Weekly photo challenge: Horizon

Horizons can be open or cluttered, vast or close.

Skyscape taken Oct. 2 looking west-southwest.

Looking north on I-540 south of Fayetteville, Ark.

The tree-laden horizon to the northeast.

Horizons we enjoyed seeing this week:

• Horizons in black and white: http://humbledpie.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/weekly-photo-challenge-some-bw-horizons/
• Global horizons: http://talkingthailand.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/weekly-photo-challenge-horizon/
• Tropical horizon: http://insellos.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/daily-horizon/
• Of hope and possibilities: http://moosewb.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/a-mooses-appreciates-changing-horizons-weekly-photo-challenge-horizon/
• Pinnacles and balloons: http://trapfocus.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/weekly-photo-challenge-horizon/
• Atlantic: http://trishadm.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/weekly-photo-challenge-horizon/
• Storm troopers. London: http://harlequinteaset.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/stormtroopers-against-a-horizons-at-london-comic-con/

And of course, the event horizon for horizon photos: http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/weekly-photo-challenge-horizon/

The monarch is back!

The monarchs are back. Well, at least one monarch. This one was trying to rest in the goldenrod this morning, but found himself being buffeted by breezes, honey bees, wasps and other pollinators. You can see the wear on his wings — appearing as scratches in some of his orange areas.

 

Garden snail

Little garden snails are common here on top of the mountain. This one was unusual in its size, about .75 inches in diameter, and the ridges along its spiral. Most of the shells we find are much smaller, smooth and transparent.

Vacant garden snail shell.

On the half shell

Walked out on the deck to water the plants one morning and saw a grasshopper. Not an unusual thing, since our yard is a grasshopper haven. However, upon closer inspection,  this neat and upright shell was all that remained from someone’s dinner.

Grasshopper, post dinner.

River fog

Early morning fog lifts from the Arkansas River near the Terry Lock and Dam. The dam, and the Big Dam Bridge that runs over the dam, are the structures in the distance just visible beneath the shroud.

SHROUDED — Arkansas River taken from the I-430 crossing, which is one of the most beautiful in the interstate system. 

Eastern and west

Another attempt at shooting the night sky. Through the viewfinder it appeared as if the tree was strung with tiny white lights, but it turned out many of the leaves on this struggling oak had their own glint.  Tonight, we’ll stay up to see Mars, the Orionids and maybe, just maybe, catch a glimpse of Comet Ison.  (The Waiting for Ison blog has lovely  illustrations showing what you can expect to see and when, in the night sky.)

Eastern sky last night.

Western sky this morning with gibbous moon and 360 degree pink ring around the horizon.  

On the flip side

Both sides of the spiny orb weaver are interesting. A shot lit by flash (not shown here), shows the dark side is actually covered in silk.

TWO SIDED — Front and back shots of the same spiny orb weaver hanging ’round the Ouachitas.

Life and death in the goldenrod, part II

The goldenrod has been a busy place for mason bees and honey bees, not to mention moths, beetles and butterflies. We are watch and wait, ever hopeful the monarchs will stop by on their yearly migration southward.

Mason bee nestles deeply into the goldenrod.

Honeybee in flight.

Pollinating.

Life and death in the goldenrod, part I

We keep a patch of giant goldenrod growing at the front of the house to provide a way station for visiting monarch butterflies, but other insects make themselves at home there, including all manner of bees, wasps and wheelbugs. Wheelbugs, named for the cogged half wheel atop their armor, lay in wait in the yellow flowers, stalking their prey. The wheelbug in the top shot had caught a bumble bee and dragged it at least 5-6 feet before I stopped following it. The one in the second photo snagged a wasp.

The insects insert their beak into the prey, injecting a fluid that paralyzes and dissolves the victim’s insides, which accounts for why there seemed to be no fight left in either the bee or wasp.

Unrelated note — this is our 700th post!

Wheelbug, dusted with yellow pollen from the goldenrods, drags its prey.

Inverted wheelbug eating wasp. Its cogged wheel can be seen running along its back.

In profile, you can see the wheel.

Autumn colors 2013

Here it is late October and the Ouachitas are just beginning to turn.  Even though the woods are mostly green, there’s still plenty of autumn color around. Photos taken today and yesterday.

Sumac leaves.

Muscadines.

Grape leaves turning.

Yellow hickory leaves.

Purple aster.

Dogwood leaves.

French mulberry.

Poison ivy in pine.

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