Wonderful Wednesday Wings!

Lots of wings coming out now! These were all spotted over the past week here in southern Utah.

One of the best butterfly sightings ever, because this little beauty spread her wings out to balance in the wind, and just froze while feeding. Only problem is despite looking and looking, I haven't been able to id her. Update: per the comment left by Katie at http://natureid.blogspot.com/, the id looks to be a Variable Checkerspot.

 Every once in a while, you take a photo you don't know you've taken;-) Tiny butterfly moving quickly around the flower, and in 14 shots, I never saw the even tinier grasshopper until I processed the photos - believe it or not! I think the butterfly is a Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus).

Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)

I believe this is a Meridian Duskywing (Erynnis meridianus).

Metallic Sweat Bee 

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) over water - a very lucky shot! Saw the water, hoped for a dragonfly, and spotted this beauty just hovering:-)

Scarlet Saturday!

Ravishing reds seem to be everywhere, so I thought I'd share some recent sightings:-)

This beautiful cactus is growing in a neighbor's yard. I believe it's a Claret Cup or Crimson Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus).

The miniature rose 'Ruby Magic' - the first rose to bloom this year. This is one of my special minis that I was fortunate enough to buy at Sequoia Nursery/Moore's Miniatures when we were in Cali. Sequoia Nursery was run by the famous rosarian, Ralph Moore, who lived to the grand old age of 102. I like to think he lived so long because he was doing what he loved for a living:-)

Utah Penstemon (Penstemon utahensis) blooming where we live.

The miniature rose 'Cherry Hi', also from Sequoia Nursery.

I believe this is a Gilia, but I'm not positive. It doesn't quite match other photos I have... I have the feeling a squirrel planted it:-) If anyone can confirm, please leave a comment. It's gorgeous, whatever it is!

Full-size to climbing rose, 'Courageous'. This is an English Legend rose that I ordered from Heirloom Roses when we lived in Cali. Amazing fragrance!!! More flowers to come... :-)

Saturday Snow Bird - Hummingbirds are Back!

Snow has been in the forecast all week for today. However, we weren't supposed to see any accumulation (weather.com says that almost every time, and we always get more than they say). I don't mind, because we can always use the moisture up here in the high desert. However, the Black-chinned Hummingbirds started to return last week, so no fun for them! I stood out on the deck for about half an hour, determined to catch one with my camera. This is a progression of photos - poor little guy, but at least he has food.

I finally spotted him huddling in the tree, but he was too far away and his back was turned.

After a while, he moved to a branch. I was facing the light, so not great, but he was so cute fluffing out his feathers:-)

He finally came over to the feeder. He's keeping an eye on me, because I'm fairly close and not hidden. Then he went back into the tree, where you can get an idea of how he really feels about the snow - brrrr! He's probably wishing he'd stayed down south a little longer. I'm glad they're coming back, though. Fortunately, it's supposed to start clearing again tomorrow, and they can warm up again. Here's to clearer, happier hummingbird photos soon!

Southwest Spring

Once again, time has flown by faster than I can keep track! Last time I posted, it was just after it had snowed. Today, we're in the 70's and bright and sunny. Supposed to change again soon, but in the meantime, it's time to share some spring photos, so you can see what blooms in high desert southwest gardens. I hope you enjoy them:-)

"Blossoming", Painted Lady Butterfly on plum tree blossoms.

"Behold"

"Blooming Butterfly" In all the time I spent photographing fruit tree blossoms in California, I never saw butterflies on them. It was warmer there than here, so they were definitely out. However, my theory is that they stayed away because of all the pestcides, which leads me to my next photo and lightbulb moment...

"Peachy", peach tree blossoms smell divine! Okay, that might sound like something I should have known since I stood in orchards with hundreds to thousands of trees. The whole air should have been perfumed, right? It was with the orange blossoms, but not the peach or nectarines. To be honest, the only thing I ever smelled was a chemical scent. Until I met this tree in someone's yard, I had no idea how delicious the scent was, and I was blown away.

"Sunny Side", can't ignore the daffodils!

"Sun Stars"

"A Graceful Nod"

"Plum Pretty"

I hope spring has been just as beautiful in your corner of the world!

