I am always thrilled when I come upon a Buckeye. It is my favorite among the butterflies. I like the colors and the bold pattern of the eyespots which are thought to frighten or distract predators.
“I opened two gifts this morning. They were my eyes.” ~Unknown
Butterflies and skippers have been enjoying the sedum plants in our back yard. Here are several varieties that have dropped by during the past week.
“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” ~Camille Pissarro
A Northern Flicker dropped by this morning to get a quick drink of water from our bird bath. This isn’t a bird that I normally see in our backyard, so it was a treat to get a glimpse of him.
… to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring – these are some of the rewards of the simple life. ~John Burroughs
Some of the flora and fauna living around the duckweed at Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” ~David Attenborough
… every now and then,
this world sits just right,
as a gentle breath of heaven
fills my soul with delight,
and I smile…
~Hazelmarie Elliott, A Breath of Heaven
“So curiosity, I think, is a really important aspect of staying young and youthful.” ~Goldie Hawn
There are prickles in life, and hard places to climb, but when you overcome these the view is simply breathtaking. ~Jennifer Gayle
“Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold, happiness dwells in the soul.” ~Democritus
“We are by nature observers, and thereby learners. That is our permanent state.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
walking on a country road 
