Pollen

The arrival of Spring, means Pollen season.  Maybe I am noticing things like this more than I used to, but it sure seems that this is the worst pollen season I have ever experienced.  For todays photos I decided to go with the Macro Lens for a closer look at Pollen.

If you zoom in, you can clearly see the Pollen on the Tulip Petals

Here is an accumulation of Pollen on the lid of a trash can

Termites!

Wow, thousands of these guys were swarming in our backyard.  I don't know the difference between termites and flying ants, but I am pretty sure these guys are termites.  I know they are out there, but I have never seen this many!  Fortunately they were swarming outside and not inside the house.  We do have an annual termite inspection and treatment for the house that guarantees protection.  But just to be safe, we scheduled this years inspection for this week and will point out where we think this colony was coming from.

Did you know that a termite queen can live for 30 years?

Kids at Play

Here are a few shots taken yesterday and today of my nieces and nephews

Big Surprise!

Wow!  My wife got me good!

I knew my parents would be visiting this weekend.  But I had no idea she arranged for my whole family to show up from Virginia, North Carolina, and Connecticut to throw me a surprise 40th Birthday Party!

The North Carolina Arboretum

The North Carolina Arboretum
Asheville, NC
Friday, April 2nd, 2010

I knew my parents were coming into town for Easter Weekend, but I had a welcomed surprise when my Aunt Barbara showed up with them! Aunt Barbara (aka Aunt Babs), who also happens to be my Godmother, is the only one of my relatives that still lives up North (Connecticut), and it has been several years since I last saw her. My wife Amy was in on the surprise, but I had no idea she was coming!

For today, Amy and I decided to take my parents and Aunt Babs up to the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, NC.  Despite driving past it many times on trips to the Blue Ridge Parkway, we had never made a visit to the Arboretum.

For more info on the NC Arboretum, check out the official link:
http://www.ncarboretum.org/
It was a beautiful spring day with full sunshine and temperatures in the mid 80s. We spent a few hours strolling through the gardens enjoying the day and the plethora of blooms.

Here are few shots from our visit

Daffodil

Buzzing around the Cherry Blossoms

Bird - What Kind?  I have no idea

Daffodil

My wife Amy!

Star Magnolia

As we were getting ready to leave, a gentleman saw me with my camera and asked if I was interested in wildflowers. He proceeded to tell us a spot where some Oconee Bells were blooming.

The Oconee Bells are a very rare wildflower that are only found in a relatively small area around Oconee County, SC. Thanks to the tip, we found a nice cluster of Oconee Bells blooming along the "Carolina Mountain Trail".

Small Bee on an Oconee Bell

 

Oconee Bell Macro Shot

Additional Photos are posted here:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/577212994KWXYCB

Amy and I will definitely be making a return visit to the NC Arboretum! 

Todays Photo - Dominos!

My parents and my Aunt Barbara are visiting for Easter Weekend.

They arrived yesterday afternoon.  Last night after dinner, we played some Dominos!

I was up earlier than everyone this morning, so I set-up this quick shot.

I am giving up on Photography!

I’ve decided that I don’t get any enjoyment out of photography anymore and therefore I am giving it up!






April Fools!
Hopefully you know me better than to fall for that.


Now that the obligatory bad April Fools joke is out of the way it is time for today’s photos.

Fiddleheads

I’ve seen these things while out hiking, and probably snapped a few photos just because they are kind of interesting looking. But, I never really knew what the heck they were.

Well, after I found some growing alongside the little stream at the edge of our property, I decided to find out what they are. So after a little research I found out that they are called Fiddleheads.

But what exactly is a Fiddlehead?

A Fiddlehead is a young fern that hasn't yet unfurled and opened its leaves. The end is still curled in a tight spiral, ready to unroll as the spring sun warms it up and it gathers strength and size.

It turns out that some people actually eat these things. I don’t think I am willing to try that!

The origin of the term Fiddlehead is from the spiral shape that reminds many people of the end of a violin or “fiddle”.

Well, this is what the ones in my yard look like today! I’ll be curious to keep track of their growth and watch as this funky spiral looking thing turns into a fern.