No longer pregnant & quite a bit thinner - Proud but tired - This mother Argiope aurantis will rest today!

Pregnant Mom ;0) Be sure to click on photos to enlarge.

This one and the next were taken last night.

Just exploring before the big event of laying those eggs.

Eggs already laid and she is putting the finishing touches on the egg case.

Look closely at the silk strands being placed on the case.

Smile - You're on Candid Camera!

She is working so quickly - Oh my kingdom for a video camera ;0(

More than one thread at a time.

Every nook & cranny gets special attention.

WHEW!

Since this egg case is so fresh it hasn't yet changed color to brown as shown here on Bugguide.net http://bugguide.net/node/view/2025 What a large & lovely North American Garden Spider - The Black & Yellow Argiope.

Photographs by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Portable housing for the Garden Spider - An antique tin funeral flower holder

Perhaps it's a fitting place to meet their demise for all the insects that the spider feasts on?

I'm not complaining as now I am able to photograph her more easily ;0) What a beautiful web.

This is a beautiful female Argiope aurantia. I hung her under the back porch light last night and she pigged out mostly on moths. She will spend the day placed safely behind deck furniture so she won't be easy prey for a hungry bird. Tonight she'll reside under the light once again to dine.

I see an alien with his hands placed on his hips glaring at me!

Ah ha.... Rorschach Inkblot Test! What do you see?

(click on images to supersize)


Photos by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Simply lovely! Found in Richmond, Virginia.

An ordinary backyard nuisance or a delicate work of art - The mushroom

I capture pictures of mushrooms before they perish as they are not long-lived. I know I will be painting our local toads and of course a great "prop" for them certainly is the lowly toadstool. A bonus of photographing them is that I am given the opportunity to appreciate their intricate construction and delicate coloring. Inspect one more closely next time you see it as an annoying eyesore in your beautiful lawn..... just before you mow it over or pluck it out! Amazing nature ;0)
Photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Portrait of a millipede - What an adorable face on this Richmond resident.

This particular four inch long specimen is my pet and is shown peering over its water dish. What big eyes you have! The Narceus americanus / annularis complex is the largest USA native millipede and being nocturnal not often seen. They are quite harmless but if you handle them you should wash your hands before touching your eyes. They can discharge a substance if frightened that can be skin irritating to some but I have never experienced it. If you hold them gently that shouldn't happen. Otherwise they do not bite and thoroughly enjoy eating dry quality pellet dog food and various organic (remember no pesticides) raw vegetable scraps sprinkled with calcium powder. Carrots seem a favorite. I will post more photos later but in the meantime here's what Bugguide.net has to say about this millipede: http://bugguide.net/node/view/15012
Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Living under your porch light - No big deal right?

You first notice it after turning on the porch light one night, content in a securely constructed home. The next morning you discover it gone with no sign of ever having been there..... home and all is gone.

The next night again the creature is back..... lounging innocently as it glows in the light. In the morning all gone again! Now you begin to wonder if you imagined it being there as you search for it in daylight. Every morning it's nowhere to be found. Every night it's back again just like clockwork. Hmmmm..... so begins the saga of "the disappearing spider mystery" or should it be called "mother nature drives you nuts." Ideas anyone? (click on images to supersize)

UPDATE: The MYSTERY appears solved. Visit this website for more information: http://www.cirrusimage.com/spider_orb_weaver_Neoscona_arabesca.htm This spider has been identified via Bugguide.net: http://bugguide.net/node/view/27585 Thanks again!

Photograph by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Trumpet Vine Flowers - Glowing in afternoon light showing an elegant orange hue - Campsis radicans

Beautiful photograph taken by a close friend..... thanks!

Backlighting a subject outdoors is being at the right place at the right time. You can't move the subject nor can you control the movement of the sun. Then thrown into the mix the movement or presence of clouds. Lucky shot or is it called patience and determination ;o) It will certainly be a pleasure to paint this one.

Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Bristly Locust - An old-time plant in the Pea family - Beautiful foliage and pink flowers resembling Sweet Peas

This image does not show the flowers completely opened but attractive foliage and deep pink blooms are evident..... not to mention the unusual "fuzzy" stems. This one was retrieved from my grandmother's garden in Virginia and has spread via tubers to make a nice showing in the flower garden. I believe it is Robinia hispida but not positive and it grows as a small shrub or tree. Very quaint!
Photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Sassafras Tea au naturale in Virginia - No! - Safrole was found to be a carcinogen and banned as a food additive in the 1960's.

Here is a young tree with mostly three lobed leaves. Sassafras trees can have three different shaped leaves on the same tree. Sassafras root / bark tea in its natural form is suspected to cause cancer therefore it is no longer considered safe or used to make root beer. Artificial flavorings are substituted for the "real thing." That's good news for the Sassafras Trees I guess..... well at least for this Chesterfield County one!
Photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Asiatic Dayflower - Commelina communis - Virginia's beautiful blue wildflower or just a weed?

