here are some pics i took of naturey stuff on my anual trip to my cottage in wisconsin.
- a mushroom found in the back 40 in wisconsin
- some sort of predatory bug. still to be identified.
- an awesome tree that got hit be lightning and has a racoon living in it.
- another mushroom from the back 40
- ....and another. i'd rather proud of how this one turned out.
-shoulda focussed beter on this one, but i had to go to the bathroom
a crayfish my friend found ratherpainfully on the end of his toe.
- a nice little scene near lake superior.
-pictured rocks, lake superior.
-pictured rocks, lake superior.
-pictured rocks, lake superior.
- some sick coulds right before the biggest thunderstorm i have ever seen. i believe it above lake superior. ... or maybe ... oh well... nvm
- some awesome rocks in like superior.
- a close up of the above rocks.
-oron river, going into like superior
-the old rowboat at my place in wisconsin
-the lake at dusk, wisconsin
- baby wood frog i found. actually i got 6 of them and kept them for a few days in an old fishtank
- a big cricket in the road. ( i fed it to a turtle not far away
)
-the forst of 29 monarch butterflies that i caught as caterpillars and hatched thsi summer. i actually wrote an article about if for the local paper. it is as follows: As you may know, NAME OF ROAD OMMITTED harbors a Milkweed patch. A less known fact is that Milkweed is the only plat that the caterpillars of the endangered Monarch butterfly can eat.
Three years ago, the milkweed patch was cut down. That year I found no caterpillars, as it was my usual custom to keep them, and see to it that they grew… pupated… and became butterflies without fail. The next year, I returned, my hopes high for a full recovery of the patch. Unfortunately, I was once again, disappointed. In fact, that year I only managed to find one caterpillar (or pooper as I called them).
This year, I returned. I really didn’t have the heart to go back down to the patch, for I was sure that the results would be the same as the two years prior to this one. My fears were “confirmed” when my parents returned from a walk, reporting that had seen milkweed, but no caterpillars. However, their search was not a very good one, as the next day, my mother convinced me to walk down there and take another look.
At first glance, I didn’t see anything, but on closer inspection, there were tons of poopers! Our original count, when we returned to the cottage to set them up in a good tank, was 16. Obviously that count was wrong because, we’ve got A LOT more than that now. In all, we have had a successful year; tons of poopers, tons of milkweed, 0 fatality and three newborns that must have hatched while in the tank! Also, it seems as though some have the same spirit of adventure that “Traveler” had 3 years ago, and have left the tank. Now we have 2 chrysalises on the counter, one on a picture frame, and one on the ceiling. (How the heck are we gonna get that down?) and the babies that we will most likely return to the patch, given that they won’t pupate for a few more weeks, witch we don’t have.
It’s important that we continue to let the milkweed grow, and help it to establish new patches. Each plant is a step further toward taking the Monarch off of the endangered species list. It’s also important to remember, Monarch caterpillars are poisonous, but that doesn’t stop predators from trying. If you find milkweed on your property, protect the caterpillars, and if you feel up to collecting leaves every day, keep them as I have! This year, I estimate, I’ll be taking 16 or more steps in the right direction for the monarch. So let’s keep the milkweed alive, and keep the comeback steady. The more monarchs you see the better!
- another butterfly
...and another
- here's a few just after hatching, drying their wings.
here's a picture that inspired this bit of literature...: Four thirty. The end of the day begins. The blue sky is crossed with white thunderheads as the bright orange orb of the sun sinks slowly towards the treetops on the west side of the lake. The sky is endless, with the ripple less like below, reflecting it’s every cloud. the sun sinks slowly, below the clouds, illuminating them from the underside, bright white, but glowing orange, splashing across the sky, and into the water below. And then the sun sinks. it sucks it’s rays below the trees and the clouds are once again dark. the west sky is golden as sun falls lower. then the yellow above slowly turns to purple, and a dark blue in the east, steadily pulling it’s royal blue blanket over the sky. the cluds are illuminated in peachy colors as they float off the sky and the yellow recedes. the clouds fall into darkness, and the blue comes over the lake, reflecting its endless depths into the water below. Nothing moves. The last breze of the day wafts over, bringing with it the scent of the beach flowers from far away. Across the lake. Across the world.
The trees fade to black, stary against the blue sky, deepening every moment. The warmth of the day is slowly swept away. Tink pinpoints of light, the silver stars, and worlds far beyond are revealed. the wonderfully woven depths of space are faint behind the blue. The trees are but shadows now, on a blue and endless sky. The depths of space are seen behind as the blue fades to black. Slowly, through the endless path of stars, another world is reveaked. The eagles call their last good nights, and the frogs chirp themselves into silence.
In the water, in the sky, ther is a glittering image, deep below, or perhaps high above, a fish jumps, and the image is broken. Falling away into ripples, and it is cold. The earth is silent, The day’s time is done. An owl hoots. a cricket chirps. And then its quiet. Night’s blanket is not thin. There’s no daylight within.
it's called Wisconsin Dusk.
-another of the same
-believe it or not, this is a MUSHROOM. from EARTH. still don't believe me? go to wisconsin.
-my secret fishing hole
-dusk on the lake
-yes, they eat out of your hands. and sit on your lap.
-this is larry.
- an indian's paintbrush flower
a yellow perch i caught
a couple O deer.
-and another chi[pmunk for the road. tell me what you guys think!