Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 02:52

Happy New Year, friends!

2018 ended and 2019 has begun with coughs, Kleenex, and . . . well, we won't go into all our medical maladies! Suffice to say we are ready for something NEW that doesn't make us wish we bought stock in Kleenex or some prescription drug company.

January and February are the hardest months for this summer girl. This year, however, I'm determined not to let the weather (or illness) get me down. I have committed to finding at least one thing, out there, each day that brings JOY and warmth to my soul. Even on the 35 degree days when it's wet and windy!

It's been a while since I've posted a Life thru My Lens edition. Back in June of 2018, actually. I've found that I miss them. Maybe you have too.

Here is something else I'm missing . . . the butterflies of October.

I can mourn the passing of the leaves or rejoice at seeing the birds more clearly in the trees.

A gift from a friend is bringing more birds to my yard!

"Listen to your life, see it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and the pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments and life itself is grace." - Frederick Buechner (From Now and Then and Listening to Your Life)

Shalom, 

Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 16:52

Hello, friends!

It's been a busy week but I did manage to capture a few delights to share with you! I know many of you are still under snow and ice. Perhaps a bit of spring gardening will encourage you!

The knockout roses are doing wonderful this year. All my lantana came back and most of my milkweed has sprouted. The Mexican Bush Sage which bloomed through the snow we had in December hasn't shown any signs of green yet and I'm afraid I might have lost it.

     

Ready to plant is more Mexican Bush Sage, butterfly weed and two "pow-pow" coneflower plants - excited for these to bloom! I also planted a few pentas for instant color.

The creeping jenny I planted a couple of weeks ago is doing well despite the high winds we've been having. With gusts up to 30mph here lately, you've got to wonder if the experience inside the birdhouse is a bit wilder than being out on a limb!

Carolina Wren

This Woodhouse's Scrub Jay posed nicely for me the other day.  

I haven't spotted any ruby-throated hummingbirds yet. I wonder if they got a memo about the weather y'all have been having up north?  I'll close with this week's shots of the current Yard Boss.

It's easy to see why they call them black-chinned hummingbirds. One of these days I'll catch him with the sun on his chin and you'll see his pretty purple throat. 

What are you seeing through your lens this week?

Blessings,

Sharing inspiration here:
Nature Notes, Through My Lens, Bird D’pot,
Saturday’s Critters, Life thru the Lens,
Wild Bird Wednesday, Our World Tuesday,
Community Global, Photo Friday, Little Things Thursday

Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 35:52

It's been quite a week. Being in the Texas Hill Country, the only thing Harvey gave us was a much needed, soaking rain. But thank you for all your continuing prayers for Texas!  It is so encouraging to this weary heart to see all the good shining forth through the darkness of this tragedy. 

The storm brought with it cooler temperatures and a nod to the changing season. I love fall but I admit, I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to summer. 

I've been on the lookout for early migratory birds and/or any unusual sightings from the storm. So far the only one making an appearance has been the ruby-throated hummingbird. The male makes a hasty exit whenever I pick up my camera, but the female is more than happy to flaunt her stuff! The first shot isn't the best but I like it because you can see the pollen on her beak.

The shot below was taken from a distance in an area of the garden that was untouched by the sun. I thought it produced a rather fun effect.

My garden has finally gotten over the deer devastation from earlier in the summer and I'm not the only one enjoying the blooms!

Mournful Duskywing

Cotton Candy Lantana

The mealy sage is going crazy, flaunting its purple finery for all to see.

How often do you see a roadrunner up a tree? Not very often! This is only the second time I've captured one among the branches. They make the most interesting clucking sound!

I've been blessed with a family of Woodhouse's Scrub Jays and a family of Northern Cardinals this year. It is so entertaining to watch them interact. I posted a picture of two of the young cardinals feeding each other on my IG account last week. You can find it here.

 The peanut suet is a favorite of all my yard birds.

It's hard to get a crisp shot with a swinging basket! 

The snow-on-the-mountain [also called snow-on-the-prairie] is in bloom. These plants can grow over 5ft tall! A friend on IG challenged me to post some black and white photos and this plant's delicate blooms translate beautifully!

What are you seeing through your lens this week?

Have a wonder-filled day, friends!

