The Nature of Things

I was doing some tidy-up pruning in the garden today before an afternoon shower drove me inside. But before the pruning, I documented with my camera some of the things I saw around the garden. There was a bit of activity at the bird feeders. These Blue Jays were checking out what was on offer at the table. They look a little disheveled because they are beginning their molt. They'll be losing all their old worn feathers and growing bright new ones. This juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker hasn't got his distinctive red head and belly feathers yet, but he's learned where he can find a tasty meal. In the goldfish pond, the water lilies are flourishing. This Giant Swallowtail butterfly was very busy on the blooms of the 'Pride of Barbados'.  These flowers are favorites of many butterflies. The Sulphurs seem to prefer the flame acanthus ( Anisacanthus wrightii ) blossoms. Sulphurs are numerous in my garden in late summer and fall. And the Gulf Fritillaries are numerous thr...

My little goldfish pond is full of life and it isn't only the fish. There are frogs, mainly Southern Leopard frogs, including lots and lots of tadpoles. Above and around the pond, dragonflies dart and dip. And in the pond, several plants live quite happily, feeding on and converting the fish waste and other detritus. The plants help to clean the water, which also keeps the fish happy. The white water lily is a perennial plant that often forms dense colonies. The round, slightly heart-shaped leaves are bright green and 6 to 12 inches in diameter. They float on the water's surface, providing shade and hiding places for the fish, something which I'm sure they appreciate on the hottest days of summer. After all, these are cold water fish. The flowers of the water lily arise on stalks that are separate from leaf stalks. They are brilliant white with yellow centers. The flowers float or stick above the water. They open in the morning and close in the late afternoon. The flowers a...