Where did January go?

I can't believe it's the end of the month already! I've been remiss here once again, so wanted to get something up before the month was gone. Been busy moving things off of one selling venue onto another, among other things, and somehow time got away from me. However, I've snapped a few shots this month, and going to share some random sightings. Hope you enjoy them:-)

Visited Zion National Park for the first time earlier this year for our birthdays. It was far more spectacular than my photo shows. "Wow!", was the word of the day.

We occasionally get Lesser Goldfinches coming through, and this pair visited recently. Male top, female bottom.

It's been a really dry winter here, but last week we finally had some snow. The day after, fog blew over the cliffs all day. So beautiful! Way prettier than where we were last year at this time:-)

A subject I'm determined to get some good photos of - Gambel's Quail. They're here all the time, but scurry away quickly. They're so cute and fun to watch, though. We're hoping to see chicks in Spring.

This one is definitely not a good photo, but I don't have enough lens to capture him or her. This is a Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk. S/he actually flew through where we live late one afternoon, but this seems to be the regular hang out - high up on a power pole. It's a great spot for a white raptor, as s/he blends right in. Stunning bird!

And here's one of the Gray Foxes we see pass through here occasionally. Like the photo on this post, it was taken through the window, down through deck slats, late in the afternoon - the heater had clicked on this time, and s/he looked right up:-) Every time we see these beauties, we are filled with awe!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Wishing you a holiday season that's bright and beautiful, and full of joy!

Wednesday Wings

Time to share some recent winged wonders! Hummingbirds are gone for now, and I miss them. I still have photos of them to process, so you may see some photos soon. We have so many other birds to watch here, and it's been wonderful. Lots of photographic challenges, too:-)

A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) who was actually out in the middle of the road eating roadkill rabbit. There were a pair, and I think they were taking turns flying in and eating. I think they were eating it there because they didn't kill it, so perhaps didn't know how to carry it off the road (just a guess). Made for a cool sighting, though. Can't believe the way s/he was able to perch here!

This is a little Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus). We've put up thistle feeders for the first time ever, and have attracted lots of these little cuties. They're just about as fierce as the hummingbirds, though, always squabbling and fast movers. However, they really don't like leaving the thistle, so I can get pretty close with my camera.

A female White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) atop sagebrush.

From this summer, a Northern White Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum).

Not a great shot, but this was taken through a window on a dark, rainy/snowy day. Believe s/he is a Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) who landed in the tree for a breather.

Finally, this is the last butterfly that I photographed this year, a West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella). I was so surprised to spot her, because I hadn't known these beauties were in Utah, too. Maybe she followed us from Cali;-)

Saturday Sharing - Art - Nancy's Sculptures

I don't do this nearly often enough, however, part of this blog is supposed to be about art so here we go:-) Today, I wanted to share some of my mom's (Nancy's) recent sculptures because, well, they're just so darn amazing to me! Yeah, I'm her daughter and biggest fan, but just ask her, and she'll tell you I'm her worst critic. I'm a bit... ummm... shall we say anal? ;-) Oh well - I do it with my own art, too. I know there's no such thing as perfect, but doesn't stop me from trying.

The first sculpture I'm sharing is a custom dog that she just finished. She did this for Wendy and Charley, the owners of Critter Corner. They recently made space for some of Nancy's pieces in their shop. So, as a thank you, she did this sculpture of their 14-year-old Border Collie, Katy. We delivered it yesterday, and they seemed thrilled with it and the likeness. Even Katy gave a sniff of approval:-) I'm including a couple of the photos it was based from.

This next piece is the first regular horse my mom has done. It's a Gypsy Vanner foal. She's done carousel horses before, but this little one is more 3-D and realistic.

Oh, and this cutie is the first little girl that she's done:

The last two are boxes that she's done recently - these are wonderful for storing lightweight keepsakes! I know, because I have my own:-)


I'm always in awe that these pieces started out as a lump of clay! That, and it would seem no subject is off limits for my mom. If you happen to be interested in a custom sculpture of your own, give us a holler:-) You can also find out more about the non-custom pieces above by clicking on the photos. Hope you enjoyed this art stroll, and stay tuned for more art and photos to come!