I have always been fond of this unusual looking flower with two petals and sprawling foliage. It's in the Spiderwort family according to information in the USDA Plants Database via The Natural Resources Conservation Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Find more information in their website here: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=COCO3
Photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Cyanide producing Millipede - Apheloria virginiensis corrugata - Identified via Bugguide.net - Handle with caution!

(click on images to enlarge)

When disturbed this Virginia residing Millipede can exude a toxic poison so be sure to wash your hands immediately after handling..... cyanide! Pretty good defensive mechanism. Otherwise they are harmless so there is no need to kill them. Children should not be allowed to handle them as often a child will put things in their mouth.
Beautiful colors and so many legs. More information available via Bugguide.net http://bugguide.net/node/view/97404 about this interesting arthropod.
Photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Perfect Mushroom for that discerning Toad Frog living in your yard. Canopy of leaves for privacy.

Toadstools have a knack for sprouting up practically anywhere and this one wasn't going to let several inches of leaves get in its way. The American Toad would enjoy this spot to hang out until a hungry squirrel came along. Yes the squirrels are stealing all the mushrooms in the woodland for a gourmet snack. It seems they love them almost as much as the hickory nuts!
Photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Backyard Habitats - Nature Lovers - Wildlife Enthusiasts - Compliments of Virginia Tech - The Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests....

Here http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/wildlife/426-070/426-070.html you will find some interesting information on setting up your very own "Backyard Wildlife Habitat." Preserving our wildlife and natural resources begins at home..... in your own backyard!

Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Here's an interesting Mushroom - The patterns and colors are a work of art.

I'll definitely have to add this fungi to one of my nature oil paintings. The sides are quite interesting so click on the image to enlarge.
Photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Honeybee & Bumblebee - Collecting the nectar side-by-side in flower garden.

(click on images to supersize)

I am not afraid of being stung by the Honeybee but do keep my distance from the Bumblebee! They are usually docile but I had an unpleasant childhood experience when I got too close to a Bumble Bee nest!

Bees are so interesting to observe gathering nector aren't they?

Photograph taken in Chesterfield County by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

"Sweat Bee" or Carpenter Bee? on Wetland Plants - Broadleaf Arrowhead - Sagittaria Latifolia - Richmond, Virginia

(click on images to supersize)

The marsh at the edge of the yard is a favorite hangout for all sorts of wildlife.

Here are a few of the creatures I have seen in this wetland meadow:

Mallard Ducks, Virginia Whitetail Deer, Opossums, Racoons, Groundhogs, Chipmunks, Mice, Squirrels, Copperhead Snakes, Garter Snakes, Rat Snakes, Red-Shouldered Hawks, Redtail Hawks, Crows & smaller birds, Toad Frogs, Pickeral Frogs, Spring Peepers, etc...... and the list goes on and on!

Photos by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

A Snake In The Grass - Literally! Garter Snake in Chesterfield County yard.

I happened upon this sight while searching my front yard for something interesting to photograph today. We were both surprised! In a matter of seconds this Garter Snake was gone and had it not been for the shutter repeat function on my Rebel XT Camera I would have missed capturing its picture. Now I know why my Spring Peeper Frogs have been disappearing lately! The snake was about two and a half feet long and very well fed ;0) (click on images to enlarge)

Photo of this Virginia snake by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Puffball - I had planned to continue photographing this brown beauty until it expired but Lawnmower Man happened!

Yes this rather large fungi specimen is now scattered all over our backyard.

Oh well..... the best made plans of mice and men!

Mushrooms are something I buy at the grocery for my salad or to saute but know very little about them. In an effort to identify this puffball I stumbled upon this awesome website about mushrooms, fungi and mycology. Well worth visiting - http://www.mykoweb.com/index.html

This Virginia puffball photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Sydney the Umbrella Cockatoo - A rare "good shot" as she is quite camera shy.

After her bedtime..... sleepy girl ;0)

I really had to sneak up on her to get these pictures ;0)

Just a lucky shot!

Photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Red Amaryllis - Bulbs can survive the coldest Virginia winters.

Just remember to plant them deep enough. In my yard they seem to do better in partial shade and do slowly multiply. I sometimes dig one up and place it in a pot so I can enjoy the blooms indoors but don't let your pets ingest them as they are toxic. Here is the ASPCA: Animal Poison Control Center: Toxic Plants website for a list of more potentially dangerous plants for pets (dogs, cats, etc.) http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_toxicplants
Photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Bird Watching is Sooooo exhausting! Really hard work.

Greyboy the cat naps..... dreaming of birds I suppose.

Photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/

Charlie the cat..... or Big Game Hunter? Birdwatching!

Wishful thinking ;0)

Photo by Carolyn Hietala http://carolynhietalapaintings.blogspot.com/