This is the time of year when the sedum plants are in bloom. I particularly enjoy the late afternoon, when the sun brings out the colors in the star-shaped flowers and a variety of small insects stop by for a visit.
“Nature is to be found in her entirety nowhere more than in her smallest creatures.” ~Pliny the Elder (Roman Scholar)
This male Blue Dasher reminds me of a mini-helicopter prepared for takeoff.
“Forewarned, forearmed; to be prepared is half the victory.” ~Miguel de Cervantes
It’s been a hot summer, and these blue dragonflies at Reelfoot Lake were trying to keep cool. In order to stay cool during hot weather, dragonflies raise their abdomens straight into the air to reduce their exposure to the sun. They also use their wings to deflect the sun.
“He who keeps his cool best wins.” ~Norman Cousins
“With six small diamonds for his eyes
He walks upon the summer skies,
Drawing from his silken blouse
The lacework of his dwelling house.”
~ Robert P. Tristram Coffin
A few of the insects that I have seen over the last several months.
“There is nothing insignificant in the world. It all depends on the point of view. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“But the good deed, through the ages, Living in historic pages, Brighter grows and gleams immortal, Unconsumed by moth or rust.” ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“To not use a talent to the best of your ability is to stifle the thing that makes you most special. It is like plucking the wings off a butterfly.” ~Fennel Hudson
I spotted several of these moths fluttering among the partridge peas on our country road. They were such small, light colored moths that I wasn’t sure they would photograph well, but was pleasantly surprised at the detail the camera was able to pick up.
“The beauty of life is in small details, not in big events.” ~Jim Jarmusch
A few of the different butterflies that I’ve seen in our area recently.
“It’s the things in common that make relationships enjoyable, but it’s the little differences that make them interesting.” ~Todd Ruthman
