Unhampered by the missing sword-like tail on one of its hind wings, this Zebra Swallowtail gently floated along the roadside, making its way from flower to flower. It was a truly amazing and beautiful sight to watch.
“O LORD, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures.” ~ Psalm 104:24, NLT
This goldfinch was feasting on the seed head of a purple coneflower. When the stalks are left intact, they can enjoy coneflower seeds from summer into autumn. Flower heads that are leftover can be cut and hung out for goldfinch to feed on during the winter.
“Whatever are the benefits of fortune, they yet require a palate fit to relish and taste them.” ~Michel de Montaigne
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
These calves seemed to be as curious about the two-legged beings standing before them as we were about the four-legged ones standing before us.
“People are the best show in the world. And you don’t even pay for the ticket.” ~Charles Bukowski
A Monarch butterfly attracted to the bright red and yellow blossoms of the Scarlet milkweed — a popular flower in butterfly gardens.
“Crowded places, I shunned them as noises too rude
And flew to the silence of sweet solitude.”
~John Clare
This Tiger Swallowtail visited one of the vines in my yard in the late afternoon. It had suffered a tear to its left hind wing, probably as the result of a bird bite. Fortunately, it was one of the lucky ones that got away, and this didn’t hamper its movement as it gracefully fluttered from flower to flower sipping nectar. Watching this beautiful butterfly was one of the highlights of my day.
“There’s no need to be perfect to inspire others. Let people get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.” ~Unknown
This is the time of year that Tennessee’s state wildflower, the Passion Flower, can be found growing wild by the roadside or in fields and woods. The vines run along the ground or climb up trees and fences, and produce beautiful lavender flowers and greenish-yellow fruit.
The things you are passionate about are not random. They are your calling. ~Fabienne Fredrickson
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
In the above photo, the deer was feeding out in the back of a soybean field in the middle of a hot afternoon. The photo below was taken at dusk — a cooler time when the light is low and deer are usually more active. We rounded the bend in a road and could see several grazing on vegetation off in the distance.
“Your mind will always believe everything you tell it. Feed it faith. Feed it truth. Feed it love.” ~Unknown
walking on a country road 