Observations

Gorgeous northern Ontario - one of the many bays that shed closely to the northern shores of Lake Superior. A (very) cool refreshing wind nearly knocks me off my feet as I tried to steady my camera. September, 2015 (Please view in Lightbox or in larger sizes for best effect.)

Oncopeltus Fasciatus, known as the Large Milkweed Bug is a medium-sized hemipteran (true bug) of the family Lygaeidae. It is distributed throughout North America. It ranges from Central America through Mexico and the Caribbean to southern areas in Canada. Costa Rica represents this insects southern limit. It inhabits disturbed areas, roadsides and open pastures. Due to this widespread geographic distribution this insect exhibits varying life history trade-offs depending on the population location. Also, this species is known to be beneficial for home gardens by acting as a parasite to milkweed plants. This large milkweed bug is a hemimetabolous insect, meaning it grows in stages called instars and goes through incomplete metamorphosis exhibiting small changes throughout development such as coloration changes, development of wings and genitalia. O. fasciatus begins as an egg and experiences 4 nymphal stages over 28–30 days before molting to adulthood. Females become sexually receptive within a few days of adulthood. Geographic location has a large effect on egg production rate and clutch size. Nursery on Milkweed Pods - Nature preserve, September, 2016 (Please view in LightBox or in larger sizes for best effect.)

Sunday afternoon at the beach - young family feeding gulls - Fort Lauderdale Florida, December 2014 (Please view in LightBox for best effect.)

Sunday afternoon at the beach - young family feeding gulls - Fort Lauderdale Florida, December 2014 (Please view in LightBox for best effect.)

Young Icarus had little fear of injury - Skate competition, sports park, September, 2015 (Please View in LightBox or in larger sizes for best effect.)

Juvenile Florida heron recovers from his injuries under the loving supervision of dedicated environmental naturalists and veterinarians. Flamingo Gardens Animal Refuge and Botanical Research Center - Davie, Florida, December, 2014 (Please view in LightBox or in larger sizes for best effect)

Young Icarus had little fear of injury - Skate competition, sports park, September, 2015 (Please View in LightBox or in larger sizes for best effect.)

A wasp-mimicking beetle. At over an inch long, this striking creature is the Locust Borer, Megacyllene robiniae. It’s one of the longhorn beetles; its larva bores into black locusts, while adults like this one eat goldenrod pollen. The conspicuous, brightly colored adults appear when goldenrod is in bloom. Adults are most abundant during September, when they are commonly found feeding on pollen of goldenrod blossoms. Nature preserve, September, 2012 (Please view in Light Box or in larger sizes for best effect.)

Newly emerged from metamorphosis, this beauty dries it wings in the faint sunlight. Nature preserve, May, 2015 Throughout its range, from sea level to moderate elevations, the Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) is associated with rich deciduous woodlands. It occupies forest clearings, sunny spots along woodland roads, and open areas in the vicinity of its food plants, not uncommonly in close proximity to buildings. This butterfly seldom visits flowers, but rather feeds on sap, rotting fruit, salts and minerals from puddling, and dung.

"...Oh, How I Sighed, When They Asked If I Knew His Name..." - Lady Stardust, David Bowie

Allium Universe Similar to Allium cristophii with its airy blooms, this appealingly shorter variety sends up large, 6–8″ metallic purple spheres on sturdy stems. The genus Allium (the Latin means “garlic”) offers colorful, distinctive, and long-lasting forms that are standouts in the early summer garden. Alliums are sun-lovers and prefer well-drained, even sandy, soil. Deer, mice, chipmunks, and related predators generally avoid this group, so you can plant with impunity. Tuck them among clumps of summer-flowering perennials where the Alliums’ withering foliage will be hidden by the expanding perennials. Late afternoon sun, illuminating from behind. Public Park - May, 2015 (Please view in LightBox or in larger sizes for best effect)

Monarch on Goldenrod. Nature preserve, August 2015 (Please View in larger sizes for best effect)

Adult Florida heron recovers from his injuries under the loving supervision of dedicated environmental naturalists and veterinarians. Flamingo Gardens Animal Refuge and Botanical Research Center - Davie, Florida, December, 2014 (Please view in LightBox or in larger sizes for best effect)

Female Florida Panther recovering from injuries - Feeling frisky in cooler weather. Flamingo Gardens, Davie, Florida, December, 2014 (Please view in Light Room for best effect)

Date palms with Starlings, decorated with Christmas lights. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, December, 2014 (Please view in Lightbox or larger sizes for best effect.)

Hemaris Thysbie - Clear-winged Hummingbird Moth - one of my favorite insects of all time - dining on Wild Bergamot. Nature preserve, July, 2015. (Please view in Lightbox or larger sizes for best effect.)

Wet surfer, Pacific Coast Mexico, July, 2015 (Please view in Lightbox for best effect.)

Trans-Canada Highway at dusk. Solo road trip - September 2015 (Please view in Lightbox for best effect.)