Alabama, (Part 1)

On my deck door frame, Etowah, County, Alabama (IMG_7378)

Not a dandelion. Actually, it is in the aster family, grows up to 6 feet tall, and has branched stems. It has nasty prickly edged rather narrow, deeply lobed leaves. Its scientific name is Sonchus oleraceus. In my yard, Etowah County, Alabama (IMG_7735)

Taken in my woods, Etowah County, Alabama

Taken from my deck in Etowah County, Alabama (DSC06828)

Taken on 7/21/2007 from my back deck. Looks across Big Wills Valley toward Big Ridge, Etowah County, Alabama ODT-Sunrises/Sunsets

Taken under the railroad trestle bridge leading over the Coosa River from East to West Gadsden, Alabama (DSC01449bf)

Orange Beach, Alabama on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico (IMG_1927) Another Link in the Chain - from cafe umbrellas to beach umbrellas

Orange Beach, Alabama on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico (IMG 2877)

Orange Beach, Alabama on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico Another Link in the Chain linking a beach in New Zealand with a beach in Alabama (IMG 2874)

Orange Beach, Alabama on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico (IMG 3076)

On the coast of the Gulf of Mexico at Orange Beach, Alabama (IMG_2621df)

Little River Canyon National Preserve, DeKalb County, Alabama (DSC00228abtrcrrg)

Little River Canyon National Preserve, DeKalb County, Alabama (DSC00219brz)

Taken in my garden with my new Sony SLT A77 camera. Etowah County, Alabama (DSC00072b2f)

Aka black and yellow garden spider, corn spider, and writing spider, - on my deck. That's not a leaf. It's the katydid which I put in her web for her to eat. The day before she had finished laying eggs and spinning an egg sac around them. She was very emaciated so I thought I would give her an easy meal. When I looked at the photos, I realized she only had seven legs. Somewhere during her life something must have gotten a hold on her. After spending a month near the door to my deck, she finally laid more eggs and made another sac on October 13. She never made another web and died two days later. RIP. Etowah County, Alabama (DSC08126)

Periplaneta americana - Common names American cockroach, Palmetto bug, and Waterbug on a screen outside my greenhouse. (DSC05403)

On a purple coneflower in my garden, Etowah County, Alabama (IMG_0818)

Orange Beach, Alabama (IMG_2196)