves from Dogbane and Milkweed of which we have plenty in Crex. Probably the most noticeable characteristic of this tiny bug is the iridescent glow of color caused by small scales stacked at different angles on top of pigment. The circled areas show the scales as dark dots in lighter circles. One area will have focused scales while an adjacent area will be out of focus. The light bounces around and give the iridescence. These beetles are harmless to agricultural crops in that they only eat the leaves of milkweed and dogbane.
Dancing Lessons
Friends, did your mother teach you to dance, probably not. I learned from a friend, but in the crane world, the adults teach the dancing skills. The youngster on the left is learning from the two dancing in the middle how to celebrate life and rejoice. So for today, dance and teach your children. til Tomorrow MJ
Another Karner
Friends, could not resist showing you one more Karner Butterfly, and endangered specie here in Crex Meadows. This is a better image in that he is perched on a lead plant flower instead of the usual scat perch and the blue spots on his hind wing are showing their iridescent glow. The light needs to be right for those spots to glow and look like abalone. The bokeh is also better than the previous image. til Tomorrow MJ
Morning Dove Call
Friends, this morning dove is calling to its mate with an inflated neck and a yellow sheen on the side of the neck. I had never seen this behavior before this photo, nature never seems to disappoint or cease to be amazing in the discoveries to be made. til Tomorrow MJ
Orange on orange
Friends, this is one of the many fritillary butterflies in Crex. I think this is Atlantis but can’t be sure. To me they all look alike and i have difficulty differentiating them, but don’t need a name to appreciate their beauty. This one is perched on butterfly weed, an orange milkweed. til Tomorrow MJ
One More Tall Ship
Friends, the Norwegian ship Sorlandet, as she passed the end of the canal in Duluth Minnesota on Tall Ship Parade day. She wasn’t flying sails but all dressed up for the festival to come. Looks like a man-made spider web but no one aloft. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Foreshadow
Friends, these leaves of the Solomon Seal plant are curly and have longitudinal veining. I like the pattern Foreshadowing the blooms. til Tomorrow MJ
Another Flutterby
Friends, The last few days I have been chasing butterflies in Crex Meadows, and stumbled upon this beauty. I think it is a Wood Nymph and i love the eyespots on its wing. Now the disgusting part, he is sitting on animal scat of some kind and this is the most reliable place to find butterflies this time of year. Wish it had been perched on a pretty flower but alas, I have blackened that part of the image. Forgive me for photoshoping, but it really was disgusting . til Tomorrow MJ
The Search for the Blue Karner
Friends, the Blue Karner butterfly is rare even in Crex Meadows. This tiny blue butterfly is about the size of a nickel, and has distinctive markings on the back side of the wings. My friend and I have searched many places for this lovely blue and never found them until I retired up north. Now every year I go in search of them partially to renew old times and to reassure myself that they are still there. This one is for Cheri til Tomorrow MJ
Lifeboat
Friends, In 2010 when the tall ships entered Duluth, I took hundreds of images and put them together in a book titled “Tall Ships and Other Lifeboats”. This year I didn’t take as many images but the lifeboat theme is still in my perspective. When the Niagara went by my vantage point, I centered on the lifeboat strapped to her side. I realize that photography has always been my lifeboat. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 