How was your morning? Mine? I spent 87 minutes watching ants work. What can I say? Nature captivates me so much so that it inspired me to invest in a macro lens and focus on small bits of nature. Photographing bees, butterflies and insects as if I were a street photographer, I captured little moments of joy, effort and wonder. I turned that small world into my first book which helped me realized one of life's great lessons: nothing is too small to have an enormous impact on the world.
Hedgenettle (Stachys) - 178/365 Hedgenettle, Stachys, a member of the flowering mint family Lamiaceae. There are around 300-450 species of Stachys. This one could be Stachys ajugoides (bugle hedgenettle) or Stachys albens (white hedge nettle). Its stems vary from 50-300 cm tall, the leaves are softly hairy and the flowers are 1-2 cm long […]
Lupine, Lupinus, is found all over North and South America. Perennial plants of the species grow from 1-5 feet tall, while some annual shrubs can grow up to 9.8 feet tall. The seeds of lupine, "lupin beans" were cultivated throughout the Roman Empire for culinary uses. Throughout the world, the seeds are used for different […]
Queen Anne's Lace, Wild Carrot 170/365 Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota, wild carrot) is named after Queen Anne of England or her great grandmother Queen Anne of Denmark. Both were lace makers. Typically the plant is a luster of small white flowers in dense umbels. However, some have a pink or purple floret just off […]
Budding Queen Anne's Lace, Daucus carota. 169/365 Other names include wild carrot and bishop's lace. A flowering plant, native to Europe and southwest Asia and naturalized in North America. It grows between 1-2 feet tall, and blooms into a cluster of tiny white flowers in dense umbrels. Each Queen Anne's lace plant lives for two […]
The Fly 167/365 The Fly, one of nature’s most unappealing insects. Their beauty lies in their purpose. They are important because they break down and decay material. If there were no flies, there would be no top soil for plants to grown in. They digest dead trees, dead animals and animal waste. Like bees, some […]
Sticky Monkey Flower 165/365 Sticky Monkey Flower, Mimulus aurantiacus, is flowering plant native to North America from Southwestern Oregon through most of California. It grows 4 feet tall, has deep green sticky leaves and it's flowers are roughly about 2 cm long. They are honey plants pollinated by bees and hummingbirds. Its flowers and roots treat […]
Insect on a flower 160/365 It was a fairly uneventful weekend. Saturday Mr. Wild Dingo had a friend over for a bike ride and some post ride snacks. I spent a little time hanging out with them and then took a long rest. Later, we gave the dogs an over-due bath. It really helps to […]
Blue Elderberry, Sambucus cerulea or Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea - 157/365 It took me a while to identify this berry shrub because elderberry is typically dark burgundy or blackish. Blue elderberry is native to California in diverse habitats, across the Pacific coast, in mountains, hills, valleys, open space and forests. Don’t let the photo deceive […]