Emerald Green with Wings

(Please click on this photo to enlarge and see more details!)

Due to inclement weather (rain, rain, flood, rain), we have been stuck indoors for several days. What better time to go through the archives and find those pictures I had forgotten about!

This emerald green (bee? fly?) was gathering some late season pollen when I came across it near the end of October.

I was mesmerized by the iridescent green of the insect against the vivid yellow of the flower.

I am linking this up with Tina's PicStory's "Weekend Flowers",
James' "Weekend Reflections",
NixBlog's "Floral Friday Fotos",
and
NatureFootsteps' "NF Winged".

I hope everyone has a delightful weekend!

Cut Tree Heart

The "tree people" came through last week, clearing out trees and branches that were growing too close to the overhead power lines.

Unfortunately, this huge old cottonwood was in the way, and had to go.
I did a double-take when I realized the tree people had left a stump - with an upside down heart!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on Guest Heart Thursday!

The Tiny Beauty of Moss

If you could have only seen me yesterday ...
Taking pictures of the moss ...

And miniature mushrooms ...
In the calm between storms ...

Savoring the tiny beauty around me ...

On my hands and knees ...
Tush in the air ...
Soaked to my elbows ...

And happy as happy can be!!!

I am linking this up with Lisa's Chaos - "Macro Monday".

And Studio Waterstone's "I Heart Macro".

Needle Ice

The ground froze last night ...
This morning, when the sun came out, I found these interesting ice heave formations. It amazes me that such a delicate piece of frozen water can lift up rocks like this!

I did some research, and learned that this type of ice is called "needle ice", frost heave, or frost beard. The National Snow & Ice Data Center (NSIDC) describes needle ice as follows: "Needle ice can form any place where the ground freezes. It crunches when stepped on. Needle ice is made up of thin ice crystals. The ice crystals grow upward, starting a few centimeters (inches) underground. If the air stays cold enough, needle ice can grow forty centimeters (16") long."

What the NSIDC doesn't say, however, is that if a deer runs through the ice patch, it leaves behind a heart!!!

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on Guest Heart Thursday!

Coral Mushroom

I was a little surprised to find this coral mushroom yesterday as I hiked through the woods. Even though it is a small fungus - it's white color showed up brilliantly against the darkness of dead leaves and debris of the wintery forest floor.

A Walk in the Rain ...

The pink heather blossoms are hanging on this winter ...
Today they are drenched in rain.

And are linked with Tina's PicStory's "Weekend Flowers" ...
And with NixBlog's "Floral Friday Photo"...

The trees in the distance are reflected in the drops hanging from the blackberry vine.

If you look carefully (or click the picture to enlarge it), you can even see the rim of my camera lens reflected above this raindrop!

Life can be beautiful in the rain ...
Because that's when Nature shares her jewels.

To be linked together with other reflections over at James' "Weekend Reflections"!

Winter's Rain on Blackberry Leaf ...

Tina's Wordless Wednesday