Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) female kicking up a water trail as she takes off from an irrigation canal at Bosque del Apache, New Mexico.

Anas discors male,

At the edge of the bay (Morro Bay),

Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, Los Osos, CA

In a perfect world, the head would be sharp. But still I was tickled to see this moment that usually goes by much too quickly for us to see. One second the duck is sitting on the water and the next second it is in the air. (Most dabbling ducks spring out of the water as opposed to other waterfowl which run across the water's surface to get airborne.)

Elegant and graceful in flight or moving effortlessly on the water, it is surprising to see how awkward and ungainly are so many of our avian friends when it comes to getting off the water - like this female Common Merganser.

Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus) leaving its nest site that is under construction. Image taken in Ruaha National Park of Tanzania. The Roller would completely disappear into the hole and wood chips would fly. Every once in a while it would take a break as it is doing here.

Hemerocallis 'Getting Airborne' 7/2022 Daylily D3- (Gossard, 2006) Tall Purple Daylily , Mature plant size: 56in., Purple self above green throat , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW26, In Garden Bed D3 for 33 MONTHS (Ogden). Planted in 2019.

American Daylily Society: Getting Airborne (Gossard, 2006)

height 56 in.(142 cm), bloom 10.5 in.(27 cm), season M, Dormant, Tetraploid, 22 buds, 5 branches, Unusual Form Crispate-Cascade, Purple self above green throat. (Ron Dunn × Royal Celebration)

Awards: HM 2009

Honorable Mention: 2009. Greenhouse pot dies 2018. Moved from K4 (2 years) to D0 island on 9/16/2019.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2017, 18, %2, 19, 20, 21, 22:

www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50697352%40N00&sort=da...

#Crispate, #Cascade, #UF, #Perennial, #Monocot, #Tet, #Dor, #midseason, #BC/B=21-25/5, #HM2009, #GettingAirborne, #Daylily

Hemerocallis 'Getting Airborne' 7/2022 Daylily D3- (Gossard, 2006) Tall Purple Daylily , Mature plant size: 56in., Purple self above green throat , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW26, In Garden Bed D3 for 33 MONTHS (Ogden). Planted in 2019.

American Daylily Society: Getting Airborne (Gossard, 2006)

height 56 in.(142 cm), bloom 10.5 in.(27 cm), season M, Dormant, Tetraploid, 22 buds, 5 branches, Unusual Form Crispate-Cascade, Purple self above green throat. (Ron Dunn × Royal Celebration)

Awards: HM 2009

Honorable Mention: 2009. Greenhouse pot dies 2018. Moved from K4 (2 years) to D0 island on 9/16/2019.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2017, 18, %2, 19, 20, 21, 22:

www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50697352%40N00&sort=da...

#Crispate, #Cascade, #UF, #Perennial, #Monocot, #Tet, #Dor, #midseason, #BC/B=21-25/5, #HM2009, #GettingAirborne, #Daylily

Hemerocallis 'Getting Airborne' 7/2022 Daylily D3- (Gossard, 2006) Tall Purple Daylily , Mature plant size: 56in., Purple self above green throat , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW26, In Garden Bed D3 for 33 MONTHS (Ogden). Planted in 2019.

American Daylily Society: Getting Airborne (Gossard, 2006)

height 56 in.(142 cm), bloom 10.5 in.(27 cm), season M, Dormant, Tetraploid, 22 buds, 5 branches, Unusual Form Crispate-Cascade, Purple self above green throat. (Ron Dunn × Royal Celebration)

Awards: HM 2009

Honorable Mention: 2009. Greenhouse pot dies 2018. Moved from K4 (2 years) to D0 island on 9/16/2019.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2017, 18, %2, 19, 20, 21, 22:

www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50697352%40N00&sort=da...

#Crispate, #Cascade, #UF, #Perennial, #Monocot, #Tet, #Dor, #midseason, #BC/B=21-25/5, #HM2009, #GettingAirborne, #Daylily

Hemerocallis 'Getting Airborne' 23W29 Daylily D3- (Gossard, 2006) Tall Purple Daylily , Mature plant size: 56in., Purple self above green throat , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW26, In Garden Bed D3 for 3.8 YEARS (Ogden). Planted in 2019.

American Daylily Society: Getting Airborne (Gossard, 2006)

height 56 in.(142 cm), bloom 10.5 in.(27 cm), season M, Dormant, Tetraploid, 22 buds, 5 branches, Unusual Form Crispate-Cascade, Purple self above green throat. (Ron Dunn × Royal Celebration)

Awards: HM 2009

Honorable Mention: 2009. Greenhouse pot dies 2018. Moved from K4 (2 years) to D0 island on 9/16/2019.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2017, 18, %2, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23:

www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50697352%40N00&sort=da...

#Michigan, #49236, #usdaZone6, #Crispate, #Cascade, #UF, #Perennial, #Monocot, #Tet, #Dor, #midseason, #BC/B=21-25/5, #HM2009, #GettingAirborne, #Daylily, #23W29

Hemerocallis 'Getting Airborne' 7/2022 Daylily D3- (Gossard, 2006) Tall Purple Daylily , Mature plant size: 56in., Purple self above green throat , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW26, In Garden Bed D3 for 33 MONTHS (Ogden). Planted in 2019.

American Daylily Society: Getting Airborne (Gossard, 2006)

height 56 in.(142 cm), bloom 10.5 in.(27 cm), season M, Dormant, Tetraploid, 22 buds, 5 branches, Unusual Form Crispate-Cascade, Purple self above green throat. (Ron Dunn × Royal Celebration)

Awards: HM 2009

Honorable Mention: 2009. Greenhouse pot dies 2018. Moved from K4 (2 years) to D0 island on 9/16/2019.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2017, 18, %2, 19, 20, 21, 22:

www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50697352%40N00&sort=da...

