“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost

Monday, July 22, 2013

Look Deep Into Nature



LOOK DEEP INTO
NATURE,
AND THEN YOU WILL
UNDERSTAND
EVERYTHING BETTER.
            ~~~~  Albert Einstein




Tiny Mushrooms


Often times while rushing through the day and marking off one task after another, I feel a great sense of accomplishment. For a moment... because these are the things I must do, the errands, the shopping the other obligations of everyday life. Then I think about the things I really love to do, like meeting a friend for lunch, or just sitting on my screened porch in the morning with a cup of coffee and listening to the birds sing.




I have always been a good observer, especially in the garden.  I am not a fidgety type of person, I can sit for quite awhile and observe how the bees move in the garden or how the mamma wood duck looks around for predators (for about 15 minutes) before she signals the all clear for her ducklings to jump from the nest box.




Sometimes we do not have the luxury of taking the time to be observers.  In this day and age, it seems people are too busy when they are out and about, listening to their iPod or iPhone to pay attention to what is going on around them.  I often walk in a large park and wonder why anyone would want to have their ears plugged listening to music, when nature's music is all around them.  You know I love music, but everything has a proper time and place!






Sometimes when you are trying to accomplish one task, like getting some nice photos of the setting sun on your roses, you find out that there is something else very interesting right in front of you.











That something interesting could be how the light hits the buttercup flowers in just the right way.  Or maybe you see an incredible iridescent bug like the one below.

I looked up the information on this little critter and it is a Six Spotted Tiger Beetle, they grow to about 1/2 inch long and eat ants and other small insects.  They also will bite a person if you pick them up and mess with them.  It had no objection to being photographed though.



Six Spotted Tiger Beetle







If you are lucky, you may get the opportunity to observe some wildlife that seems as curious about you as you are about them! Sometimes being observant pays off.

"Hansa" Rose





This cute mamma raccoon is in five of the pictures above, did you find her in all of them?  Shortly after I took these photos and went back inside, two baby raccoons came climbing down the tree.  The mamma raccoon had brought them to eat under our bird feeder. Unfortunately I never got any good pictures of them. 

I hope you all have a few moments this week to be a nature observer yourself!





21 comments:

  1. What a perfectly illustrated reminder. I've begun writing 'morning pages' and love doing it out on teh porch because I find I write about what I'm seeing & hearing.

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  2. Such beautiful images! And that mama raccoon is so cute. I can imagine that her babies were simply adorable. I spotted her immediately, and if you hadn't added more photos to show her in different spots, I would have wondered if she was a garden ornament. It's a shame that so many people have forgotten how to slow down and look around. There's a beautiful world around us; we just need to focus. I have not been caught up in the latest gizmos and gadgets, so when I'm outside, I'm free to watch and listen. It's something I cannot give up.

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    1. Good going Martha, that's your trained photographer eye! Always checking for the details! The babies were the cutest things ever! I've seen baby racs before, but I never have my camera ready!

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  3. the first raccoon photo is absolutely priceless. His eyes look so lively and curious. I think they cute little critters.

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  4. Ha Ha I DID see the racoon in all the pics and I kept thinking is that real or a garden ornament , because you weren't mentioning it. Near the end I thought perhaps it was the felted Racoon from Angelsdoor lol then you mention she was real! ;)

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    1. They are real alright! They visit our large bird feeder on an almost daily basis. They do not harm our yard or plants, so we let them be. I love being able to see their babies climbing in the trees or running across the lawn.

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  5. Love your raccoon shots! They are scourges on the garbage though.

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    1. No problem here Debra. No one is allowed to keep their trash outside. We have those huge rolling bins that have to be kept in an enclosed structure.

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  6. What a gorgeous view you have! Such a good point about music, I love it but have never understood why people listen while outside in the woods. That beetle is gorgeous.

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  7. Just beautiful Diane - I love your roses and that raccoon is so cute! Great photo of it looking out at you. Like you I also love to sit in the garden and do nothing but observe - its a wonderful luxury for me to snatch as many moments as I can to do that. The Einstein quote is brilliant - one to remember!

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  8. In the first picture, from a distance; I was thinking you had the most life like raccoon statue ever! :))))) Love the photos!

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  9. Funny that you posted the beetle, because last weekend I spotted an iridescent beetle but the one I saw waw more round and greenish in color. I'll have to search online to see what it was. The racoon photos are amazing.

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  10. Love that first shot of the raccoon! Yes, it is so important to slow down enough to truly appreciate our surroundings. We seem so programmed for "productivity" that sometimes we miss the sweet little moments of everyday life. Thanks for th reminder!

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  11. Diane what outstanding pictures. The best being the pics with Mama Raccoon...wish you could have caught the babies on film too. I know these little rascals can be pests but who can resist anything that sweet wearing a mask. I hope you are getting lots of time in the garden with your morning coffee. I go there everyday too. It seems like it is the best time of the day. Take care and thanks for sharing some of nature...I really enjoyed my visit.

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  12. I wish I had more time to just look... And relax... ! :)

    I hope you are well. x

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  13. I love this post!! I love the pictures! Diane, I am the same as you! I love nature! I love watching it! I love hearing the birds sing! We should all appreciate what is around us more often and cherish every moment!! Big Hugs ;o) (that raccoon is too cute!)

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  14. I spotted the raccoon in the fourth picture down (not that I knew what it was!) I looked and looked and then decide it must be some kind of ornament. Then I spotted it again peeping over the leaves – how amazing I’ve never seen one in ‘real’ life. Do they do any damage in your garden? Even if they do I would love to have them visit me – but it’s rather a long way from home! Your ‘photos are absolutely amazing, thank you so much for sharing them.

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  15. Yes! I see the adorable raccoon in the pics. A little more of her in each one! Lol. I love the tiger beetle. What lovely color!

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  16. Thank you all for you wonderful observations!

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  17. Love this post. It seems that gardeners are often "kindred spirits."
    Balisha

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