Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: milkweed

I got this picture a couple of weeks ago when I was taking pictures of the Tiger Moths I found one day. I'd posted a picture of a skipper just the day before so I thought I'd wait for a while before I posted this. From the Encyclopedia of Life: Skippers are small- to medium-sized insects, resembling butterflies or moths (they are more closely related to the former). They have hairy bodies that are short, stout, and rather dull-colored, while their wings consist of some pattern of brown, grey, or yellowish orange and black. Skippers have a fast, darting flight, and favor open, sunny areas. The caterpillars of most species feed on grasses or sedges in prairies or wetlands. However, the Silver-Spotted Skipper, feeds on members of the Bean family, including Locust trees, while the Common Sootywing feeds on various weedy plants, including Pigweeds, Amaranths, and Lamb's Quarters. Both of these species are larger than the other skippers. There are many species in this family, and they are important visitors to many prairie wildflowers, particularly during the summer or fall.

3 more pictures in notes above! :) I just love today's quote! It's so me! :D Honestly, I have been fascinated by nature all my life, and though my interest in tiny creatures waned a bit as an adult, the very moment I picked up a camera that interest came hurtling back and I am delighted when I discover a critter I haven't photographed yet! Yesterday I shared some pictures of Milkweed seeds, but what you don't know is that I went back an hour or so after taking pictures and gathered up all the seeds that I could find. I would like to plant these seeds in my little garden to have these flowers right under my nose next summer. :) When I brought the seeds inside, I sat and separated the seeds from the fluff, and suddenly I noticed a pretty bug crawling across the table! It just happened to be the very species I've been trying to get pictures of but keep failing at, so I gently coaxed him into a plastic bag with plans to take pictures today! Then, when I sat down again to finish my little seed project, I saw an extremely tiny insect crawling on a seed pod. When I say tiny, I mean "grain-of-rice-tiny"! Noticing how adorable it was, I popped the little guy into the bag too. Today I was just about to go out to get my pictures for the day when I remembered my little buddies in the bag! I went out and got a grass stem for a stage and went outside with my camera and the bugs and the stem, and together we all had a great time! I finally got good pictures of this bug and I couldn't be happier! :D After I was done, I brought my models back to the Milkweed bushes and put them onto some leaves where they both crawled away! Edward Osborne "E. O." Wilson (born June 10, 1929) is an American biologist, researcher (sociobiology, biodiversity), theorist (consilience, biophilia), naturalist (conservationist) and author. His biological specialty is myrmecology, the study of ants, on which he is considered to be the world's leading authority. Wilson is known for his scientific career, his role as "the father of sociobiology", his environmental advocacy, and his secular-humanist and deist ideas pertaining to religious and ethical matters. Wikipedia: E. O. Wilson Explored on August 15, 2013. Highest placement, page 2 (#28).

I liked the way this pair was about the fly away, only stuck at the top! Behind in bokeh you can see the remaining half of a pod that's already opened and released its seeds.

3 images above in a note! I found these Milkweed seeds bursting out of their pod and just about to fly away. I thought it would be fun to share these two pictures with you so you can see what happens after the flowers fade! :)

I was walking by and saw this wasp, so I took a picture...I have already photographed this type of wasp on milkweed before but I just couldn't resist. I'm glad I got the picture because it turned out quite nicely!

This blossom had sunlight shining on it through the trees and behind it are bunches of dancing flowers!

I absolutely LOVE the shape of these flowers. They look like twinkling stars from above, and badminton birdies from the side! The tones and shades are just amazing to look at, and on top of that, this flower attracts every insect under the sun!

3 more pictures in notes above! At long last, today is Milkweed Blossom Day! I've been meaning to feature the side view of a Milkweed flower for over a month and finally the day has arrived! I realized that the flowers have peaked and there aren't many buds left now, so if I was going to get some nice side views for a Pick of the Day, I'd better go out there and do it before I was too late! Friedrich Max Müller (December 6, 1823 – October 28, 1900), generally known as Max Müller, was a German-born philologist and Orientalist, who lived and studied in Britain for most of his life. He was one of the founders of the western academic field of Indian studies and the discipline of comparative religion. Müller wrote both scholarly and popular works on the subject of Indology and the Sacred Books of the East, a 50-volume set of English translations, was prepared under his direction. He also put forward and promoted the idea of a Turanian family of languages and Turanian people. Max Müller Explored on August 7, 2013. Highest placement: page 2 (#41).