#Crispate, #Cascade, #UF, #Perennial, #Monocot, #Tet, #Dor, #midseason, #BC/B=21-25/5, #HM2009, #GettingAirborne, #Daylily

Hemerocallis 'Getting Airborne' 23W29 Daylily D3- (Gossard, 2006) Tall Purple Daylily , Mature plant size: 56in., Purple self above green throat , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW26, In Garden Bed D3 for 3.8 YEARS (Ogden). Planted in 2019.

American Daylily Society: Getting Airborne (Gossard, 2006)

height 56 in.(142 cm), bloom 10.5 in.(27 cm), season M, Dormant, Tetraploid, 22 buds, 5 branches, Unusual Form Crispate-Cascade, Purple self above green throat. (Ron Dunn × Royal Celebration)

Awards: HM 2009

Honorable Mention: 2009. Greenhouse pot dies 2018. Moved from K4 (2 years) to D0 island on 9/16/2019.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2017, 18, %2, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23:

www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50697352%40N00&sort=da...

#Michigan, #49236, #usdaZone6, #Crispate, #Cascade, #UF, #Perennial, #Monocot, #Tet, #Dor, #midseason, #BC/B=21-25/5, #HM2009, #GettingAirborne, #Daylily, #23W29

Hemerocallis 'Getting Airborne' 7/2022 Daylily D3- (Gossard, 2006) Tall Purple Daylily , Mature plant size: 56in., Purple self above green throat , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW26, In Garden Bed D3 for 33 MONTHS (Ogden). Planted in 2019.

American Daylily Society: Getting Airborne (Gossard, 2006)

height 56 in.(142 cm), bloom 10.5 in.(27 cm), season M, Dormant, Tetraploid, 22 buds, 5 branches, Unusual Form Crispate-Cascade, Purple self above green throat. (Ron Dunn × Royal Celebration)

Awards: HM 2009

Honorable Mention: 2009. Greenhouse pot dies 2018. Moved from K4 (2 years) to D0 island on 9/16/2019.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2017, 18, %2, 19, 20, 21, 22:

www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50697352%40N00&sort=da...

#Crispate, #Cascade, #UF, #Perennial, #Monocot, #Tet, #Dor, #midseason, #BC/B=21-25/5, #HM2009, #GettingAirborne, #Daylily

Hemerocallis 'Getting Airborne' 23W29 Daylily D3- (Gossard, 2006) Tall Purple Daylily , Mature plant size: 56in., Purple self above green throat , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW26, In Garden Bed D3 for 3.8 YEARS (Ogden). Planted in 2019.

American Daylily Society: Getting Airborne (Gossard, 2006)

height 56 in.(142 cm), bloom 10.5 in.(27 cm), season M, Dormant, Tetraploid, 22 buds, 5 branches, Unusual Form Crispate-Cascade, Purple self above green throat. (Ron Dunn × Royal Celebration)

Awards: HM 2009

Honorable Mention: 2009. Greenhouse pot dies 2018. Moved from K4 (2 years) to D0 island on 9/16/2019.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2017, 18, %2, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23:

www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50697352%40N00&sort=da...

#Michigan, #49236, #usdaZone6, #Crispate, #Cascade, #UF, #Perennial, #Monocot, #Tet, #Dor, #midseason, #BC/B=21-25/5, #HM2009, #GettingAirborne, #Daylily, #23W29

Hemerocallis 'Getting Airborne' 23W29 Daylily D3- (Gossard, 2006) Tall Purple Daylily , Mature plant size: 56in., Purple self above green throat , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW26, In Garden Bed D3 for 3.8 YEARS (Ogden). Planted in 2019.

American Daylily Society: Getting Airborne (Gossard, 2006)

height 56 in.(142 cm), bloom 10.5 in.(27 cm), season M, Dormant, Tetraploid, 22 buds, 5 branches, Unusual Form Crispate-Cascade, Purple self above green throat. (Ron Dunn × Royal Celebration)

Awards: HM 2009

Honorable Mention: 2009. Greenhouse pot dies 2018. Moved from K4 (2 years) to D0 island on 9/16/2019.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2017, 18, %2, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23:

www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50697352%40N00&sort=da...

#Michigan, #49236, #usdaZone6, #Crispate, #Cascade, #UF, #Perennial, #Monocot, #Tet, #Dor, #midseason, #BC/B=21-25/5, #HM2009, #GettingAirborne, #Daylily, #23W29

Hemerocallis 'Getting Airborne' 23W29 Daylily D3- (Gossard, 2006) Tall Purple Daylily , Mature plant size: 56in., Purple self above green throat , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW26, In Garden Bed D3 for 3.8 YEARS (Ogden). Planted in 2019.

American Daylily Society: Getting Airborne (Gossard, 2006)

height 56 in.(142 cm), bloom 10.5 in.(27 cm), season M, Dormant, Tetraploid, 22 buds, 5 branches, Unusual Form Crispate-Cascade, Purple self above green throat. (Ron Dunn × Royal Celebration)

Awards: HM 2009

Honorable Mention: 2009. Greenhouse pot dies 2018. Moved from K4 (2 years) to D0 island on 9/16/2019.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2017, 18, %2, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23:

www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=50697352%40N00&sort=da...

#Michigan, #49236, #usdaZone6, #Crispate, #Cascade, #UF, #Perennial, #Monocot, #Tet, #Dor, #midseason, #BC/B=21-25/5, #HM2009, #GettingAirborne, #Daylily, #23W29

Take off. This Australian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) , sometimes called a snake bird because of its long neck, was photographed on the wetlands of the Corroboree Billabong in the NorthernTerritory. Take off was ungainly and it took some time to get airborne.