Tuesday, March 31, 2009

3 days rain, 3 days sunny now 3 more rain, geez...


Did not expect to have such a lucky day with butterflies. It was only sunny for a short time and I had an hour to make the rounds of the property around here including going up the gravel road to the neighbors meadow. This meadow is lined with Eastern Redbuds and the woods are full of Loblolly Pines the host plant for Eastern Pine Elfin yet finding a Eastern Pine Elfin here is once every 2-3 years usually the end of April or early May. I was thinking the meadow was mowed way to low and I was hoping for dragonflies perched on the higher twigs in the grass, not many twigs at all from the mowing, but the low grass gave me a clear look at the Eastern Pine Elfin featured below. I'd already seen 2 Henry's Elfins on the way to the meadow, seeing two species of elfins is not something you get to do everyday here in North Carolina.

This butterfly is about 5/8 inch tall

Loblolly and Virginia Pines are the food plant of the Eastern Pine Elfin.

Above is a male Springtime Darner found at the edge of the meadow.

Male Common Baskettail.
Called a baskettail because the eggs are carried in a ball at the end of the female's abdomen and it resembles a basket. You will only see this when the egg laying is happening. I have seen this from a canoe at Merchant's Millpond in eastern NC.

A primrose from the garden today

May Apples everywhere in our woods, still lots of Wind Flowers and a handful of Trout Lilies in bloom

Our first apple tree blossoms, I think it is a Granny Smith.

Moving back to the rain mode shortly...........

18 comments:

Jennifer AKA keewee said...

lovely pictures.

Bren Haas said...

These photos are wonderful - I hope things dry up soon.
Happy Spring Dear Friend!

Robin's Nesting Place said...

Delightful pictures! You continue to amaze me with your magnificent captures! After devastating news today, I needed a little distraction and you delivered.

sweetbay said...

Lovely capture of the Mayapple leaves. Your apple tree is way ahead of ours.

lynn'sgarden said...

Hi Randy, lots of activity in your garden..love the dragonfly photos! My new camera is able to capture really cool images so plants I'd never "studied" are amazing up close...like the primrose. Love that bright color..can't wait to see all those red buds in bloom.
Lynn

Chandramouli S said...

Whoa! The Elfins are lovely and not to mention your photography skills accentuate them better. Ahhh! The primroses! Cute.
Is that the Apple bloom as in from which apple comes (DUH!)? Wow! That's the first time I've ever laid my eyes on one. Looks sooooo cool.

Maureen said...

Hi Randy, thank you for the comment on my blog. I thought I would pay you a visit, I am glad I did! your photographs are so lovely. What camera and lens did you use ? I have a canon 30D (digital SLR) and a a smaller digital- fuji finePix S5700. I love photography. I will check back in a day or so to see if you have left a reply re-your camera.
maureen :)

Randy Emmitt said...

Everyone thanks for your kind comments on my photos and article.

Sweetbay,
Our apple tree has only three blooms not too good if you ask me.

Chandramouli,
Yes Granny Smith apples the ones best used in pies. Last year we got a bushel of apples never in the past 11 years have we had any apples.

Maureen,
I use the Canon 20D with an 180mm macro lens and a 550EX flash to enhance the ambient light.

ryan said...

Great photos. A birder kid on my trail crew several years ago taught me to ID (poorly) and appreciate dragonflies and butterflies. Since then, I dig the photos.

Unknown said...

Hey Randy, the hellebores are probably about two years old. They are in 4 inch pots.

Mrs. Betty Ranicar $5 each. http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/05328.html

Southern Belles $6 each.
http://www.pineknotfarms.com/pkf%20sb.jpg

Southern belles are about 90% doubles.

I have ordered from Pine Knot before. They send amazing stuff. Here is my email. flowrgirl1@yahoo.com for more info.

Matt Latham said...

Some stunning images here. I can't wait until the dragonflies and butterflies return for the UK summer. I won't be seeing these species tho!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for every other informative website. The place else may I am getting that kind of info
written in such a perfect method? I've a challenge that I'm simply
now working on, and I've been on the glance out for such information.

Also visit my web site :: Tasmania

Anonymous said...

Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this blog loading?
I'm trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it's the blog.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


my web site; free email Marketing templates

Anonymous said...

Hi! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy reading through
your posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the
same subjects? Appreciate it!

my website :: pets for sale

Anonymous said...

It is the best time to make some plans for the long
run and it's time to be happy. I have learn this put up and if I could I wish to counsel you some interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you could write subsequent articles referring to this article. I wish to read more things about it!

My web page homepage

yanmaneee said...

moncler jacket
nike shoes
cheap jordans
ultra boost
yeezy boost 350 v2
michael kors
balenciaga speed
nike air max 270
moncler coat
michael kors handbags

Unknown said...

i loved this best replica bags click reference bags replica ysl visit this web-site best replica designer

Anonymous said...

go to these guys Valentino Dolabuy a fantastic read Valentino Dolabuy additional hints Louis Vuitton replica Bags