Happy Monday!

Independence Park in Baton Rouge has been my "go-to" place this summer for flowers and insects. I know you're rolling your eyes and saying "Not another macro post!" Well, I suffered to get these shots, so I'm sharing. How did I suffer, you ask? With temperatures in the mid-90s (fahrenheit) and a "feels like" temp of 100+, let's just say it brought back nightmarish memories of summers in Texas. I went out with my camera every other day, staying about an hour at a time because one day I over-stayed and almost fainted. I'm brown as a raisin, though!

Hope everyone has a fabulous week!

Macromania

Macro shots from August. Hope you enjoy and have a fabulous weekend!

Monarch caterpillar

Skipper

Some of you have asked how close I am able to get to the subject with the Canon 100mm macro lens. The lens allows a 12" focusing distance, but it's not likely that I can get that close with insects. Most of these were at an average distance of 2-3 feet, sometimes farther, and were cropped in post-processing. Even when I am able to get as close as 12", cropping is still necessary with very small subjects. I LOVE my macro lens and wish I had purchased it sooner!

More Flutterbys!

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome back on my last post! It made my heart swell with joy to know that so many of you still care. Group hug! I replied to everyone that had a return email address attached to their Google account, but several of you didn't. FYI

My fuzzy memory can't remember how long I've had the 100mm macro lens, but I can tell you that it has rarely left my camera body since I received it. Bertha and this lens make a good marriage, I think! The poor 100-400mm lens lies neglected in my camera bag, pining away for Bertha. But what can I do? This new lens has me smitten right now. Is it possible that a camera lens has the ability to stimulate serotonin levels? Maybe I can throw these happy pills in the trash soon.

Macro photography is CHALLENGING, y'all! Why is it, when I'm walking around in this Hades-like climate, there is no breeze to cool me off? Yet the minute I point my camera at something, Mr. Breeze makes an appearance, laughing maniacally at me, I'm certain. Despite my often loud protestations and proclamations of The wind is not my friend, while begging it to CALM DOWN FOR ONE BLASTED SECOND, it continues to annoy at the worst possible moments! And just when I think I've somehow convinced Mr. B to be still, my subject moves, or worse, flies off. Maybe that's why I never get bored with doing macro shots, because just the idea of getting that perfect image is such a thrill. 

Now, on with the show! These were all taken the last week of August and first week of September at Independence Park in Baton Rouge.

Monarch

Spicebush Pipevine swallowtail
Thanks for the correction, Kim!

Talk about flitting about! These guys are constantly fluttering their wings while they feed.
Out of 200 shots I'll bet 5 had decent focus on the wing markings.

Silver-spotted skipper - a first for me.
I only had a handful of chances with this rare sighting. I'm still stalking his whereabouts to do better.

Fiery skipper (pretty sure)
Skippers are some of my favorites with those soulful brown eyes.

Eastern tiger swallowtail

A beautiful specimen with no tears on the wings.

Long-tailed skipper

Anybody know what type of butterfly this will turn into?
I have nearly Googled myself to death. Help!
Update: Thanks, Tammy & Hilary for helping me identify this is a clouded sulphur!

Where flowers bloom

Where flowers bloom so does hope. ~Lady Bird Johnson

You'd think it's springtime around these parts. I keep envying the fall foliage I'm seeing posted everywhere, but then I realized after uploading these pics I had taken recently that we have color, too. Maybe not the way I prefer, but color nonetheless. As the song goes, you may not get what you want, but you get what you need.

Our satsumas are finally starting to ripen. Tiny green fruit resembling small limes began showing up in May. I counted almost 20 satsumas hanging from the branches. Finally, after months of waiting, they are ready to eat, and they are delicious!

I am deeply grateful for all the emails and prayers for my son and me. He has been MIA for 2 weeks, so I have filed a missing person's report with the LAPD. That's the very abbreviated version. I will give an update whenever I know more. Blogging, visiting other blogs, and commenting, along with praying, is keeping me sane for the time being.

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The Best Medicine

I don't need to pop a pill or drink alcohol or smoke "whatever" to calm my nerves. (Although I certainly don't condemn or judge anyone who does. And I occasionally partake in 1 or 2 of these things if I so desire.) No, all I need is my camera in my hand and God's creation surrounding me. Though I've always loved the outdoors, it took me YEARS to figure out how calming communing with nature can be. It's my favorite way to de-stress and get my thoughts in order. I'm a nature nerd, what can I say! When I was a geeky teenager I wish that I had embraced my nerdness instead of trying to run with the cool crowd, driving my mother around the bend. Self-acceptance is the most awesome thing about being older and wiser. Ooops, I almost typed wider. Yeah, I'm a little wider, too. And I don't care. ;) Happy Monday everyone!

I love the curled proboscis. One of these days I'm going to get the perfect shot of it!

Frames courtesy of Steve Rich. Love these!

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