My roots in photography are in Black & White. I used to develop my own film and everything back in the day. It was fun. Every now and then I get in a B&W mood and look for some good subjects. I found one in the Morning Glory that I think turned out really well with a B&W treatment.
It's Friday, TGIF! I am in a Monarch mood these days, I have been so happy to see several of them in the yard at one time, it's been a long time since that has happened. I captured these enjoying the Stiff Goldenrod last Saturday. I have another video of them HERE. I also chose this image for today because of the lovely subdued bubbly bokeh because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!
Speaking of Monarchs, as they have been traveling through, they have been apparently laying eggs as I saw this guy very recently. As he was about to run out of leaves to eat, I broke off the plant and carried him to another one and leaned it up against it so he could climb over and eat some more. While doing this, I discovered there was another one eating on a Common Milkweed plant there. So glad I have these Milkweed in the yard for them to take advantage of. We had rain the day after I did this so I am not sure of it's fate as neither one of them were on the milkweed any longer. Hopefully they were in the trees nearby cocooning.
It's Wildflower Wednesday here on the Blog! It's also the first day of October already and an interesting digit day as the first 2 numbers are palindromic. I missed pointing these out in May, my bad. 😞 Anyway, the wildflower today is Stiff Goldenrod also known as Rigid Goldenrod. This variety blooms August through October. It can grow to 5 feet tall, mine is about 3 to 4. It can be identified by it's rounded flower clusters or inflorescences. This Goldenrod is VERY popular with Monarch butterflies that are passing through in late September. I have a video of some enjoying it HERE.
I have a lot of older bird pictures still cued up to share but I was rather proud of this one that I got a few days ago. I was sitting on my deck watching a couple Hummingbirds visit the feeder. This one as it was coming in one time, stopped right in front of me and hovered for a bit and I was able to get off a couple of shots and this one was the better of them. I think it was wondering what I was doing and checking me out. 😁
Happy Monday and happy new week! Starting off the week with a flower that's been blooming a lot lately in my garden. This is Obedient plant which I find an ironic name because it can spread quite a bit. It is in the mint family which probably explains it's ability to spread. Hummingbirds enjoy the flowers of it. It can grow to 5 feet tall. Mine is only about 2.5 to 3 and falls over in rain quite easily making it harder for Hummers to enjoy it.
It's Steamy Sunday here on the Blog! Todays image goes back to my trip to the Cumbres & Toltec Railway. This is a very steamy image, fitting for today, of our locomotive moving by the historic Coaling Tower in the yard at Chama New Mexico. It was preparing to hook up to our train and take us to Antonito Colorado.
A little over a week ago I was on my way home and there was a storm moving into the area. It made for some beautiful light and clouds so I had to stop and get a photo. Fortunately, all we got out of it was some rain and not too much although it poured like crazy for a few minutes.
It's Friday, TGIF! My Cosmos has been blooming quite beautifully this year. I didn't plant any of it, they are all volunteers from seed from last years flowers. That makes this one quite interesting, I have never seen this variety before wit the white rays coming from the center. It's quite lovely. I also chose this photo for today due to the interesting bokeh because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!
It's a double digit day! 😃 I love seeing Dragonflies. They are very cool creatures to me with their huge eyes and the way they are able to fly and hover, so fascinating to watch. I captured this one at my Gazebo pond earlier this summer as it perched on a leaf.
I have a video Here of a cool event I witnessed this past week of a bunch of them flying around my small backyard pond. I had never seen so many around that pond at one time or ever.
It's Wildflower Wednesday here on the Blog! Today's flower is Canada Goldenrod. It is very similar to Tall Goldenrod but has much greener leaves. It is falsely accused of causing hay fever. It's pollen is not spread by the wind, insects do that. It usually blooms July to September and can be rather photogenic. It belongs to the Sunflower family.
Today's bird is the Kansas state bird, the Western Meadowlark. I had a lot of opportunities to see and photograph them the first half of this year. I like this photo because it shows them in a fairly common state, singing on the prairie. Often I hear them but don't see them. Our Meadowlarks seem to stick around for the most part, all year round and are identified by the yellow breast and black V band at the neck.
Happy Monday and happy new week! It's the September Equinox where we have almost equal day and night hours and we transition into Autumn. Every September Equinox, for the last few years I have been able to see a Monarch on the Goldenrod and this one was no different. It was actually on the 21st which Was the start. The actual Equinox is today at 1:20pm CST. I captured this at 4:47. Anyway, I was excited to see several Monarchs in my yard yesterday, one of which was laying eggs on one of the Milkweeds! Cool!
It's Steamy Sunday here on the Blog! We go back to the Colorado RR Museum today and look at Denver and Rio Grande Western locomotive 683. This Consolidation type 2-8-0 was built in 1890 by Baldwin as Narrow gauge #583. It was later converted to Standard Gauge built for the first standard gauge line between Denver and Salt Lake City. It served until the mid 1950s when it was sold to the San Luis Valley Southern Rwy which allowed it to escape the D&RGW scrapping plan. #683 is the only standard gauge locomotive that remains from the D&RGW. It's looking pretty good but will need some cosmetic work soon due to be stored out on the elements. It would be nice if the museum could get more equipment under cover. They are slowly working on it which is good.
