Wednesday

Bread Pudding..... a thoughtful gift warms the start of the New Year 2009


Yummmm..... thanks daughter!
There's nothing like comfort food for the holidays.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009..... Each And Everyone!!!!!!!!
Image and pudding by Adrienne Quesenberry
Nature Photography Blog by Carolyn Hietala

Friday

Graced by warm rays of Autumn sun, we smelled the sweetness of aster and shared a gentle breeze.


In this brief moment of peaceful serenity we were one..... then silently bid our farewells. Little bee and me.
Peace And Goodwill To All..... Happy Holidays ;0)
Nature Honeybee Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Thursday

Let's play "sneak up on the rain barrel frog"


Just a game I play.....
.....trying to get super close for a decent shot..... but all the plants are a challenge. If I approach too close sometimes from the front then frog slips into the water. Oh well. I'll try again next Summer. (cute Pickerel ;0)
Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Wednesday

Elderberry..... a native plant of Virginia captured in magical display

Berry Bokeh On A VERY Sunny Summer Day

Once ripened these berries do not stay on display very long. The birds quickly devour them.


Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala


Tuesday

Remember..... ALWAYS exit with a BRIGHT SMILE!!!


Deck Nails In Autumn Unison.....
with Sweetgum and Oak

Happy Holidays Everyone! ;0)
Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Thursday

I made a wish..... and became BOKEH !!!!!


Be careful what you wish for ;0)
Soft Butterfly Orange & Cottony Wildflower White Bokeh
Nature Macro Image by Carolyn Hietala

Friday

An Image Of Life And Death


Hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving..... I know I did.
Turkey is great but sharing special time
with those you love is the best!!!!!!!!! ;0)
Happy Black Friday!
Enjoy those leftovers!
Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Sunday

Ornamental Grass In Autumn


With backlight illumination from the rising sun, these
ornamental grass seeds have a
special soft creamy glow about them.

richmond virginia - chesterfield county - grasses - fall
Nature Flora Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Thursday

A copper head in mossy green bokeh!


Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
neonate Northern Copperhead Snake
Note the bright green/yellow tail distinguishing it as a baby. Getting this close to photograph a pit viper is emphatically NOT advocated..... even if it happens to be a juvenile like this one!
canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / woodland backyard reptile / patchy sunlight / uncropped image / richmond virginia / chesterfield county
Nature Herp Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Tuesday

.....and she did exit in a blaze of glory


Last Rose Bokeh

In joyful brilliance, native Sumac and Japanese Red Maple
accompany Miss Graham Thomas English Rose
on her journey home.

richmond virginia - chesterfield county - yellow flower blossom - autumn
Nature Floral Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Monday

Hanging Around On A Hanging Round


Home Sweet Home..... compliments of Sycamore!
Peachy keen background..... compliments of Fall colors ;0)

This bug is one of many that were clinging to the green spiny seed balls of the American Sycamore tree - Platanus occidentalis. Autumn surely brings sustaining harvest to many.

Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County - Insect Nature
Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Friday

Turning The Leaves Of History


An Autumn day ends..... there are new hopes for dawn.
Fall of 2008 macro image by Carolyn Hietala

Wednesday

Standing together..... side by side in Virginia


Tall hopes. Tall expectations.
November 4, 2008
Image by Carolyn Hietala

Tuesday

Hmmm..... I wonder if I turned off the coffee pot


Oh Well. Gotta hurry to get in line to VOTE!
November 4, 2008
This very large ant kept going back into its hole, then quickly out again..... over and over again, touching its face as if it had forgotten something really important. OCD maybe? Still undecided?
Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Monday

If we were ants..... what might the last days of campaigning look like?


So glad we are a bit more civilised. Happy Voting!
Nature Ant Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Thursday

To know when NOT to hover.....


.....and the tummy always knows ;0)

Hover Fly - Yellow & Black Insect On Wild Aster
Backyard Woodland Diptera Wildflowers
Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County
Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala (click on image to enlarge)

Wednesday

Good AfterMoon Miss Luna!


Ahhhh..... to be MOONED by a beautiful insect.

Honestly, I don't really know if this moth is a miss, ms, mrs or it even might be a mister!? Anyway it's definitely a moon shot ;0)
Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Tuesday

Remember Marimba?


Ahhhh..... The beautiful resonating sounds of rosewood.
Can't think of a better way to remember a tree!
Nature Tree Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Monday

Huckleberry Blue


A dry summer and some very hungry critters made doubly sure that the sweet smell of fresh baked huckleberry pie would not grace my kitchen this year..... so bluely missed.
Nature Berry Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
This is a wild variety native to Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County - Woodland Plant

Saturday

Busy Busy Bee! Busy Busy ME!


