Buddha Toad

14 Tuesday Aug 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Flora and Fauna, Frogs and Toads, Home and Garden, Inspiration, Nature, Virginia

Tags

Amphibian, Anaxyrus quercicus, animal conservation, Central Virginia, extinction, Flora and Fauna, garden, garden photography, iPhoneography, lifestyle, nature, nature photography, Oak Toad, summer, toad, Virginia garden, Virginia Herpetplogical Society, Virginia toad, Virginia wildlife

Every once in a while, you run into an individual who’s got that “It” thing going on. You know, the bigger-than-life types… the ones who exude confidence, awareness and over-the-top, in-yer-face personality. The ones with an undeniable energy. The ones who stake their claim to the space simply by being there.

And, in my experience, these It-Factor types occur with animals as well as humans.

And every once in a while, I run into an animal who just oozes It-Factor. Like my Buddha Toad here. I mean no disrespect to the followers of Buddhism, however, I do think he seems to have attained some sort of knowledge and enlightenment. Just look at him. When he sits back in my hand and looks out at the world (and scornfully at me), I am convinced that he knows far more than I do…

My research indicates that this little fellow may be an Oak Toad (Anaxyrus quercicus). According to the Virginia Herpetological Society, these little toads are quite rare in the state and require a “very high conservation need” as the species is at high risk for extinction or extirpation.

Photo note: I tried, tried, tried, to achieve a photo with Buddha Toad’s nose in the same focal plane as the rest of his body… however, my trusty iPhone camera was not so trusty on that day; Buddha Toad’s nose remains out of focus in a photo or two. But then, I figured his personality transcends all technical issues… so I’ve published anyway. I promise to find another It-Factor amphibian and try again!

All photos taken with an iPhone 4. © 2012 EddinsImages

Mighty Mushroom

13 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Flora and Fauna, iPhoneography, Lifestyle, Nature, Summer, Virginia

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Flora and Fauna, garden, garden photography, iPhoneography, lifestyle, mushroom, nature, nature photography, summer, Virginia, Virginia garden, Virginia plants

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Fiery Garden Flowers

12 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Home and Garden, iPhoneography, Nature, Summer

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

cala lily, cala lily "Captain Melrose", daylily, daylily "Stella de Oro", Flora and Fauna, flower photogaphy, flower photos, Gaillardia, garden photography, Hemerocallis "Stella de Oro", iPhone 4, iPhone Photography, iPhone photos, iPhoneography, June, macro photography, orange daylily, Pink flower, pink rose, Pink Traviata rose, rosa Pink Traviata, spring flowers, Spring garden, Virginia flowers, yellow daylily

It’s been raining here for two days, providing lots of water for my just-planted garden perennials. I am a little bummed because just before the rain, some of my roses were about to burst open. Now, the partially opened buds, especially those of gorgeous and dramatic “Pink Traviata” rose, are heavy and rain-sodden. I’ll have to wait for the next round of buds to see gorgeous flowers in full-bloom.

And, this is the second wave of nearly-open buds to get drenched this season. Sad as this is for my flower-greedy eyes, my new plants and their roots will have a marvelously moist season, with lots of sun in-between, so that they may become well-established.

With that in mind, I can wait a little longer for my pretty flowers to show themselves in full boom.

Meanwhile, I snapped some photos the other day when the sun was bright and temperatures were really, really, high.

With temperatures close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, it was sweltering HOT in the garden… and the flowers didn’t seem to mind a bit.

Focusing on the bright colors of my garden offerings, these vivid red, pink, orange and yellow flowers reflected the sun’s sweltering early-June heat.

Still early in the season, and with summer not yet officially here, I can only imagine what July’s searing summer temperatures will bring!

So, while I wait for the rain to subside, I’ll quench my desire for more sunny days with these photos of hot flowers waiting for me in the garden.

Even in shade, their bold and intense colors, like those in cala lily “Captain Melorse” are striking and exciting to the eye.

When the rain finally subsides, one again my brilliant garden beauties will be bursting with dramatic, fiery colors. Best of all, they will be even bigger, bolder and better than before.

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar: Persnickity Portrait Subject

04 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Butterflies, Flora and Fauna, Home and Garden, iPhoneography, Nature, Spring, Wildlife

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Biology, black swallowtail butterfly, black swallowtail caterpillar, butterfly, caterpillar in carrots, caterpillar photo, caterpillar photography, eastern black swallowtail butterfly, eastern black swallowtail caterpillar, Flora and Fauna, garden, garden caterpillar, garden photography, green and black caterpillar, green and black worm, Insecta, interior decorating color palette, iPhone, Lepidoptera, nature photography, Papilio polyxenes, Pupa, Virginia caterpillar

Lookee who I found in my carrot patch yesterday… a beautiful eastern black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes).

At first, my attractive little visitor was mad at me and flashed a bright orange osmeterium. Looking like soft orange antlers, the forked osmeterium organ emits a liquid compound containing chemicals called terpines. Unfortunately, I missed the photo of the brightly colored, antler-like osmeterium when it was visible… it looked sensational against the bright green foliage and orange carrot roots.

Regardless of my missed opportunity, as the sun played hide and seek above, I took a few more photos in the changing light before releasing my visitor. Yet, without a maco lens and precise focusing abilities, my iPhone camera and I found this creature to be the most persnickity of portrait subjects. The little animal’s front end was in constant motion and I could not get a well-focused shot – let alone get any sort of smile – or even a wink!

Mother Sun bleached out the appearance of these vibrant colors in my photos. However, I can see the bright and contrasting colors applied to interior decorating projects… Easily, I can envision this palette in a kid’s room or kitchen. Pop in some hot pink or purple for a bit of whimsy. Against an expanse of white, I see a very chic and modern living space.

After finding an expired mama eastern black swallowtail butterfly during one of my walks recently, it is heartwarming to see her life was not in vain. The life cycle continues! Without the short black spikes that appear around the black stripes of younger caterpillars, the creature in my carrot patch looks about ready to pupate. After just two weeks in its chrysalis stage, I look forward to seeing this little beauty spread its wings as a majestic swallowtail butterfly.

Gift #29: Swallowtail caterpillar (anordinarymiracleday.wordpress.com)
Metamorphosis, part 1 (natureofphotography.wordpress.com)

Iris Flowers, Up Close and Personal

04 Friday May 2012

Posted by Claire Eddins in Flora and Fauna, Flowers, Home and Garden, iPhoneography, Nature, Spring

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Tags

blue iris, closeup flower photos, flower abstract photos, flower photos, flower potography, garden photography, hardy flowers, Home and Garden, iPhone, iris, iris germanica, iris photos, Irises, old flowers, pink iris, plant phtotgraphy, Plants, purple and white iris, wet flowers

Its been a week of stormy spring weather. Every day, we’ve experienced fat, angry, lightening bolts, house-shaking, cracks and roars of thunder, and sheets and sheets of wind-driven ran. Last night in the car, as we headed home from town under brooding, bruised skies brightened with wild, white flashes of lightening, ginormous raindrops pelted the car. And when we were almost home, big balls of hail pinged off the car and bounced in the road around us.

Very dramatic.

But, its not all been drama weather this week.

In between the tempestuous conditions, we’ve had hours of peaceful, balmy days. Days when garden and roadside stems push upward and blooms stretch outward.