always look before you leap............... Eastern Box Turtle

I just love finding young turtles, they're

missing the "bumps of life."

Eastern Box Turtle - Terrapene carolina carolina

(the shell of this one was about 6 inches in length)

Backyard Nature Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

nostalgic ant #2

.....it's busy eating pollen off flowers.....

Treasured in faux vintage sepia tones..... muted and soft ;0)

Nature Backyard Insect Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Asian Tiger Mosquito - Aedes albopictus..... known carrier of West Nile Virus

Faux Vintage Photograph

(side view)

My model is visibly tiring ;0)

(for full color images of this little predator click on images)

Nature Backyard Insect Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

smooth operator..... at first you don't feel a thing THEN.....

OUCH!!!!!!

Biting Mosquito Image

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Nature Insect Macro Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

a spot of gold

Just like a little fly jewelry pin ;0)

Gold-backed Snipe Fly

Chrysopilus ornatus - male

This image made Front Page Explore May 19, 2010

Would the little critter care?

lol..... probably not!
My Mom so loved wearing fly and bee pins.

Nature Backyard Diptera Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Photo taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Vintage Opal & Garnet 8k Yellow Gold Cocktail Ring by Johny's Gems..... original box.

Written on top of the box is

JOHNY'S GEMS

199 SIKUK PHAYASRI BANGKOK

Tel. 27536

If interested in purchasing this 8ky ring with opals

and garnets, please email art154@comcast.net

This is a temporary jewelry post for a friend......... if you click on "home" below this post, it will take you to all my nature images........ thanks for your patience and I apologize for the detour ;0)

Nature Art Photography by Carolyn Hietala

Richmond, Virginia

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Old Timey Plant..... the beauty of Bristly Locust foliage.

Robinia hispida I believe this variety may be, it grows as a small shrub or tree..... an "old timey" plant. This particular one came from an offshoot of my Grandmother's and has populated a portion of the garden. Bristly is very easy to maintain as it is very drought tolerant and survives in the poorest soils. Of course it would excel in health and beauty with a loving touch ;0)

Nature Green Foliage Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image take in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

nostalgic ant #1..... in solemn pause

.....muted in soft sepia tone.....

Happy TGIF!

Insect Nature Old Photograph Faux by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

tagged by mother nature

A fresh new shiny growth of a green leaf on vine,

wrapped around the porch rail.
Roundleaf Greenbriar (Smilax rotundifolia)

My advice is: Don't wander into a patch of these vines.....

the thorns will make you cry ;0(

I spent a bit of time throughout Maine, Vermont, etc. one summer and kept seeing these signs "tag sale"......well of course it was just another way of saying "yard sale"..... so I went to every one I could. I loved it up there. Wish I could have had a camera then ;0(

Nature Native Plant Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Mantis Soft

A misty morning hunt in Mantid Land.

Chinese Praying Mantis nymph

Japanese Lace-leaf Maple Tree

Honestly, if I were a Mantis mother, I would not deposit my eggs on a red tree..... not the best camouflage for my green babies! They must be color blind ;0(

Nature Backyard Insect Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

dreaming of you

Cope's Gray Treefrog - Hyla chrysoscelis

Resting on the Fringe Tree, this little amphibian waits for nightfall when it will announce its presence to that special one..... it's breeding season here ;0)

Nature Wildlife Frog Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

happy to be a frog

Cope's Gray Treefrog - Hyla chrysoscelis

Resting on a Fringe Tree leaf, this little amphibian waits for the night when it will (very loudly) announce its presence to the world. I can hear its call easily from inside the house, all night long.

Camouflage Works!

I'm just plain cute ;0)

When I turned on the porch light later that evening, it was sitting on the edge of the rain barrel, two more were taking a dip in the water. They had quite a chorus going on..... and the barrel greatly intensifies their sounds!

