Can you identify this...

When we were up at the place north of Danville, Illinois where we go to see the swans, herons, lotus blossoms, etc, I noticed this flower out in the swampy/water area.  I don't remember seeing it before. I have not tried to identify it yet....I was kind of hoping someone could tell me what it is.

EDA:  Thanks to John who has correctly identified this as American Water Willow....

Big Ugly

We were out at Walmart today...right in the middle of the day of course.  Thankfully I always have my little P&S with me. Big Ugly is the farthest thing from the truth...

I would call it Sweet Thing....isn't it amazing?

It is the oddest shade of yellow...for this is the real color.  It is not my camera or your computer messing with it.

Just a few quick shots was all I took.

We have talked about this while at the doctor's office, while talking to a neighbor.  I hope you enjoyed seeing it...I just wish I had taken a few more pics.

Linking to Tuesday's Treasures....

The gift that keeps on giving...

I so wish I could go down close to them to take photos, but I am happy to have them to zoom in on to photograph.  They are just glorious to see!

I thought I might as well add this one for good measure!

Got an itch?

Around the bend...

Taken a few years ago...a road with a slight bend in it is ever so appealing.

Barns from close by...

Just three barns this time...again from the past.  All of these are within a few minutes of home, though I could only take you to this one with ease.

They are all three neat and tidy....well loved.

I think I would be happy with any of the three.

Linking to The Barn Collective.

From today...

We were out on a mission today, but I had to pause to take a few pics of this plant.  Someone told me what it was and for the life of me I cannot remember the name...

I hope you don't mind the multiple images, even if they are almost alike.

From Arthur, Illinois

When we go to Arthur, Illinois, there is an antique shop there that I could spend hours in...always interesting things to see.

A flower for you

Taken a couple weeks ago...

Glorious days!!!

We have had the prettiest skies this summer...days like this are usually few and far between, with them being a bit more numerous in the fall.

Every day seems to be a great day to snap photos...the two above were taken on Saturday.

This glorious sky was what we watched on the way to Terre Haute today.

These first two are out the windshield as we travel south.

This is what was to our left side, looking east.

And believe it or not, this is what we looked at on the way home.  Every day the sky seems to put on a show just for us.  As Roger says, well, I can't remember just how he says it...but he is implying that God is the Master Artist...that no one can paint a sky quite His way.

Dragonflies again....

Again, I cannot settle on just one photo...

These were take a few days ago...

they were taken up at the swampy area about 30 minutes north of here.

There were not near as many there that day as there was the last time we were there.

Beewolf--Correction...it is a Cicada Killer

These photos are not cropped.  You might enjoy clicking to expand the view.  We call them beewolves...not sure if that is the right identification. 

Thanks to Sandra, it has been identified as a cicada killer.  

I watched this guy for half an hour while tried to drag this cicado down through a crack.

I was about 4 ft away from it.

I should have tried a little video, but didn't think about it.

I do hope you found the photos interesting...

From one day in September of 2008

For the Barn Collective, I have gone back to just one day in September of 2008...

I think they are all from over in Illinois.

Notice the little openings down?  I wonder what they are for.

I think this is a nice one!

I kind of like this view.

Two for one in this  shot..

I zoomed in for a closer look.

The Barn Collective

Beauty

I have always loved these....

Big boy!

It was midday when I took this so just couldn't get a better photo. 

From a distance...the Red Admiral

This little beauty was about 8ft away...this first one is not cropped...

this one is cropped.  When I worked at the orchard, the Red Admiral would land on my arm at least a few times during the picking season. 

Days like this and a ?

We have had more days like this this summer than I think we have ever had in one summer.    We try to get out and enjoy them all we can.

Down at the end of this pond lotus are growing...the property has No Trespassing signs so I cannot walk down close to them.

How I wish I could cause they are only about 8-10 minutes from here.  They are not far at all...

This Great Blue Heron was down close to the far end.  We see him in about this exact spot quite often.
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At a different pond, I spotted this guy.  When I first spotted it, it was out in the water, with its wings spread open.  Before I could even zoom in and focus, it took flight.   The only thing that crossed my mind was cormorant, but don't really have any idea if it could be one.  I am hoping someone that sees them often can tell me if they think that is one or if you know what it is, please say so.  My photo is so blurry that I can do nothing to enhance it to give details.  Even in the original, I cannot tell much about its beak.

We have seen cormorants down at the Goose Pond area...and in looking at photos on Google, I found a photo of one sitting in the water that closely resembles what I saw.  I just wish I could see the beak in my photo.

Butterfly picture show...

The other day I spotted this little buy on the thistle while driving through the strip pits.

I could not believe my luck,

there was no wind to speak of and it seemed willing to stay there.

None of these were cropped images...

This was the best time I ever had photographing this kind of butterfly...which I think is a Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, but if you know it is a different species please tell in the comments.

As always, click to expand the view!