Monthly Archives: June 2011

Dorothy and Friends

Dorothy and Friends

Dorothy and Friends

Ellen, Sarah, Jenny, Anna, and Dorothy.

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Garden Spider

Garden Spider

Garden Spider

The wind was whipping this little fellow around and I could only get at him from behind, so this isn’t as good as I’d like but still, it’s reasonably sharp and kind of cool. If you like that sort of thing — I understand not everyone is crazy about spiders.

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Waxing Moon

Waxing Moon

Waxing Moon

A tiny sliver of a moon was setting shortly after dusk this evening. I had to move around so I could get it without power lines or street lights and I think this turned out pretty well.

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Levi

Levi

Levi

We had a wonderful time with our good friends Erin and David this evening and were especially happy to meet their one year old son, Levi. What a charmer.

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Editing Exercise

Editing Exercise

Editing Exercise

I was dropping Dorothy and Chris off for band practice and Chris suggested this tree as a photo subject. Unfortunately, there was a basketball hoop in front of it. So, the exercise was to remove the basketball hoop (and a bench, as well) and make it look natural. Did I succeed?

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Ailanthus Leaf

Ailanthus Leaf

Ailanthus Leaf

This tree has already put on four feet of growth this year. Is it any wonder they are so successful in the environment? It has pretty leaves, though.

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Bergamot

Bergamot

Bergamot

You have to admit, Monarda didyma (bergamot or scarlet beebalm) has one of the coolest flower structures around.

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Variable Dancer

Variable Dancer

Variable Dancer

These little damselflies don’t stay put for very long and they don’t like you to get too close. Also, it was on the warm side today, especially in the sun, which made it harder. I did manage to get two shots of this one. Argia fumipennis violacea

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Evening Storm

Evening Storm

Evening Storm

It was hot again today, 102° F at Reagan National Airport, and I really didn’t feel like going out. When I got home I took three dozen pictures in the yard. Nothing exciting, though. More flowers, blah, blah, blah.

Then, about 7:45 a storm came through and I took this picture just as it started to rain.

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Asiatic Lily

Asiatic Lily

Asiatic Lily

This is the first of our few (but beautiful) Asiatic lilies to bloom. We really should have more of these.

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Free Range Hens

Free Range Hens

Free Range Hens

Do you know where your food comes from? This is where we’re getting our produce and our eggs. http://www.rocklandsfarmmd.com/. Thanks, Shawn and Greg.

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Iris

Iris

Iris

But this is not your run of the mill Iris. Among other things, she’s one year through med school.

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Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed

We have this orange Asclepias tuberosa as well as a pure-yellow-flowered variety.

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Jack

Jack

Jack

Our friends Lauren and Tommy let us come visit them and see their beautiful three-week-old son, Jack. He had a rough first week but seems to be doing wonderfully now. He slept most of the time we were there but it was great to hold him and get caught up with Lauren and Tommy. What a sweet baby and what great parents.

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Watching a Movie

Watching a Movie

Watching a Movie

Dorothy and Simone watched a movie on the computer this evening.

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Strawberries and Cream

Strawberries and Cream

Strawberries and Cream

One of life’s little pleasures.

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Sempervivum

Sempervivum

Sempervivum

I’ve always liked hens-and-checks (Sempervivum) and this pot of it is doing particularly well. I like both the swirling patterns of the leaves and the wide variety of colors.

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Variegated Lady Beetle

Variegated Lady Beetle

Variegated Lady Beetle

This is a Variegated Lady Beetle (Hippodamia variegata), a non-native species that has only relatively recently (since the 1980s) been found on this side of the Atlantic. Like all the lady beetles, they are predaceous on other insect pests and are welcome in the garden or (as here) the farm.

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Lopidea

Lopidea

Lopidea

I’m not sure which one but I’m fairly certain that this is one of the 50+ Lopidea species, possibly L. media. It’s posing for me on an unopened stock flower. No more than 3/8 inch long (not counting the antennae).

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Eastern Amberwing

Eastern Amberwing

Eastern Amberwing

Albert corrected me as to the identification. I had labeled it as Perithemis domitia, the slough amberwing. He correctly identified it as Perithemis tenera, the eastern amberwing. That makes more sense, base on where I took the picture and the range of the two species. Also, the differences in markings, although not glaring, are certainly enough to be definitive. Thanks, Albert.

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Carousel Rogues

Carousel Rogues

Carousel Rogues

I enjoyed hearing our friends, Caitlin and Zach along with the rest of Carousel Rogues play this evening up in Frederick. They leave tomorrow on their first mini-tour. Have a great time, guys, we love you!

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Nigella Seed Capsule

Nigella Seed Capsule

Nigella Seed Capsule

Back on May 24 (day 144) I had a picture of a Love-In-a-Mist (Nigella damascena) flower. This is the seed capsule, which is also pretty cool. I didn’t take this until after dark so it’s taken with a reflected flash.

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Cleome hassleriana

Cleome hassleriana

Cleome hassleriana

Commonly known as spider flower, Cleome hassleriana is a really nice plant. It’s probably just as well that it’s an annual or it might get out of hand. This is its first bloom of the summer in our yard and it should continue until early fall.

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Greg and Anna Joy

Greg and Anna Joy

Greg and Anna Joy

I know I’m running behind. I’ve been so busy taking pictures that I haven’t had enough time to go through them. Also, picking one picture out of 465 is never easy.

We were privileged to spend the evening with Greg and Anna Joy’s families as they prepared to join in marriage tomorrow. The highlight, I think, was the time of story-telling in the barn. In this picture, Clay is telling a bit about how he and Greg met and became such good friends.

Any guesses what tomorrow’s picture will be of?

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Greg and Anna

Greg and Anna

Greg and Anna

So if it was hard yesterday to pick a single picture from 465, how much harder today. But since the main event was the wedding, here is the happy couple, officially husband and wife.

Although I’m posting this on Tuesday, don’t worry, I have pictures taken Sunday and Monday to share, as soon as I can get to them. It won’t be long.

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Jack and Some Friends

Jack and Some Friends

Jack and Some Friends

I know Jack was featured here only 12 days ago but he’s so darn cute and now he’s out and about a bit more. Here he is with his mom and seven adoring fans.

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Four Graduates

Stephanie, Hannah, Stephen, and Lyla

Stephanie, Hannah, Stephen, and Lyla

Congratulations to four gratuates: Stephanie, Hannah, Stephen, and Lyla. God bless you as you head off to college in the fall.

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Family Gathering

Family Gathering

Family Gathering

Stephen and Maya were down for a wedding over the weekend so the locals got together for dinner on Tuesday before they headed back to Boston.

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Dinner at Mama Lucia’s for Erick’s Hope

Dinner at Mama Lucia's for Erick's Hope

Dinner at Mama Lucia’s for Erick’s Hope

Erick’s Hope was having a fundraiser at Mama Lucia’s in Olney this evening. What a great excuse to have dinner with friends. They aren’t all in the picture but Mike and Krystal were with us, along with Diana, Josh, and Jake.

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Honey Bee on Wild Onion

Honey Bee on Wild Onion

Honey Bee on Wild Onion

I’ll end the first six months of Project 365 with a honey bee (Apis mellifera), busily visiting the flowers on a wild onion in the empty lot next to my office.

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