Monthly Archives: August 2015

On a rainy evening these raindrops fell on the pink petals of a phlox flower in my garden. They clung to the blossoms like tiny jewels. In the background is the out of focus sphere of a falling drop. I didn’t mind getting a bit wet to see the magical […]

I shot the green leaves of summer reflected in this small forest creek flowing through the mountains of western North Carolina. Because of the variations in the water’s flow, the colors in the small pool in the foreground are darker and more clearly reflected than the faster flowing water beyond. […]

This small snail, with a shell only about 1/2”, was quite personable, balancing on a blowing leaf and checking me out with its extended eyes. As snails grow, they keep adding shell chambers, with each one larger than the last. When they are finally done growing, they close off the […]

On a bright summer afternoon, this tiger swallowtail butterfly is sipping from a zinnia flower. I guess it’s no secret how this butterfly got its name, with its distinctive black and yellow stripes. Fortunately it is nowhere near as fierce as a tiger, though it did flutter toward me a […]

Asheville is surrounded by natural beauty. One nice trip is a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, which offers many turnouts and outstanding views. One of the best is the view from the grounds of the Pisgah Inn. The Forest Service bought the land in 1914 and the present inn […]

Although the middle of summer is the peak of sunshine loving flowers, blooming along roadsides and filling meadows, there are still a few forest flowers that thrive in the partial shade of dappled groves. This aster grows at the wood’s edge, where part of each day is spent in shadow, […]

I walked up and down this small stream searching for the right balance of light and shadow to capture an ephemeral effect where the green of the forest and the gold of the setting sun were reflected in the water and on a slick stone in the middle of the […]

Pickerel frogs are named for the unfortunate distinction of being used as bait to catch pickerel fish. Fortunately, they don’t have too many predators because they secrete toxins through their skin, the only poisonous frog species native to the U.S. Their poison can kill some other potential predators, including some […]

Although there is a succession of fireflies here in Tennessee from March through early October, their peak season is winding down now in mid summer. I found this one just as it spread its wings to fly, its abdomen curled up with a slight glow as it prepared to launch. […]