Light Makes All the Difference

The evening light on the river makes all the difference for these strands of river weeds, turning them from something ordinary to something spectacular:

So too it is in my life.  The light of Jesus Christ transforms me and helps me to be more than I am.  I am thankful for His power to change me!

Echinacea

Here's a purple cone flower on its way out.  

This flower was used for many medicinal purposed by native people here in North America, and is used today as well.  Many people know it by the name "echinacea".  

This name apparently comes from the Greek word, "echino" which means "sea urchin".  You can see the spines on the head of the flower.

I love it's healthy, healing properties, but I also love how beautiful it is!

Great Blue Lobelia

I photographed a new flower near a wetland last week - Lobelia.

Great Blue Lobelia

Lobelia was used by many native peoples, in internal preparations and in poultices.  They also smoked portions of it.

This herb was so valuable that it is said it was sometimes a trade item among the tribes here in North America.  Today lobelia is still highly valued by modern consumers of herbal remedies.

Some of its many names show how it was used, its affect and its physical shape.  Here are three:   Indian tobacco, puke weed, and bladder-pod.

Crayfish Chimney

I was out hiking with Hyperion between a cattail marsh and a little stream when he spied something before I did, as usual.

"Hey, it's a crawfish chimney," he said.  I was excited to see it.  It was only the second time I've ever seen them.

The crayfish, or crawfish as they are sometimes called, excavate these chimneys and dwell below. 

Here is a link to another post I wrote about such crustacean constructions, describing how the builder's work:

 http://foundonthetrail.blogspot.com/2012/06/crawfish-chimney.html

Whooo's That?

Guess whooo?

Do you see what I see?

I think there is an owl in the cavity of that tree, peering out at me!  I was taking general shots from the lake shore and didn't realize there might be an owl looking out at me.

What do you think, readers?  Is it a living creature, or just a coincidental look-alike in the formation of the old stump?

Crowns of Purple

I loved these beautiful blue vervains at the edge of a swampy lake, with their crowns of purple.

Hybrid Mallard

Does this mallard look a little different to you?  His mottled breast leads me to believe that it is - a cross between two similar kinds of waterfowl.

Green Leaf Bug

The wings on this bug look just like a green leaf, with veins and all:

It's a katydid!

It's hard for me to believe that I could reach this ripe old age without ever having seen a katydid before. but it's true.  I just found this one last month.  It was on a window screen or I never would have noticed it - so perfect is its camouflage.

There are several kinds of katydids in North America, and even though I've never seen one until now, I've heard them all the days of my life. It is the sound of summer.

Take a listen on NaturesFairy's YouTube video, found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob2rEjRz-RM

Anyone interested in learning more katydis them should check out this wonderful website called "Valerie's Austin Bug Collection".  It has many fabulous photos of the different kinds, showing their various features such as wing shape:  

http://www.austinbug.com/tettigoniidae.html

The ovipositor on this one lets us know it is a female.

Chipping Sparrow

I sometimes despair of ever being able to identify all the different kinds of sparrows, but at least I have figured one out - the chipping sparrow!

They have chestnut crowns, and black eye streaks, and are very common in the midwest.

This one was busy gathering materials, probably to reinforce the traditionally flimsy nest that most chipping sparrows build.  

They build low to the ground and have a penchant for using hair in their nests.  

Thinleaf Sunflower

Have you ever heard of thinleaf sunflowers?  I had never heard of them, until today.  However, I've SEEN them dozens of times.  

Here's a picture:

See the thinner, sharply pointed leaves?

These sunflowers are also called "ten-petal sunflowers", although they can actually have 8 - 12 petals.  They are woodland flowers, and I found these in western Illinois.

Butterflies seek out this plant to lay their eggs, and muskrats favor this plant as well.  

The species name is Helianthus decapetalus.  Isn't that perfect?  Helianthus comes from Helios, god of the sun (that equates with Hyperion of Green mythology), and decapetalus represents the ten petals. 

Jewel Weed Blossoms

These are spotted jewelweed blossoms.

They have a trumpet shape and rich coloring, making them most intriguing!

These blossoms are little beauties, but I also liked the way the droplets of rain formed beads upon the leaves.

Below is the yellow form of jewelweed, which is a little more rare.






















You are most likely to find jewelweed along creeks and streams.  They like to keep their roots wet.  They are also often found in the same neighborhood as stinging nettle.  Jewelweed is said to be a good antidote for the sting of the nettle, and for poison ivy and insect bites.  But if all else fails, they are still simply beautiful to look at.

Virgin Tiger Moth

This is the Virgin Tiger Moth.  I was struck by its beautiful pattern, which reminded me of stained glass windows.

I wish I had known enough to spread this one's wings to see the beautiful red under-wings that I read about later!  They range from yellow to orange to red with black spots - hence the "tiger" in the name.

This one had been caught in a spider web and so was not in the best of shape when photographed, poor thing!