A Few Flowers More

September 9, 2019September 9, 2019 Timothy Price30 Comments

0A6A3145

0A6A3157

0A6A3209

0A6A3154

0A6A3215

0A6A3214

0A6A3125

Stormy Sunday

August 11, 2019 Timothy Price33 Comments

115B2620

We had thunderstorms coming in from all directions this afternoon. The thunderstorm that built up over the Sandias was the most dramatic. While out on a walk before the storms, I encountered a little bit of wildlife.

115B2606

115B2595

Buckeye Butterfly

This video of the Great Purple Hairstreak Butterfly shows how it moves the flanges on the ends of its wings while it feeds. I assume it’s to fool predators into going after the flanges on its wings, giving it a chance to escape.

Blue Hairstreak

Silver kitty

0A6A1423

Thunderstorm activity to the north.

Leave Me Bee Sam-I-am

July 31, 2019July 31, 2019 Timothy Price29 Comments

0A6A0647

A bee, I’ll call Wild-B, was minding his own business collecting pollen on an echinacea, when another bee, I’ll call Sam-I-am, started buzzing Wild-B. Wild-B held his position and stuck out his pollen laden back legs as he tried to block and discourage Sam-I-am from buzzing him. Sam-I-am was quite pesky, but finally moved on after a Bumble Bee landed on the echinacea. Wild-B also took off once the Bumble Bee started making his way around the flower in Wild-B’s direction.

0A6A0648

0A6A0649

0A6A0651

0A6A0652

0A6A0653

0A6A0654

0A6A0667

0A6A0669

To Bee

July 27, 2019July 27, 2019 Timothy Price21 Comments

0A6A0447

Bumble bees enjoying our echinacea.

0A6A0387

0A6A0451

0A6A0494

0A6A0389

Wildflowers @ 11,000 Feet

June 29, 2019June 29, 2019 Timothy Price42 Comments

115B1512

With it 100º F (37.8º C) at our house, we hopped in the Mazda Miata MX-5, put the top down and headed for the hills — well Sandia Crest at 11,000 feet (3352.8 meters) above sea level. The drive to the top was a blast as the MX-5 hugged the corners well above the posted speed limit. We could see the clouds swirling above us, and hear the birds singing with the top down, as rounded one hairpin turn after another on our way to the top. Once at the top of the Crest, the temperature was 55º F (12.8º C) with drizzling rain and cold wind. Quite a contrast from the sunny, hot valley below. We walked around on the mountain top and noticed there were lots of wild flowers blooming.