Sally inspects a fawn.
Oct. 17th, 2026 02:41 pmHere is a photo of my dog Sally, taken Spring of this year. She is nosing at a fawn in a gentle manner. We encountered this very fresh fawn in the pasture while on a walk.
I entered this in the county fair and got a 2nd premium ribbon. Thanks to my friend Jesse for the encouragement in that endeavor.
Click below to see the photo on Flickr, where i have lots of other nature photos.

I entered this in the county fair and got a 2nd premium ribbon. Thanks to my friend Jesse for the encouragement in that endeavor.
Click below to see the photo on Flickr, where i have lots of other nature photos.

Photos: Prairie Garden
Sep. 29th, 2026 11:54 pmIn the prairie garden, amidst the jungle of goldenrod and sunchokes, I found a purple aster plant. :D I've been trying to grow aster for years with little success.

It was swarming with bees, butterflies -- mostly skippers, I think -- and other tiny pollinators. \o/


It was swarming with bees, butterflies -- mostly skippers, I think -- and other tiny pollinators. \o/

Groundhog, Sunsets and Flowers
Aug. 13th, 2026 07:32 pm
We've seen some around the area from time to time but this is the first time we've gotten any clear photos of one.
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Bohemian Waxwings
Mar. 31st, 2026 09:32 am
This weekend, we went to the botanical gardens and we saw a big group of Bohemian waxwings! They are very rare guests here on their way to and from Scandinavia and I had never seen one before. I did know instantly what they were seeing them all sitting in the tree though.
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Photos: Coles County Community Garden
Mar. 26th, 2026 10:03 pmYesterday we visited the Coles County Community Garden. (See the right side and left side of the Charleston Food Forest.)
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )
Orchard Bees
Mar. 19th, 2026 04:02 pmThis morning I went to check out the big insect hotel near the canal and I was just in time to catch a whole bunch of male European orchard bees who I am fairly sure had just hatched (the females will hatch a little later in the year).

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( Read more... )
March: PusekÃĪtzchen
Mar. 11th, 2026 04:24 pmI went out for a little walk this morning and found the first willow catkins - Pusekätzchen! They are an important flower for bees at this time of year, not just for honey bees but for solitary bees, bumblebees and solitary wasps.

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( Read more... )
Photos: House Yard
Mar. 6th, 2026 09:28 pmToday was unseasonably warm and sunny, so I took pictures around the yard. The first few are from indoors, then the rest are the house yard. (See the savanna.)
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )
Snowdrop Day
Feb. 27th, 2026 02:29 pm
I went to the cemetery today and it was the first warm day of spring - even the wind was warm, and all the birds were going absolutely nuts, they were so loud. The snowdrops are in full bloom everywhere and they look so incredibly lovely against the leaf litter.
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Photos: Flowerbeds
Feb. 18th, 2026 07:56 pmThe first crocuses are blooming! I just had to take pictures when I spotted them this morning. Yesterday they were just buds.
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )

The sun came out and everyone was enjoying it so much after more than a week of clouds and snowfall. This crow was taking a very energetic bath - look how far the water droplets are flying all around him!
Photos: Flowerbeds
Feb. 17th, 2026 05:00 pmYesterday I shared photos from the House Yard and South Lot plus Savanna and Prairie Garden. Today I did a bit of yardwork that revealed fun new things. :D
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )
Photos: Savanna and Prairie Garden
Feb. 16th, 2026 11:31 pmThese are the rest of the pictures I took today, from the savanna and prairie garden. (See the House Yard and South Lot.)
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )
Spring Flowers
Jan. 12th, 2026 05:14 pmI buy primroses and pots full of bulbs as soon as they are available, it does so much for my mood to have them where I can see them from the couch. I have daffodils, grape hyacinths, a couple of different hyacinths and these netted irises.