Backyard Nature Frog Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Images taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

"be fruitful and multiply"

I wasn't feeling well yesterday so was relaxing on the deck when I noticed a cloud of insects emerging from an old stump, had to get my camera. I suppose they are winged termites or ants, heading out to infest some wood ;0(

In regard to not feeling well, A tick presented me with Lyme disease this past week and I am on 500mg (3xday) of Amoxicillin for 21 days. SO BE VIGILANT with removing those ticks IMMEDIATELY folks..........Please!!!!

I suppose those nightly visits to my yard from the deer have a darker side ;0(

Nature Insect Populations Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

assuring us of future generations..... egg laying

American Painted Lady Butterfly

Depositing eggs on Cudweed plant

Vanessa virginiensis on (Gnaphalium spp.) Asteraceae

Nature Butterfly Garden Plant Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

In My Backyard

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Cope's Gray Treefrog - Hyla chrysoscelis........in macro.

.........sitting on my index finger ;0)

Three of these were on and in the rain barrel last night..... being VERY loud with their calls. Today this one was hanging out on the Fringe Tree next to the barrel. It had such a calm nature that it would freely climb on your finger if nudged gently under its throat.

Backyard Nature Amphibian Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

American Painted Lady Butterfly..... depositing eggs on Cudweed.

Vanessa virginiensis on (Gnaphalium spp.) Asteraceae

Plant native Cudweed in your butterfly garden!
(click on image to link to more info)

Nature Insect Egg-Laying Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County Backyard

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

i am softly yours

Happy TGIF EVERYone!

Graham Thomas English Rose..... i just love low light ;0)

Nature Yellow Flower Blossom Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County - Backyard

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

American Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa virginiensis).....nest in Cudweed.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Cudweed (Gnaphalium spp.) Asteraceae

I have left Cudweed in my yard for several years since discovering American Lady Butterfly caterpillars feeding on them. Already I have found four such nests this year and seen the butterfly depositing eggs on the weed.

I have posted an image of a caterpillar building its metamorphosis abode along with a picture of a butterfly in my Flickr post..... http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifeoncanvas/4603232885/

Native Butterfly Garden Plant Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County backyard

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Queen Anne's Lace and the Varied Carpet Beetle

If you take these wildflowers indoors.....

make sure these little insects aren't on them ;0)

Varied Carpet Beetles (Anthrenus verbasci) are feeding on the pollen of the delicate white flowers of Queen Anne's Lace (daucus carota - apiaceae)

Nature Native Wildflower Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

For Mother's Day.......... Blue-Eyed Grass sisyrinchium. Native Wildflower of Virginia.

Looking back to Mother's Days passed.
Hug your Mom ;0)
Blue-eyed Grass in wetland meadow.

Nature Macro Flower Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Cricket Frog Camouflage

Yep...... making like a rock..... well trying ;0)

Acris gryllus - Amphibian

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Native Wildlife Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Lost kitty is birdwatching..... but lost no more ;0)

This is the first time this cat has let me get close in several years. I didn't even know what it looked like up close..... had called it "the streak" because it would run quickly across the driveway about a hundred feet away and disappear. Now all of a sudden it's my best friend..... go figure ;0)

Yeaaaa.... found out that he is a nearby neighbor's cat

that has been missing for about three years.

They just picked him up and took him home!

Miracles happen ;0)

Feline Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Little Bee On Daisy Fleabane

Erigeron annuus..... a native wildflower of Virginia.

Nature Insect Pollination Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Oh the heavenly sweet taste of Clover honey!

Backyard Clover and our beloved wild Honeybee.

I use honey as a sweetener instead of sugar so I especially appreciate our pollinating bees. The sweet smell of these "yard weeds" made me stop in my tracks, breathe deeply and notice this industrious little visitor ;0)

Nature Insect Pollination Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Sunny Robin Redbreast in a Bald Cypress moment.

American or North American Robin

Turdus migratorius

I was photoing insects when this backyard

resident presented itself so obligingly in a tree close to me.

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County.

Nature Wild Bird Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Sawtooth Blackbery Blossom..... native plant of Virginia.

Rubus argutus..... come on Blackberries!

Image taken in Richmond, Virginia - Chesterfield County

Nature Berry Flower Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

All my images are copyright protected with all rights reserved.