Shots of a field of wildflowers growing at a wildlife refuge near Kentucky Lake.
“How lovely is the silence of growing things.” ~Unknown
A field of wildflowers
Author: Rebecca
An Evening Blessing
Watching a beautiful sunset over neighboring farm fields is always a good way to end the day.
“Sometimes I need only to stand where I am to be blessed.” ~Mary Oliver
Spotted on a morning walk
“An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” ~Henry David Thoreau
Turtle watching
As a small child, one of my favorite parts of going to Reelfoot Lake was seeing the turtles lined up on the logs along the roadside and out in the lake. Nothing has changed. This is still one of the highlights of my visits.
“There is absolutely no reason for being rushed along with the rush. Everybody should be free to go slow.” ~Robert Frost
Unlikely places
“No matter how chaotic it is, wildflowers will still spring up in the middle of nowhere.” ~ Sheryl Crow
“Wildflowers don’t care where they grow.” ~Dolly Parton
“I think I like wildflowers best … They just grow wherever they want. No one has to plant them. And then their seeds blow in the wind and they find a new place to grow.” ~Rebecca Donovan
“Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.” ~Ronald Dahl
“How does the Meadow flower its bloom unfold? Because the lovely little flower is free down to its root, and in that freedom bold.” ~William Wordsworth
Black-necked stilt
In April, we were delighted to see these delicate-looking shorebirds hunting for food in the shallow waters of flooded farm fields close to the Mississippi levee. They only visit our area for a short time, and then migrate on.
“Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it, but to delight in it when it comes.” ~Charles Dickens
Green Frog
A Green Frog sits on the stem of an aquatic plant, waiting patiently for his next meal to come along.
“Time’s fun when you’re havin’ flies.” ~Kermit the Frog
A fledgling
This young bird was sitting in the shade on our driveway one afternoon. Later, when I checked on it, it had moved on to parts unknown.
“The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” ~Thomas Edison
Burrowing Crayfish
During the daytime, crayfish are seldom seen out in the open, but recently after a good rain, I spotted one moving about in the shallow, clear water of a ditch.
In the spring, crayfish dig tunnels down many feet to reach ground water. As they dig, they use their legs and mouth to bring mud pellets up to the surface and place them around the opening of their burrows.
They continue adding more pellets on top of each layer until a chimney is formed. The mud dries hard and serves as a defense against predators.
Each crayfish’s chimney is unique. Occasionally I like to stop and admire the architecture formed by these freshwater crustaceans, and can’t help but wonder if they were perhaps the inspiration for human adobe or mud homes.
As dry, hot weather arrives, the crayfish plug up the entrance to their burrows and move further down the tunnels where the environment is more to their liking.
“Architects cannot teach nature anything.” ~ Mark Twain
A peaceful sound
As I was sitting out on the screen porch shortly before sundown, taking in the sights and sounds of nature, in the distance I could hear the familiar distant cooing of the mourning dove wafting through the air. With so much craziness going on out in the world, somehow the peaceful sound of this bird’s song was calming music to my ears.
“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.” ~Unknown
