July 30, 2019
Dr. Seuss’s children’s book, Oh the Places You’ll Go! came to mind this evening as I was reviewing all the places I’ve been these past 10 days on picture walks: Western Michigan University’s Business Technology and Research Park, which is right next door, Asylum Lake Preserve, which is right across the street, the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Ft. Custer State Park in Augusta, Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens in Grand Rapids, Wau-ke-na Preserve in South Haven, and the Oshtemo Public Library just down the road!
American Bullfrog Barn Swallow
Cottontail Rabbit Slaty Blue Dragonfly
We are very fortunate, I think, to have so many beautiful places near at hand to explore— but, even a small backyard can be an inviting place for birds, butterflies and other creatures to visit if the environment is enticing enough for them to stay for awhile. Sometimes I enjoy just standing outside our back door ‘capturing’ all the birds as they sit in the trees before flying in to eat at our feeders. Our backyard itself is insignificant, but the communal yards of our condo development abut the edge of a woods and small creek– making it a haven for a large variety of birds, a small herd of deer and a rafter of wild turkeys. So even if I never left our our yard or our neighborhood, I’d still have lots of opportunities for pictures!
Black Swallowtail Butterfly Halloween Pennant Dragonfly
Common Buckeye Butterfly Common Yellowthroat, female
Every time I go out to explore, whether I wander near or far, I always wonder what I’ll find. Here’s the rest of what I found this week….

Mallard Duck, female Killdeer hiding in the grass

Common Green Darner Eastern Amberwing


Widow Skimmer, female Ruby Meadowhawk, male
Red Squirrel American Robin
Autumn Meadowhawk Pearl Crescent Butterfly


Grey Catbird Yellow Warbler

Halloween Pennant, male Widow Skimmer, male
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Eastern Tiger Swallowtail


Amazing images!
Thanks, Sheila!
Nature is beautiful….
Your pictures are incredible…you are long past amateur photographer…the details are amazing. JM
Thank you! I appreciate your kind words.
Reblogged this on Women Who Think Too Much by Jeanne Marie.