Miniature Wood Duck carving by the author. Many years ago,I did a lot of wood carving ,last year I planned to do a set of 12 duck species carvings in miniature. (3 to 5 inches long ). Somehow I lost interest ,but since the winter months are approaching ,hopefully the interest will return. Posting of this practice piece should be encouragement,well,at least the colours all seem to match.

Quote for the day.....All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered ; the point is to discover them .-- Galileo Galilei

Blue mist bluebeard shrub is a breath of fresh air when the mid-summer garden starts to look tired. This lightly fragrant plant, produces flowers to frost. Very hot summers and very cold winters are not good for longevity,however these plants are easily started from cuttings. The photo is my first year planting. Quote for the day.....Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind,it doesn't matter----- Mark Twain

Red-crowned Crane...Cincinnati Zoo. The red-crowned crane symbolizes good luck and long life in Asian culture, yet it is the second rarest crane in the world .It's critical habitat is threaten by industrialization and population increases.( IUCN -Endangered ). Life span ....25+ yrs....Habitat...wetlands...Wingspan..7 to 8 ft....Height..5 ft...Weight... !5 to 22 lbs. Diet.. aquatic animals and plants...Mate for life. Quote for Day...A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.--Cicero,from De Amicitia

Macro-photograph of grass seed with insect eggs attached. Also find small insect down from the eggs.

Rose of Sharon petal,showing structure and texture. Quote for the day......Minds, like parachutes, only function when they are open--Anonymous

Update on Nightbooming Cereus....Just aborted it's bud.....Bummmer!!!!! Quote for the day.....You can't depend on your judgment when your imagination is out of focus--Mark Twain

Nightblooming cereus bud is starting to develop. Had this plant for about 30 years, bloomed several times,last time 7 years ago. Cereus is a genius of plants of Cactus family,Southwestern U.S ,Mexico and South America .Leaves are thick and rubbery,heavy veined. The veins, at edge of leaf, produces new growth,sometimes it produces a flower bud.

Cloud Formation coming from North to South, cold front moving in,good sun bounce at sunset. August 07, 2008 at 8:39pm. f4.0 at 1/160sec., Iso 100 ;35mm Focal length 144. Love to watch clouds!!!!

GOLDENRAIN TREE is a species of KOEREUTENIA native to eastern Asia,in China and Korea. My tree has survived cicadas, whitetail fawns and its last tragedy was a high wind that split it in half.(taped it back together with duct tape) and it bloomed for the first time this year. The photo shows the fruits that form after the yellow flowers. P.S. 73 years ago today,in a thunder storm,in an old farm house, the author came into this world. Life is good.

Cockatoos have a much more restricted range than parrots,occurring naturally only in Australia and nearby islands. Have characteristic curved beak and a zygodactyl foot (two toes forward and two toes backward). This one, at the CINCINNATI Zoo, moved around on his tree perch like a clown, first ,using it's beak then it's feet. Like the way its looking at the camera. What's it thinking?????