I have seen quite a lot of these butterflies around this year. This is a Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly that was enjoying my Petunias a few days ago. While I was out bike riding in late August I would routinely se huge swarms of them enjoying the Alfalfa fields in the area. I had never seen so many at lone time. I shared a short video of them on YouTube HERE. It doesn't quite do the sight justice but gives an idea of how many there were.
It's Friday, TGIF! My Garlic Chives are flowering. I rarely use them for eating any longer and they spread everywhere and are kind of a pain but the flowers are rather lovely. Kind of like nature's fireworks. I chose this photo for today due to the fabulous bubbly bokkeh because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!
I have not seen many butterflies this year but the ones I have seen have been very nice and were mostly Swallowtails. This is a Black Swallowtail that was enjoying my Echinacea or Coneflowers one afternoon.
It's Wildflower Wednesday here on the Blog! Today's flower is, what I believe is, Wingstem. Wingstem usually blooms in August and September. It usually prefers habitats with partial shade and that is where I found it. It likes rich soils such as along stream banks. It usually grows in moist areas.
I saw this guy while out on a bike ride one afternoon early this summer. It flew across the road in front of me and I got lucky that it landed in a place where I could capture it. This is Red headed Woodpecker, a very appropriate name.
Happy Monday and happy new week! I am starting off with a flower that is blooming in my gardens and always makes me happy. This is Cosmos which I discovered only a few years ago. They grow well from seed and require very little care and will reseed themselves for the next year and have lovely blooms.
It's Steamy Sunday here on the Blog! Today's image goes back to the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. This is Shay No. 12. It was built in 1927 for the Swayne Lumber Co and was later purchased by the Westside Lumber Co. in 1940. In 1986 it was sold to the Georgetown Loop RR. In 2011 to 2014 it operated on the loop of track at the museum where it is still currently stored but is not owned by them. A Shay locomotive is great for steep railroads due to their gearing which is for traction rather than speed. The Shay locomotives in West Virginia can climb 9% grades where a normal grade would be, at most, 3%.
Today's image is from my recent trip to Minnesota. I was out one evening in a field where they had been doing some wheat threshing and saw a different view of the farm there that I share every year. It was near sunset so there was nice color to the sky as well.
It's Friday, TGIF! I was lucky before I left for Minnesota to be able to see some Monarchs in my yard enjoying the flowers. I got really lucky to capture 2 of them together enjoying the Butterfly Bush or Buddleia! I am sharing this image today because of the nice bokeh behind them because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!
I enjoy seeing the Collard Lizard when I am on my bike ride. There is a set of rocks at the end of a country driveway where they seem to hang out warming up quite often. This is a closer up image than usual of the female, she was rather cooperative that day. Males are a much brighter green. They are named for the colored band that goes around their neck that you can see a bit of here.
It's Wildflower Wednesday here on the Blog! Today's flower is Wild Four-O'Clock. This flower is normally pink but in the "fruiting" stage turns a very pale greenish color. The fruits are the small seed that can be seen in the center. Their name refers to the fact that it opens in late afternoon. They usually bloom from May to August but, as seen here, can be nice even after their peak.
It's a double digit day! 😀 Today's image is how I usually get to see Great Blue Herons, flying away from me. LOL Fortunately, sometimes, I still can get a fairly good image of it.
Happy Monday and happy new week! My Rudbeckia came back and bloomed really well this year. These always make me happy and I love the color of them.
It's Steamy Sunday here on the Blog! The roundhouse addition at the Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's is basically complete and we were using it during the show. It looks really great and I think it's the largest non-full size roundhouse. There eventually will be a smokestack above the engine stall so it can be fired up inside the building.
I was recently in Minnesota for my annual Labor Day trip for the Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion. This is the farm I share almost every year there from a different angle. The focus this year was on Horse Power. Ironically, the only photo I had time to take during the show of that only includes a teeny tiny horse and wagon going around the pond. 😁
It's Friday, TGIF! I got a Swamp Milkweed plant last year when I was in KC seeing the KCPC locomotive that was traveling through. There was a Native Plants Society group there giving away small plants. Last year it must have just been establishing because it never bloomed. This year it bloomed and attracted this Great Spangled Fritillary which was wonderful. I chose this image for today due to the lovely bokeh because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!
While out on a bike ride recently I was able to see and capture this Painted Turtle. It was sitting off on the edge of the road and seemed out of harms way so I just photographed it and left it where it was to continue on it's way. I always wonder where they think they are going. 😄
It's Wildflower Wednesday here on the Blog! Today's flower is Smooth Sumac which is quite prevalent in our area. It mainly blooms in May and June and is in the Cashew family. The fruits on the plant appear in August and September and the leaves turn bright red in autumn. They are quite the lovely pop of color.
