Category: Prose

Field Notes #4

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Butterflies do not live to ninety-five
Nor do they fly at ninety-five (mph)
But the day was ninety-five (degrees Fahrenheit)

And this poor little cabbage white needed five minutes rest in the shade in our driveway.
Rest my heterochromatic friend!

In other old news: Phacelia cicutaria. May 2023

Field Notes 3

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So Long:

Sun and moon conversed
Each traversed
Now roles’ reversed

All was well
Although moon was a bit embarrassed
For “getting in the way”

Here is half of the intended cover image. The original was So Long….too long. Transitional changes during eclipse.
Here’s the rest.

Cover Photo: Short Story – Full Sun and 70% Coverage

On another note from May: Chaparral Mallow (Why is it so difficult to remember “one p – two r’s in chaparral?”) Always get those mixed up.

The lovely thing about flowers, unlike the sun, is that you can look right at them without eye protection.

The Coop

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Coop
Made a stoop
And I don’t mean swoop
While standin’ on a fence
Rabbits quivered and tense
Just don’t make sense


Still scratchin’ my head on this one. Pulled into the driveway and this Cooper’s hawk is sittin’ on the fence just as pretty as can be.
A little dinner-sized rabbit hopped on by, and not a budge. A few yards away, a small covey of quail were well within striking range. But nope, barely a notice. Must have just eaten I guess.

Seeing Red

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Attractive
Opulent
Irresistible

Cover Photo: Rufous Hummingbird

August is dust in the wind and September has started with temperate weather. Tropical storm Hilary brought some rain and the red cape honeysuckle responded with red-orange blooms. This did not go unnoticed by the local hummingbirds and it quickly turned into territorial disputes between the little sprites.
Recently, while watering the orchard, a little Anna’s hummingbird swept in to cool off in the hose-spray. It was in excess of one-hundred degrees so the little one needed some relief. I didn’t move the spray for over thirty seconds while it bathed and drank. What a rush. I take my phone with me now in case it happens again.

Static bird photography can be very boring, but with the golden hour back-lighting, I could not resist. One of my favorite botanicals, buckwheat is in its summer splendor right now as well.


August also brought some lovely butterflies. Swallowtail were abundant and the heat seemed to make them a bit slow (which was great). This “painted lady” species visited our flowers a couple of weeks back.

In Flight

Finally, the quail are still coming around! There are 3-4 coveys that pass through. We have put out water for them for the hottest days and they use it every day. These shots were made through kitchen window double pane glass so, they’re soft and green. First one shows a hen sharing water with her many chicks (some off to the sides on the ground). The second shows one of the chicks getting into the buckwheat.