Wild Asters of October Autumn.....
with fresh morning dew and an eager Honey Bee in flight.
I love this composition and can't wait to paint it one day ;0)

Busy Busy Me!..... I'll be slowing down my photo posting just a little as my oil painting is taking priority. It's not like I don't have plenty of reference images...... ha. Hope to share my art again soon.

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
richmond virginia - chesterfield county - wildflowers - insect in flight

Wednesday

Landscape: The Rolling Hills Of Virginia












October Autumn Colors Emerging
Images taken in late evening through a car window moving at the speed of.... I'm not telling ;0)
Nature Photographs by Carolyn Hietala

Friday

Soul Mates..... basking in love's glow


Pearly Crescentspot - Phyciodes tharos
Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County
Wild Aster - Butterflies
Nature Insect Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Thursday

Life under the wild asters of Virginia


A small jumping spider.....
.....warms in the sun while resting upon a fading blade of ornamental grass. It remains on alert as insect prey and predator move all about.

It's a busy buzzy world amongst the wildflowers in my backyard this Autumn. Bees are urgently hopping from flower to flower, hover flies are hovering, butterflies incessantly flirting; all being watched by this lone stationary arachnid.

I begin to feel a close connection with this spider as we both are observers here. We're sharing intimate views in this tiny, seemingly insignificant universe. I leave with a smile ;0)

richmond virginia -chesterfield county - backyard - salticidae
Nature Insect Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Wednesday

Hover Fly Magnets


Wildflowers & Hover Fly
Wild Asters are Hoverfly magnets! Oh how I look forward to their autumn blossoms as they attract a myriad of insects. With your camera in hand, pull up a lawn chair and capture their antics. Get close enough and you will smell the delicate fragrance of the tiny white flowers. ENJOY! ;0)
Nature Insect Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Monday

What a beautiful world I live in!


Species: Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi
Spotted Cucumber Beetle
My Mom's Graham Thomas English Rose - Autumn Bloom
Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Friday

Ahhhh.... Virginia's Wildlife! Paper Wasp On Wild Asters


Polistes bellicosus
Insect Nature Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
Image is copyright protected with all rights reserved.
Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Thursday

Luscious Cascading Red


Reminiscing a lazy hazy day of Summer
with an image of wild red Blackberries


A berry plant native to Virginia that is very wildlife friendly!
Nature Fruit Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
(all my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved)

Wednesday

REACH FOR THE LIGHT


HONEYBEE ON WILD ASTER
Our honeybees are in trouble
Please preserve the native wildflowers of Virginia by integrating them into your flower gardens. Their beauty is amazing!
Let's keep our bees happy and healthy ;0)
Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
(image taken in my own backyard - Richmond, Va. - Chesterfield County)
All of my photographs are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Monday

Why I Love The Wild Asters Of Virginia

The tiny white flowers are teeming with life.....
a smorgasbord for insects and insect photographers alike!
Aster dumosus - Bushy Aster - a native wildflower - perennial

Nature Wildlife Photography by Carolyn Hietala

Saturday

Yard Buddy In Camouflage Suit


This is one my Miniature Pinscher's "friends"..... a rather large, brave and admirably tolerant Pickerel Frog.

They used to frolic during the day and frequently at night under the illumination of the porch light..... until recently.

My Min Pin has grown so accustomed to the presence of this amphibian in "his" backyard that he now only greets it with a quick sniff then walks away. No longer do they frolic.

Finally! Thank goodness! Two summers of constant "LEAVE IT" has been enough for me!!!! ;0)

Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Friday

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen


This neonate reptile is native to Richmond, Virginia.
Northern Copperhead Snake
Nature Herp Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Monday

Speak Not With Forked Tongue


Wisdom In Macro ;0)
canon rebel xt / sigma 150 macro / woodland richmond virginia chesterfield county / neonate northern copperhead baby reptile snake / Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
(this image is copyright protected with all rights reserved)

Sunday

Surveying new landscape in Chesterfield County


WARNING: This property surveyor can be very dangerous
if disturbed.
Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
(click on image to link to more photos of this neonate)
Wild Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Smell The Bokeh

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen

Newly relocated this baby Northern Copperhead
is beginning to explore its surroundings.

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / patchy sunlight / cropped image / woodland / richmond virginia / chesterfield county / wild nature /venomous poisonous dangerous reptile neonate snake serpent / forked tongue / depth of field dof
Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
All images are copyrighted with all rights reserved.

