Tyler Arboretum

Sunny Day

Hummingbird Moth

It was a gazillion degrees out on Wednesday but somehow I let Olivia talk me into going butterfly hunting.  The butterflies were having a blast.  She caught eight in 45 minutes.  I stood around (in the shade) and took pictures.  These Hummingbird Moth's were pretty cool.  And then after we left the garden we went straight to the pool!

The Hummingbird And The Woodpecker

I couldn't resist another break from the vacation photos to share these images from our butterfly hunting at Tyler Arboretum this week.  This hummingbird seemed to be taking the woodpecker to task for some reason.  Now I'm wishing I'd looked for a nest.  I was just so surprised to see her flying circles around the young woodpecker that I didn't think of anything else. 

Drawing

This is the drawing I made way back in July at the Tyler Arboretum.  It always takes me a while to decide if I like these oil pastel drawings.  They make such blunt marks I always feel like I'm not getting it right.  I have to wait for my memory of the whatever I drew to fade so I can look at the drawing for what it is. 

Out for a walk

Olivia and I spent a few hours at Tyler Arboretum yesterday. She bagged 14 butterflies and I photographed some birds. These are generally compatible activities although...there are also conflict of interest scenarios. For example, I'd been chasing this towhee all over the place trying to get a closer photo only to have Olivia scare him off chasing after a butterfly.

So this is my best shot.


On the other hand, if this little wren had come any closer I would have had to step back to get the shot. I first saw him fly into a pine tree across the path from me. Little did I know that he wanted in to the bird house right behind me. Glad I didn't scare him off his task.


And finally, a colorful shot from the butterfly house. One of Olivia's contributions!

Great Spangled Fritillary

While I was walking to the farthest reaches of the arboretum yesterday I saw all kinds of birds. Unfortunately I did not have my camera. I couldn't take a single picture. Not of the cardinal wrestling a bug right in front of me, nor of the blue birds on the fences, nor of the indigo bunting so much closer to me then the one I shot at Longwood Gardens!! Nope. But I figured it was ok because we could come out the next day and I could walk the same path and take all of those awesome photos. Or not. Because I did not see any of those things. Well, I did finally see bluebirds but not close enough for a photo. But that's ok because I got some great photos of a great spangled fritillary. Even more exciting, Olivia managed to catch one for the butterfly house. I love that you can see the pollen on the hairs on the second photo.

Cedar of Lebanon

Thursday we went to Tyler Arboretum. Olivia and a friend were catching butterflies for the butterfly house and I was going to sit and draw. I left the girls to their work and walked out to the farthest tree in the arboretum. I spent a lot of time debating which tree, which place to sit. I found a great tree that was near a road the maintenance crews use but that brought back memories of almost getting run over sitting on a sand "road" at the Hubbell Trading Post. Sitting on an even rarely used road can be dangerous, especially if you are partially concealed behind a very large rabbit bush and the driver has NO reason to imagine anyone would be sitting on the road! Anyway, I finally picked my tree, unpacked my tarp, used my bug spray, and sat down to draw...only to discover I'd left my oil pastels in the car!! I had nothing whatsoever with which to draw. SO...I walked all the way back to the car and instead drew a tree nearer to the exit. This tree in fact. It's a stunning Cedar of Lebanon, about 180 years old.

Drawing

I used to love to draw these things when I was younger. They have such great detail and interesting shapes. But, I can't imagine drawing this many all at once!

Tyler Arboretum

Yesterday I went hiking through Tyler Arboretum. The snow was up to my knees, at least, and the trees were beautiful. Apparently there were only four other visitors that morning and they were on skis. A beautiful, silent space.