"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. The longer I live, the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and the wonder of the world."
― John Burroughs
We return to this blog's raison d'être ... Nature Stuff! Early this morning I headed to the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor to look for bugs. Well, I found only a few treehoppers ― Buffalo and Two-horned. Insect-wise, there wasn't much going on so I decided to move to buggier pastures.
They're simply adorable, aren't they? Even though I've likely photographed hundreds of them over the years, they still render something like a charm upon finding one.
From Pheasant Branch I went to Spring Green. When I got back into town I checked the Deer Creek area near my apartment area and found a Locust Treehopper and Citrus Flatid Planthopper.
Such fascinating little creatures ― they are favorite macro subjects.
Deer Creek, tucked away near my apartment ...
But back at Spring Green ...
With August's days ticking by, there's less and less birdsong. However, a male Indigo Bunting was still giving it everything he had near the prairie's entrance. With each note of his sweeping song, the bunting serenaded the morning with a melody that danced on the breeze. A living cerulean brushstroke, it weaves its way through the tapestry of nature ― an artist's stroke on green canvas.
Flowering Spurge Euphorbia corollata was everywhere ...
A closeup ...
My mission was to see if I could find a Virginia Metallic Tiger Beetle Tetracha virginica for my 11th species of the 2023 season. It's been kind of an average tiger beetle spring and summer, but there's still time to pickup a few other species. I won't be traveling north for Cow Path or Long-lipped. The Virginia Metallic is primarily nocturnal, but they can be found searching for cover on the sandy trail mid to late morning during August and September. As the sun warmed the sand, robber flies and tiger beetles became active. It was good to be back.
Big Sand Tiger Beetle ...
Same individual, slightly different angle ...
Closeup of a Punctured Tiger Beetle ...
With a rear limb extended for escape ...
And there it was! I only got a single documentation shot of a Virginia Metallic Tiger Beetle ― I didn't intend to use my flash, but when I looked through the viewfinder after the exposure, the beetle was gone. While they're predominantly flightless, they're steady zig-zaggy runners and are easily lost once they move into grass, which is exactly what happened.
Prickly Pear!
Not being sufficiently mindful, I managed to take two spines to my forearm.
The Lobster Cactus is back ...
A beautiful place ...
With beautiful weather ...
On my way home I decided to stop to pickup some sweet corn from Peck's Farm Market on Highway 14, just east of Spring Green.
As I finished paying, the next customer walked up to the checkout muttering complaints. He was very angry about something. I stopped near the exit to listen. He berated the lady at the counter because prices weren't listed on produce. Whether true or not, I failed to see how this presented a problem. If you want sweet corn, put it in a bag, and expect to pay a fair market price for it. Hey, this stuff is grown by local farmers and it's delicious.
I couldn't believe this guy was griping about prices not jumping out at him. Anyway, he left Peck's empty handed, still bleating about his 1st-world problem to his wife and kids as they went to their car. I decided to go back in. I went up to the counter and told the lady what a wonderful store Peck's is, that the produce is exceptional, and that I've been purchasing from them for many years, as do many of my friends.
Where must one be in life that it's necessary to scold farmers selling delicious food just because prices aren't stamped on it? What a jackass.
All images © 2023 Mike McDowell