I never tire of looking toward the west to see the lighting, shapes and colors which combine to create a unique masterpiece in the evening sky.
“How great is it to live under a sky that is repainted every day by the greatest artist.” ~Unknown
A few shots of the White Pelicans that have migrated to Reelfoot Lake.
“A lot of guys like to go to the beach and bring a crowd, but not me. I like to be alone and out there with a couple of pelicans.” ~Robert Englund
“No garden truly blooms until butterflies have danced upon it.” ~K. D’Angelo
This Green Tree Frog found a cozy leaf on which to snuggle up and blend in among surrounding lake vegetation.
“When I’m home, I like a cozy, comfortable, calming space.” ~Stacy Keibler
A calm and slightly overcast day make for some pretty reflections on the water.
“Only in still waters do things reflect undistorted.” – Anne Brown
There seem to be a number of Black and Yellow Garden Spiders making their home among the vegetation around the boardwalk at the lake. These large-orb spiders are also known as the “Writing Spider”, “Zig-Zag Spider” or “Zipper Spider” because of the heavy white silk decorations which are spun into the center of their elaborate webs. The decorations resemble writing, and differ from web to web.
One of the webs caught my attention because of the way the spider was vibrating it back and forth. This is called “web flexing” and is thought to be a defense from predators or a way to entangle prey. Whatever the reason, the action is enough to make one dizzy if watched for very long.
“Your life is your story. Write well. Edit often.” ~Susan Statham
“Take a walk with a turtle. And behold the world in pause.” ~Bruce Feiler
Dragonflies use a variety of perches on which to land, and then utilize their large eyes to keep a lookout for both prey and predators. By choosing a good perch, they have the advantage of resting while being on the hunt. They are also able to use several techniques to regulate their body temperature from this resting position.
“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” ~Alan Cohen
Undoubtedly my favorite summer wildflower, our country road is lined with their intricate beauty.
“But nature is always more subtle, more intricate, more elegant than what we are able to imagine.” ~Carl Sagan
While driving along a road that runs through the refuge, we spotted several different raccoons, including young ones, walking around in shallow swampy water. With the extremely hot temperatures and sparse rain, the pools were a popular place. At first appearance, the raccoons seemed to be wandering aimlessly around in the water. However, after watching for a while, it became obvious that they were very methodically scanning the bottom of the pools with their sensitive paws in search of food. It was interesting to watch the raccoons use their human-like hands to catch and handle the crayfish and frogs that they pulled from the water.
“An objective is an ambition, and life without ambition is … well, aimless wandering.” ~Alfred Wainwright
walking on a country road 