Wandering in the Spring Forest searching for Wildflowers

Posted by Lee Hiller on April 20, 2018
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Spring is the beginning of wildflower hunting season.  To all my fellow wanderers (and those longing to wander) breath in the new green and enjoy Nature’s spectacular pallet of tiny blossoms.

Love to ALL!
Lee

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In the grey of a spring sky colors are more vibrant

Posted by Lee Hiller on April 10, 2018
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Grey skies of spring often reveal colors, textures and shapes muted by sunlight.  Although sunny days provide vibrant images the details are often muted.

Love to ALL!
Lee

Spring is the poetry that need not be spoken

Posted by Lee Hiller on April 8, 2018
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Spring is the poetry that need not be spoken. ~ Lee Hiller

Love to ALL!
Lee

Eastern Chipmunk aka A Tiny Forest Predator

Posted by Lee Hiller on April 6, 2018
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Most of my photography of chipmunks involve foraging and emerging from burrows.  Gathering acorns or munching on seeds I have marveled at their beauty.

I was enjoying at all the lovely spring birds in the new spring canopy when I noticed my husband had stopped up the trail.  He was looking down, standing still and taking photos.  I moved slowly up the trail to his side and he pointed out a chipmunk on a downed limb.  It was sniffing the log and then picked up what I though was a nut. It wasn’t until I began editing my photos the truth was revealed.

The nut was actually a snail. I had capture the chipmunk breaking the shell and sucking out its inhabitant.  Research revealed ” Most of the eastern chipmunk’s diet is made up of  nuts, acorns, seeds, mushrooms, fruits, berries and corn. It also eats insects, bird eggs, snails and small mammals like young mice.” http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/chipmunk.htm  The sweet little forest dweller was a actually a capable predator.  I went back through 9 years of chipmunk photos and discovered these were the first

Love to ALL!
Lee

 

Brush strokes of spring in the emerging light of humidity

Posted by Lee Hiller on March 28, 2018
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It was humid! 80 degrees and humid! March should not be this hot and humid.  The air was lovely and clear when I started hiking but at 1 hour in it rapidly started changing.  A shimmering haze and sweat fogging my lens and brow. Even the view to the Ouachita Mountains was obscured by the humidity.

This said the hike was a lovely mix of spring leaves and wildflowers.  Goatweed Leafwing Butterflies were everywhere plus I spotted a tiny juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker and a five-lined skink.  There is also this green grass like plant (a grass maybe) with pod-like tops growing in a burn zone.  If you know what it it is please share in the comments.

Happy Trails

Love to ALL!
Lee