I have been able to capture Killdeer birds at various times this year including when I was in Colorado. This bird was pretending to be injured, it must have had a nest somewhat near but I did not ever see it. I liked this image because it showed off their red eyes in the evening sunlight.
Happy Monday and happy new week! Happy new month as well, it's September already! I thought I would start off the week with another of my favorite flowers that always makes me happy to see. This is a bloom from my Shasta Daisy I have growing in the back yard.
It's Steamy Sunday here on the Blog! Today's image is from the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden. This is the first Cog Railway locomotive that was used at Pikes Peak. It was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1890 and made it's first trip to the summit in 1891. It was retired in 1941 and put on display at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The CRRM acquired it in 1979.
In early August, I had to a different building in the morning so I was taking a different route. There was a beautiful sunrise that morning and I had to stop and take a photo. I especially liked the rays the clouds were making.
There have been a large number of Cicadas around lately. I captured this one on my G Scale raised layout one day. It was very shady and a bit challenging to photograph.
It's Wildflower Wednesday here on the Blog! Today's flower is one that blooms for quite a while in my area, Wild Alfalfa. It usually blooms May to July but I saw some still blooming in August this year. Wild Alfalfa resembles it's domestic relative but has smaller leaves and is very drought tolerant with roots that can go as deep as 10 feet. This particular image is from last year and I never shared it.
While I was on my first trip to Minnesota this year, I was able to see and capture some ducks one evening. I believe these are Blue Wing Teals. I apparently was too close for their comfort and they were taking off from the pond they were on.
Happy Monday and happy new week! It's also a double digit day! 😄 Thought I would start off the week with a flower that always makes me happy, Sunflowers. These are some nice ones that were in the field not far from where I live. Hope they brighten up your day as well.
It's Steamy Sunday here on the Blog! While I was in Colorado, I visited the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden once again. Things had changed quite a bit from the last time I was there including having a fully operating Roundhouse. Inside was Locomotive No 20 getting some work done. It was originally built in 1899 and was owned by the Rio Grande Southern Rwy. The museum acquired it in 2006. After a restoration in Strasburg PA it was returned to service and can occasionally be seen pulling trains at the museum. Unfortunately it was not running the day I was there but I was glad to see it.
I have a lot of fairly decent bird images from this year that I still have not shared. Had some good opportunities, more than usual. I thought I was only getting one chance to see Cedar Waxwings this year but got lucky with a few more while they visited my backyard pond for a drink. This is a couple of them sitting in the Walnut tree, one in better focus than the other. 😁
Happy Friday, TGIF! Today's image is one I was able to capture at my Gazebo pond recently. I love the shimmer on it's wings, the light was just perfect that day. I am sharing it for today because of the fabulous bokeh because Friday's Are Bokehlicious here on the Blog!
This is another photo I was able to capture of the White-line Sphinx Moth that was visiting my Surprise Lilies last week. It was pretty dark and I only got one photo but it turned out fairly well and was captured head on. You can see it's long probiscis that allows it to get into long flowers like this better than other insects to help pollinate them. I have a bit longer video of it HERE than I shared last week.
It's Wildflower Wednesday here on the Blog! Today's flower is one I find very picturesque. This is Snow On the Mountain. It can bloom June through October but ours doesn't seem to get started till August. It is in the Spurge family and is related to the Poinsettia which I can see the resemblance for sure. Cattle will not eat it while grazing and if it is contained in the hay it can cause death. Not good for such a lovely flower.
While I was in Colorado I had a great opportunity to capture a Great Blue Heron. I was riding on a trail outside Greeley which turned out to be great for views of nature but disappointing as a ride. Only about 2 miles out it was totally blocked by a train that was parked across the tracks. I was able to see and capture this Heron though, as it was getting a meal of a snake. By the time I took this particular image, it had gotten it down. I was closer to it than I usually get while in Kansas.
Happy Monday and happy new week! It's been boiling hot out so I am dreamy of Spring type weather. I thought I would share this lovely Spring flower for cooler thoughts. This is one of my Peony flowers in bloom this past May.
It's Steamy Sunday here on the Blog! I had a neat and unexpected experience in Colorado this summer. I was out for a walk one evening in the town we were camping in and discovered that there is a manufacturer of railroad locomotive parts, Ulco, located in that town. The owner had a wonderful grand scale locomotive that he and his father had built years ago. He operates it every now and then and was going to operate on the day we were going to head home. We ended up staying later and I ended up firing up the locomotive and getting to operate it for a short distance. It's an amazingly well detailed and built locomotive based on the ones that the Cumbres & Toltec and Durango and Silverton's Railroads run. It has many details that the full size ones have.
Today's image is of an interesting fungus I was able to capture on a branch in a pile of cut branches. I found it quite interesting looking with the texture but have no idea what type it is. In searching with Google Lens it looks like it may be Hexagonal-pored polypore. These are a fan shaped bracket fungus normally found on dead wood so that pretty much describes it. Google is wonderful sometimes. 😁
