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

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

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.

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

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)

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.

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

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

Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen

This neonate reptile is native to Richmond, Virginia.

Northern Copperhead Snake

Nature Herp Photograph by Carolyn Hietala

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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