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The Monarchs have been moving south (To Niagara) since the start of September, this one fueling up on turtlehead (Chelone obliqua) flowers in our garden.
Went out this Sunday morning in hopes of a nice sunrise. Didn't really have anywhere in mind but didn't have much time either. I found myself at Turtlehead Lake in Palos. Not too much in the way of compositions here as power lines invaded every scene to the east, but the morning colors were nice.
You have to wonder if these huge bumblebees ever get stuck ... LOL!
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Finally saw one close enough to shoot.....bang!
It was kinda small...about 6". Don't know what kind it is.
It's a baby painted turtle. Thanks, Bitzy, for the ID.
A bee, covered in pollen, quickly backs out of a Turtlehead flower in my garden, and gives itself a shake.
Torbay, NL
Legg Park, Meridian Township, Michigan
Shot with single off-camera strobe (Leica SF60/Leica SF C1 trigger) to rigt center of subject. Strobe diffused with MagMod MagSphere, TTL metering
Another glitch in the Miketrix from our little hike at Red Rock yesterday...
That's Turtle Head Peak in the background:
www.birdandhike.com/Hike/Red_Rocks/Turtlehead/_Turtlehead...
Spider . . . weaving webs of delight,
Weave me a peaceful world.
Carrying creation in your web,
Waiting to be unfurled!
~Jamie Sans / David Carson
Medicine Cards
Fall colors peak on Turtle Pond with Vermont's Mount Marshfield holding the backdrop down. Can you spot the house in the image? Imagine what kind of seasonal beauties one witnesses there!
The Baltimore Checkerspot is Maryland's state insect, but ironically, it is mostly extirpated from this state.
Thankfully, this iconic butterfly can still be spotted at high elevation wetlands and nearby meadows in Pennsylvania. But even here, it is listed to be in peril because of its obligate wetland status. The primary larval host plant is Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) that grows in wetlands and bogs.
A uniquely shaped flower that requires pollinating insects to enter it's "mouth" to reach the nectar, located deep inside. However, Hummingbirds can hover at the opening and use their long tongues to reach the nectar. Flower named for its resemblance to a Turtle's Head!
"Chelone" is derived from Greek meaning 'turtle-like', in reference to its turtle head-shaped corollas.
"obliqua" means 'slanting', 'having unequal sides', or 'oblique'.
Native to the United States, this unique wildflower is also grown domestically in commercial nurseries and available for purchase. That's the source for this plant, now in my flower garden.
Looking Close on Friday group theme: "Bokeh in Flora"
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Giant turtle near Grand Cayman Island. This kind of turtle lives around 80 years and weigh up to 600 pounds (273kg).
Tortue géante près de l'île de Grand Cayman. Cette variété de tortue vit environ 80 ans et pèse jusqu'à 600 lbs (273 kg).
Took the pooches up to Turtle Head at Red Rock this morning to enjoy the winter rain & clouds and receive further instructions.
www.birdandhike.com/Hike/Red_Rocks/Turtlehead/_Turtlehead...
Turtle Face for Compo, from 2010:
www.flickr.com/photos/heiney/5310455544/in/album-72157625...
Next, enter the "pocket" of this Turtlehead flower. Then, crawl all the way to the end, where the pollen is. Load up, make a u-turn and crawl out head first. When wings are free of the "roof", take off and seek another "pocket"! Bumblebees favor these unique flowers, and are likely the largest insect to enter them for their exquisite pollen! Most definitely worth all the effort!
This flower is said to be a host plant for a butterfly I have not yet seen - the Baltimore Checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton). www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=chgl2.
Corrections appreciated.
Baltimore checkerspots are one of the rarer butterflies in the area. They live in specific wetland habitats called fens - basically a bog that is alkaline rather than acidic. Their caterpillars can be found feeding on turtlehead plants here, as turtlehead is restricted to growing on that strange welling fen.