My Favorites Collection
A small assortment of my favorite photos
Yellow Dragonfly
I think dragonflies are ridiculously cool! But they’re very skittish and don’t often settle in place when I’m around unless its very early morning and they are still too cold to move around. But this guy really liked this dandelion. Such big eyes and pointy tail.
Dragonflies begin their life as aquatic nymphs. Both as nymphs and adults they are predatory insects, so they’re great for keeping down the mosquito population. There are more than 3000 different dragonfly species on this planet (that we know about).
Marigold
I love this photo for its sharp contrast in color and all the details that are so hard to capture. I walked out of my house on an overcast day on my way to I can’t remember where. I noticed how brilliant the marigolds looked with the lighting. Needless to say, I went straight back into my house, grabbed my camera, and started taking photos.
Marigolds are indigenous to Mexico and Guatemala, but are now common in gardens around the world. In my neck of the woods, I usually see bees, flies, and butterflies feeding from these beautiful flowers.
Honey Bee
This strong and beautiful (and hairy) lady was distracted enough while out collecting nectar and pollen to let me sneak up on her and take this shot. More often than not, by the time I get my camera on level, adjust settings, and focus, my model has either flown away or turned its back. In this case I lucked out, and this bee wanted me to take a few profiles.
Honey bees live in hives and spend most of their lives collecting nectar and pollen and making honey. Bees move from flower to flower to flower, making them important pollinators.
Borage
I love these furry little flowers with all the different shades of blue and pink. They’re not just pretty, but they attract pollinators. And we all know how excited I get about bugs.
Borage, also known as star flower, is considered an herb and has the flavor and scent of cucumbers. It attracts pollinators so can be found planted in strategic places. It is also used as garnish on salads and cultivated to make borage seed oil.
Great Spangled Fritillary
Look at that eye! It’s hard to believe that this used to be a caterpillar. I saw it having marigold for lunch in one of my flower planters, and luck for me, it was still there after I ran back to my house to grab my camera.
Great Spangled Fritillary are common in Southern Canada. Once they emerge from their cocoon, they live from 2 to 10 weeks, pollinating all the plants they come into contact with.
Red Lily
This photo is so lush. The petals and the colors. I took this snap after a short rainfall on a summer afternoon.
Lilies are perennials and come in various colors. This particular lily was cultivated in a garden, but in Alberta there are several wild species including tiger lilies.
Hoverfly
Such furry legs, just like mine in spring ;). This little hoverfly was having a lilac snack when I snuck up on it and snapped this photo. The bright and contrasting colors really make this photo pop.
Hover flies, aka syrphid flies, generally mimic bees and wasps with their coloring, but they do not have a stinger. They are pollinators and some species of this family have aphid eating larvae, making them an ecologically important agent for pest control.
Daddy Long Legs
I have so many spider pictures, but this is one of the few where the spider is on a bright green leaf instead of a dark corner or some other inopportune place. This Daddy Long Legs was super cooperative and stood still for at least .5 seconds.
Daddy Long Legs have a reputation of being the most venomous spider. However, according to my research, this may be an urban legend rather than fact. However, everyone agrees that there has never been a case of a daddy long legs harming a human.
Dandelion
What an incredible plant! Every part is edible. The roots can be used to make coffee, the leaves can be eaten as fresh spring greens, and the flower can garnish a salad, or even better, make dandelion wine! Besides human uses, this early bloomer is an incredibly important source of early pollen for all the little pollinators that we all depend on so much.
It makes me sad that so many people look at dandelions and see weeds that need to be sprayed with chemicals. I will be putting together a dandelion photo collection this year to showcase its many uses and incredible beauty. Stay tuned.
