Colorful Happy Flowers......pinks, Dianthus,miniature Carnations, I guess people call them by many names , but when I look at them, they make me happy ( at least happier).

Rose of Sharon-Bumble-Bee Relationship....... Rose of Sharon started to bloom this week, covered with bees looking for pollen. I followed this bee to 8 different blooms,before it found one that it liked (as least one that the camera could focus on). Photo shot against the cloudy sky using a fill flash, -1 stop, making for a high key background

Whitetail talk it over at the block.......I like to observe body language of animals, have seen, stiff leg walks, head lowering,front leg striking and plain aggression , but this small buck seems to be chewing -out the big guy. The big guy turns his head to say," I'm not even going to look at you". Well, maybe I've been a Naturalist to long!!!!!!

Whitetail buck is developing a nice set of antlers. Last year, the antlers were irregular but so far this year the growths seen very even. Have changed to a special mineral block and it may have helped. The bucks visit the block several times a day. Note the hole in the ground, deer have eaten the salt- rich soil over the past 25 years or so.

Cecropia Moth ?........Found this moth drying out on side of a house. Photographed from many angles, this angle shows the wing marking to be a pair of fish- like looking markings. Most moths seem to have odd creature like marking for protection. Also, most have a bad taste to birds ,according to the experts. Moth was approx. 6 inches long.

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Southeastern Indiana deer antler growth.....Last year ,the deer I photographed had a lot of antler deformation, so I changed to a BIG 6 MINERAL BLOCK (North American Salt Co.) and the feeding pattern has increase 3 times, around the clock. Salt block is monitored by a remote camera. Block contains Salt,Manganese,Iron,Copper,Zinc,Iodine and Cobalt. It will be interesting to see how the antler growth progresses this year. Some articles indicates the antler are at least 70% minerals.

GREY SQUIRREL Family.... Have a large White Ash tree outside my,second story, studio window and have watched and filmed a family of squirrels for several days. They play in the tree, chase each other but this day all ended up on a stub branch about 8 inches long ,18 feet high. A long way down, even for squirrels. Photo is a video capture.

WHITETAIL Deer..Antlers starting to grow.....Photo taken 5 days ago. Antler starts seem to be somewhat early this year. Note the shaggy look to the coats, shedding the winter fur. The hole in the ground is the result of placing salt blocks on the ground,with rain, the salt leaches into the ground and deer eat the soil. this hole is 18 inches deep by 15 ft. long. A result of 20 years worth of providing salt. This time of year ,they visit the salt lick 3 to 4 times a day .

Brown Pelican..taking off or

landing ....... I love to photograph Pelicans either landing, taking off, sailing and diving. There is a large water hole, formed by high tides along Ft. Myers Beach, Fl which has several pelicans and other water birds. This one came in to feed and I think was taking off,note the water splash behind the feet, they usually run across the water to gain speed to become airborne. Any way I like the shot. 400mm,1/400 sec. f6.3 ,-1 step bias,spot metering and a lot of luck

Early Wildflowers in Southeastern Indiana.......My grandson took me to see recently purchased property , this Sunday. A nice tract of rugged land with a large creek, waterfalls, clay banks, big rocks, and a very steep hillside. After falling into the creek, stumbling over rocks and forcing my old legs to do things they didn't want to do, after about 2 hours ,it became the most enjoyable afternoon I've had in sometime. On the hillside , I found various wildflowers that I usually go to the Smoky Mountains to see . Photos are of PURPLE TRILLIUM ( top) and DUTCHMAN'S-BREECHES which seems to be rather rare, but this hillside had an abundance of them. What a find!!!!! also several Triullum,Squirrel corn,Spring Beauty, Ramp and wild Phlox.Creek has a find of good fossils. About 20 miles from where I live and 200 ft. lower but much earlier.