Blackberry Blossom In Portraiture

Softly delicious to sight..... eventually delicious to taste ;0)

Sawtooth Blackberry Rubus argutus

Thank you pollinators!

I'm dreaming of fresh fruit on cereal ;0)

Nature Native Berry Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

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Sunbathing beauty on my deck..... wearing a T-shirt?

Ahhhhh.....this feels Sooooo Good!

Cairo Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

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Mulberry Tree..... unripe berries are green but turn to red ;0)

The birds will love it's fruit again this year ;0)

They wouldn't allow me but a handful ;0(

Image taken in Chesterfield County - Richmond, Virginia

Nature Berry Tree Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Boomers

boomers watching the old folks and young uns

A little wild humor for the day ;0)

Backyard Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

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Busy Bumblebee On Blackberry Blossom

Bumblebees, along with many other insects, were franticly active on the Blackberry plants yesterday. Soon their attention will be diverted to the American Holly and just in time. As you can see, the Blackberry flowers are beginning to brown.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Nature Insect Pollinator Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

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......beyond old

.........tulip poplar blossom from last year.

Nature Tree Flower Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

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White-breasted Nuthatch agrees..... recycling an old mailbox as a birdhouse is a good thing ;0)

(click on image to see more pictures of this backyard bird house)

Sitta carolinensis

Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

1) leave mailbox on the post

2) insert a cedar or spruce board that has an appropriate size hole for the species you wish to use it

3) frame the hole with a metal closet pole holder (turned upside down)

4) wait for this ecology conscious birdhouse to be "appreciated"

5) enjoy!

Wrens have nested here too.

Recycle Reuse Mailbox Project by Carolyn Hietala

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death, taxes.......... and dandelion!

Taraxacum officinale

Happy Spring Yard Work Everyone!
I tasted dandelion wine years ago and it was soooooo good,

never looked upon this lowly "weed" quite the same again!

Appreciate its beauty ;0)
perennial - edible - yellow flower - Asteraceae

Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

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

There can be no Spring in Virginia without blossoms of Dogwood ;0)

American Dogwood

Cornus florida or Benthamidia florida

Virginia State Flower

Nature Flowering Tree Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

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Mommy is quiet and snug in her nest as she broods her eggs..... House Wren - troglodytes aedon

Since this image was taken the babies have hatched but I dare not get close. I wouldn't wish to disturb them. Have a super Sunday everyone ;0)

Backyard Nature Bird Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

POLLEN GOT ME DOWN.............. ;0(

Well at least it won't be quite as bad today.

The rain here will settle it a bit ;0)

Fuzzy Gray Moth

Nature Insect Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

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Love me, hate me, I don't care..... just keep that fly swatter nowhere near!

Well almost a poem ;0)

Green Bottle Fly on Queen Anne's Lace.....

and a smidgen of an aphid.

Happy Fly Day Friday! Have a great weekend everyone ;0)

Nature Diptera Insect Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

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itty bitty backyard bouquet

Flowers..... plucked from the yard..... plopped in a vase!

Wildflowers On Silver Platter Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

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Solomon's Seal - Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum

This native woodland plant of Virginia

gracefully unfurls in shady pastels, warmed by noon sun.

(P. biflorum var. commutatum)

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Nature Wildflower Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Happy Earth Day!!!!!! 2010

"We Are Family"

Daisy Fleabane

(Erigeron annuus..... enjoying life, singing happily in unison ;0)

Nature Native Wildflower Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

EARTH DAY Celebration..... one flower at a time!

Pollinating the world......... it's a big job but someone has to do it.

God Bless Our Insects!

The native Blackberry bush has opened its

beautiful blossoms to welcome the pollinators.

Richmond virginia - Chesterfield county

Backyard Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Spring brings color to my cheeks..... male Five-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus)

I see that this fella also has a few battle scars alongside his chubby body. He proudly displays his manly orange head as breeding season has begun under the Oak Tree in my backyard ;0)


Yesterday I noticed that a female has been staying in close proximity to an open bag of peat moss I had left at the edge of the yard. I must store it so she doesn't begin a nest..... hope she hasn't already!

Nature Reptile Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Native lizard photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

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A patch of Daisy Fleabane embellishes my driveway..... a delicate native wildflower of Virginia.

Erigeron annuus

A nice sized patch of these native, delicate white wild flowers welcome the sun..... and welcome me as I turn into the driveway. This year they are especially lovely so count on more pics ;0)

Nature Wildflower Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

ACHOO!!!!!! Hickory Tree catkins and our beautiful native Virginian Fringe Tree ;0)

Hickory in morning sunlight

Fringe Tree - Chionanthus virginicus

(I doubt this gem contributes to our allergy symptoms)

Remember..... pollen really is a good thing ;0)

Nature Tree Flora Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Photos taken in Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

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You'd better have a REALLY good reason for interrupting my siesta!!!!!

Charlie ;0)

Pet Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Woodland creature..... the harmless, shy and very elusive Eastern Worm Snake - Carphophis amoenus amoenus

This little snake was discovered napping under a board at the edge of my yard, The board had been warmed by sunshine, becoming a nice place to raise this small reptile's body temperature.

I have scattered a few more small boards about the backyard wood, strictly for catching a shot of some surprised small critter..... lift slowly and snap picture quickly ;0)

Wild Nature Reptile Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

I'm shy, agile and always sneaking around.....

.....who am I?

(click on image to find out more about me ;0)

Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Backyard photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Five-lined Skink - Blue Tailed Stripes Lizard

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Mother Paper Wasp closely scrutizes my Rebel XT lens ;0)

Protective Motherhood

You might be surprised to learn that these wasps can be quite tame. I was able, on several occasions, to hand feed a caterpillar to a mommy last year. She, in turn, prepared it and fed it to her young. She only accepted green caterpillars though.... picky ;0)

Wild Insect Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

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Spring freshens the Fringe Tree with lovely new foliage. The flowering is near.

Fringe Trees are native to Virginia's woodlands.

Richmond, Va. - Chesterfield County

Nature Tree Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

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Buds of Daisy Fleabane bow to Spring. I await in anticipation for its delicate display of white blossoms ;0)

A native flowering plant of Richmond, Virginia

Photo taken in Chesterfield County

Search my blog for "fleabane" to view it in flower ;0)

Wildflower Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

What a beautiful day in Richmond, Virginia! Native woodland plants blossom in the warm sun.

This small tree wears deep red berries in Fall.

Nature Tree Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.