Sharing inspiration here:
Nature Notes, Through My Lens, Bird D’pot,
Saturday’s Critters, Life thru the Lens,
Wild Bird Wednesday, Our World Tuesday,
Community Global, Photo Friday, Little Things Thursday

Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 23:52

I do love these early days of summer. 

The air still holds a hint of fragrance. The birds are still nesting and raising their young. The heat has not yet zapped us and made us lazy!

It's the beginning of a new season! The sun shimmers and we look forward with anticipation to all we have planned.  The weddings and parties and backyard BBQ's! Days at the lake or the shore. Early mornings and late evenings on the porch. Trips to places known and unknown. Memories to be made!

Summer usually means more butterflies. Sadly, I haven't seen as many around this year. Which made it all the more exciting to find a pipevine swallowtail sampling the blooms this week. These beauties are difficult to capture because they rarely stop! I think this is the first time I've ever captured their dorsal side!

It was late afternoon so the flower beds were in the shade. Otherwise, you would have seen the iridescence in their wings. My friend, Kim, raises butterflies and you can see her beautiful images here. 

One of the reasons I'm seeing fewer butterflies may be because the deer have been eating my lantana blossoms this year. The little buggers. I will be happy when we get our fence up! In the meantime, I've started using the deer repellent spray again. It's a good thing, too, because there are plenty of babies around this year. I found another one "hidden" in the grass just the other day.

It's always fun to watch the babies. Here is a shot of the Mockingbird twins I introduced you to last week. They are learning to navigate the suet feeder.

The Woodhouse's Scrub Jay twins are learning, too! They haven't adapted to the swinging basket quite as well as the mockingbirds!

The pretty house finches don't mind the swinging basket and they're happy to share!

Such a pretty bird!

I've been going through so much suet that I buy it in bulk on Amazon! I can't blame the baby birds. The gold-fronted woodpeckers get more than their share.

And I'm currently fighting with four of these rascals!

Don't let that sweet face fool you! These guys can eat a hole in my sock feeder faster than I can get out the door to chase them away! 

We've had a lot of rain but no one seems to mind. The black-chinned hummingbirds continue to feed through all but the fiercest of storms. Small and mighty wins the day!

What are you seeing through

your lens this week?

Have a wonder-filled week, friends!

Sharing inspiration here:
Nature Notes, Through My Lens, Bird D’pot,
Saturday’s Critters, Life thru the Lens,
Wild Bird Wednesday, Our World Tuesday,
Community Global, Photo Friday, Little Things Thursday

Inspired by . . . Life thru My Lens 19:52

Hello, friends!

It's been another busy week around here. I don't dare step through the front door without my camera these days.

The squirrel and the blue jays have been fighting over the new peanut feeder. Actually, the squirrel gets first dibs, while the blue jay flies back and forth scolding him until he's had his fill.

Interesting note, up until September of last year these guys were called Western Scrub-jays. The species was split in two. The "coastal" form is now called the California Scrub-jay and the "interior" form (which we have here in Texas) are called Woodhouse's Scrub-jay. You can read more about it here if you're interested.

It's fascinating to watch the hierarchy played out at the feeders. The blue jay and the woodpecker are about equal. Next are the cardinals, then the white-winged doves. Although the doves are larger than the cardinals, they are very passive.

The finches, titmice, and sparrows usually err on the side of caution and fly no matter what. The hummingbirds, being the smallest, aren't afraid of anyone! They will buzz even the largest of the backyard birds!

My lantana is doing its job well! I've seen quite a variety of pollinators this week.

The Gulf Fritillary is one of my favorites. There is such a contrast between the upper and under wing patterns. You can see a hint of it in the image below.

The hummingbird moth was back!

I believe this is a Juvenal's Duskywing.

I was thrilled to capture this beauty. The small yellow / green / white butterflies almost never stop moving! I haven't been able to positively ID this one. I believe it is in the Pieridae family and probably one of the sulphurs. Comments are welcome!

The Great-crested Flycatcher is still hanging around. I really hope that means he's found a mate and is nesting somewhere close by.

And now for some comic relief . . .

See 'ya!

What are you seeing through your lens this week?

Have a wonder-filled day!

Sharing inspiration here:
Nature Notes, Through My Lens, Bird D’pot,
Saturday’s Critters, Pink Saturday,
Wild Bird Wednesday, Our World Tuesday,
Community Global, Photo Friday, Little Things Thursday