Blog Archives

Exotic Fiddlehead

fernheadFriends, this huge fern is gently unfolding within the tropical environment of Como Conservatory,  Ferns are a world of green, and this pinkish head will soon turn green.  If you look closely you can see structure that looks like feather structure, below is a macro of this substructure.  I am always amazed by the intricate macro structures, probably why I was an electron microscopist (cell biology and structures) in an earlier life, til Tomorrow MJ

fernhead macro

Weekly Photo Challenge:Color

 

Friends, the word color means blooming flowers to me, I had to travel 90 miles and go to a giant greenhouse to photograph these Asiatic Lilies, I used a softer effect to show the flower within a flower, one of my favorite subjects, don’t really like the rusty hue against the pink petals, but nature made it that way so I share with you, til Tomorrow MJpink lily

Como-Large Greenhouse

comoFriends, this very large greenhouse holds lots of flower power, It has some side wings and is a free refuge open to the public, in the winter many flock here especially on Saturdays to bask in the tropical warmth and humidity, and to view the tropical gardens, fern room, and large exhibits of seasonal flowers, This week the large room is filled with Asiatic Lilies, hydrangea, and other colorful blooms, My favorite is the dark blue of the crocus, see image below, my new camera seems to be focusing behind the point that i choose,, will i be able to fix that, hmmmm, til Tomorrow MJ

crocus

 

Dancing Sharptails

Sharptail Grouse- male-ready to danceFriends, this time of year, the sharptailed grouse males are dancing on the meadows, in this image he is getting ready to dance, his yellow eyebrows are raised, his purple air sac is exposed, his tail is raised and his wings have dropped down, in the image below is his dancing pose, His feet do a fast stutter step as he whirls in circles and chases any other male birds.  The females sit by silently watching, and after selecting the winner, they both fly away.  This ritual happens at dawn, so one has to be in a blind before dawn.  Finding a strange blind in the dark can be quite an adventure.  so enjoy my sharpies in the warmth of indoors, til Tomorrow MJ

Dancing Sharptail Grouse- male-3

 

More Ice

icy3Friends, I know more ice, sorry , it is melting but the grass is still brown, need some green so i am going to the Conservatory tomorrow to get some flower power, the greens and blues in this ice will have to do for today, til Tomorrow MJ

Superior Ice

icicles2Friends, just returned from up north as we say here when we venture northward, Lake Superior and the west shores are considered up north and highway 61 is north shore drive, altho it is along the west shore.  I could not resist these giant icicles hanging from the boulders at Stony Point Beach.  So I will share them with you, til Tomorrow MJ

 

First Blue of the Season

first blue heronFriends, this Great Blue Heron is the first that i have seen this spring, so technically maybe i can call it spring, He is strongly backlit, but you have to take what you get when you are very tired of snow and ice, this bird sighting really lifted my spirits yesterday,  there is still snow but this little stream is open so he was searching for food.  I pushed the image a bit in magnification so you could see his blue lores, black cap and two black pigtails streaming from the back of his cap, sorry for the complicated background, I think I am a little rusty, til Tomorrow MJ

 

Mister Blue

blueFriends,blue jays are being very active around our house, they must be hungry as they appear at the suet feeder when we are not around, this jay was foraging in Crex Meadows, a wildlife refuge near our home.  They are very noisy and demand attention where ever they go.  The snow is melting and the roads are muddy but spring is slowly making its way north. So take a lesson today, make a little noise, til Tomorrow MJ

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: A Day in My Life

Winter Birdie

red breasted nuthatchFriends, this tiny bird is a red-breasted nuthatch, found around here in the winter months, they find their food in the bark of trees and in friendly bird feeders, they prefer the feeders with suet in them.  Getting ready for the Easter holiday, Happy Easter to you who celebrate with us, til Tomorrow MJ