Mini Rose

A solitary miniature rose is growing low to the ground in my backyard.  At first, I thought it was an unknown flower because the stem looked grass-like.  After shooting a focus stack and studying the result, however, it's pretty apparent that it's a rose.

Shot was taken during what passes and the golden hour:  6:45 p.m.  1/50 sec; f/3.2; ISO 100

Toad Lily

Meet the Toad lily (Tricyrtis sp.), which grows in my back yard.  This is a 27-shot focus stack captured this evening at a slow, 1/13 sec;   f/3.2;   ISO 100.  God bless the inventor of the tripod.

There were originally about 36 shots, but at 1/13th of a second exposure, a slight breeze caused a number of shots to have too much movement blur, and I had to reject them.

Silver-bordered fritillary

A silver-bordered fritillary (Boloria selene), I think:

Superbum

It's pleasing to come across a new wildflower.  Meet the Turk's cap lily (Lilium superbum), found growing beside Decker's Creek near Masontown, WV.   It is native to the eastern and central regions of North America.  

Evening Primrose

Meet the Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis).  This time of year, it's growing like a weed wherever it can take root.  This one was on the edge of a dirt lot across from a nearby plumbing supply company.

The Evening Primrose normally opens more towards evening (duh), but at noon, this bloom decided to avoid the rush and open early.   Maybe because it was fairly overcast.

Down in the Mouth

Tried a more ambitious 36-shot focus stack last night.  At a shutter speed of 1/10 even a slight breeze was problematic.  Not to mention the occasional bee that worked its way through.

Meet the trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) rendered with a combination of SnapArt and Topaz watercolor filters:

Campsis radicans is a native to the Southeast, but I suspect that it has become quite domesticated and hybridized.  The lower flower petals have a very fleshy color to them... almost like tongues.

SYTL to title song.

Four Eyes (what you gonna do now?)

Meet the Red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus).

The binomial genus and species names are both derived from the Latin for "four eyes."

Presenting "Four Eyes" by the Lovin' Spoonful (SYTL).