Saturday

Dazed & Confused..... the window pain strikes again ;0(


A Young Common Yellowthroat
This little bird had been enjoying the ornamental grass seeds in the yard until something possessed it to fly against the windowpane of my house. I rushed outside to see if it was all right and could not find it. Assuming it had flown off unharmed I started indoors and there it was..... next to the front door on the porch. I carefully covered it with a box to give it time to recover.
About a half hour later I checked on it..... still it wouldn't move..... later I once again lifted the box..... it flew into the yard. OK. That's progress. I then fetched my camera and followed it for a few minutes taking pics. Suddenly it flew into the Willow tree, hopped from branch to branch rejoining its bird friends in ravaging the grass seeds once again....... AMAZING! I'd be calling my doctor..... ha.
For quite a while I enjoyed watching it through that very windowpane that had caused its strife. The little critter was busy doing what birds do and acting as if nothing had ever happened to it. WHEW! Thank goodness. It survived an encounter that many birds never do ;0)
canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / morning sun / uncropped / backyard nature wildlife / richmond virginia / chesterfield county
Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Serpent In Exile


Banished from the yard, this baby Northern Copperhead snake sets out to explore its new abode..... at least a thousand feet from my home ;0)
I stayed until it had disappeared into a new dark place under this fallen Tulip Poplar. There it would be safe from the crying Red-shouldered Hawk and Blue Jays I could hear above us.
Nature Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
Image is copyrighted with all rights reserved.

Friday

The STARE..... if looks could kill


Macro Image Of A Newborn
A Richmond Virginian With ATTITUDE!
The Northern Copperhead snake displays a fearless appearance even though it is normally docile..... unless harassed or threatened. Warning..... it is VENOMOUS despite its quiet nature.
Learn more about this shy reptile at this official Virginia wildlife website:
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/?s=030016
Herpetology - Agkistrodon contortix mokasen
Nature Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
Image is copyright protected with all rights reserved.
Photo was taken in Chesterfield County, Va.

Wednesday

Copperhead Snake Portrait..... A Chesterfield County Resident

Image of a baby Northern Copperhead



Coiled Cutie

Ahhhh..... the innocence of youth!

Docile and shy, this little neonate will struggle to survive in this great big world. Given the importance of biodiversity, I wish it a safe life journey..... in the woods though..... not on my lawn ;0)

ONLY an experienced snake handler that is very familiar with snake behavior (and especially poisonous species) should ever attempt a macro shot..... for obvious reasons. Snakes are notoriously unpredictable subjects.

canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / woodland backyard garden / image taken in partial shade / cropped framed / richmond virginia / chesterfield county / Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen / venomous poisonous dangerous reptile / baby northern copperhead

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala
All images are copyright protected all rights reserved.

Tuesday

Almost stepped on this BABY COPPERHEAD in my backyard! WARNING! Venomous - Poisonous - Dangerous

Large Acorn & Small Snake

(you may click on images to enlarge)


Macro In The Shade



Shy, Docile & Potentially Lethal!


Baby Copperhead Bokeh


Dangerous Youth..... Northern Copperhead Snake

Baby Northern Copperhead - Dare I call this little critter cute?
I almost stepped on it in the backyard
here in Chesterfield County..... while wearing sandals!

Getting this close to photograph a pit viper is emphatically NOT advocated..... even if it happens to be a juvenile like this one! Note the bright green/yellow tail distinguishing it as a baby.
ONLY an experienced snake handler that is very familiar with snake behavior (and especially poisonous species) should ever attempt a macro shot..... for obvious reasons. Snakes are notoriously unpredictable subjects. See adult Copperhead images I have taken by clicking on the label "snake" in this blog.
canon rebel xt / sigma 150 / macro / woodland backyard reptile herp / photos taken in bright sunlight & shade / richmond virginia / chesterfield county / Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
Nature Herpetology Photographs by Carolyn Hietala
All images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Thursday

What's eating your GRAPE leaves?


The culprits may be members
of the scarab family.....
like this attractive couple!
(click on image to enlarge)
Backyard Nature Photograph of Grapevine Beetle
Pelidnota punctata was taken by Carolyn Hietala

Monday

Robber's Roost


HAPPY house hunting!
Searching for just the right condominium can be a passionate experience..... especially if you're a newlywed ;0)
Robberfly - Diptera - Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County
Nature Passion Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Tuesday

ROCKETMAN!


Re-Entering The Earth's Atmosphere.....
The "Burn"
Copyrighted "Alien" Photograph aka Rocket Man ;0)
Image by Carolyn Hietala
Robberfly - Diptera - Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County
 
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