Pasture

Box Turtle

Ah, the Eastern Box Turtle. So underrated. I mean, just look at that coloration! And that look--fierce, determined, unwavering. Even if I did just momentarily think about picking her up off this walking trail and sending her on her way into the nearby woods.

Wolf Spider

Mount Sugarloaf

Deerfield, Massachusetts

Spotted several of these on my way down the mountain. They seemed to favor the log railing bordering the tower road. 

Carpenter Bee

Waiting

Waiting for the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry

The Crossing

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday from aboard the Powhatan on the James River.

Monarch

 

Morning Commute

Tawny Emperor

"This butterfly may be seen flying near houses, gravel driveways (✅), near water, muddy places, gardens, and woodlands. Its only host plant is hackberry trees." -- Wikipedia

James River

Shot these photos this past Thursday evening before the effects of Tropical Storm Ophelia began to be felt.

Sunset on the James

Linked to Skywatch Friday

Sunset

 

 

 

Sentry Duty

Pocahontas

 

A couple of the other "passengers" taking the Jamestown Scotland Ferry across the James River last night.

 

 

Clouds forming on the horizon hold out the promise, at least, of cooler temperatures to come.

 

 

Linking today with Skywatch Friday.

Faces

Swallowtails

"The male is yellow with four black 'tiger stripes' on each forewing. Females may be either yellow or black, making them dimorphic. 

The yellow morph is similar to the male, but with a conspicuous band of blue spots along the hindwing, while the dark morph is almost completely black." -- Wikipedia

"The black swallowtail [above] has a wingspan of 6.9–8.4 cm, and females are typically larger than males. The upper wing surface is black with two rows of yellow spots – these spots are large and bright in males and smaller and lighter in females." -- Wikipedia

Question Mark?

You'll just have to take my word for it about the question mark. Unfortunately, this particular butterfly wasn't interested in showing off his/her (?) underside. 

"Polygonia interrogationis, commonly called the question mark butterfly, is a North American nymphalid butterfly. It lives in wooded areas, city parks, generally in areas with a combination of trees and open space. The color and textured appearance of the underside of its wings combine to provide camouflage that resembles a dead leaf. The adult butterfly has a wingspan of 4.5–7.6 cm (1.8–3.0 in). Its flight period is from May to September. 'The silver mark on the underside of the hindwing is broken into two parts, a curved line and a dot, creating a ?-shaped mark that gives the species its common name.'" -- Wikipedia

God-like?!

 

 

 “We know that you are royally blest
Cicada when, among the tree-tops,
You sip some dew and sing your song;
For every single thing is yours
That you survey among the fields
And all the things the woods produce.
The farmers’ constant company,
You damage nothing that is theirs;
Esteemed you are by every human
As the summer’s sweet-voiced prophet.
Muses love you, and Apollo too,
Who’s gifted you with high pitched song.
Old age does nothing that can wear you,
Earth’s sage and song-enamored son;
You suffer not, being flesh-and-blood-less–
A god-like creature, virtually.”

--  Anacreontea

WHAAAT!

"Please, sir, I want some more." -- Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist

Late Summer

 

 

Late summer here. To no one's surprise, it's sunny, hot, and humid most afternoons (this is southeastern Virginia, after all), perfect conditions for many of my favorite things.