Sundays at Little Walden

 I used to try and go to the Little Walden Butterfly Garden every Sunday,  and I did not really plan to go last week, but I just happened to pass by AND had my camera with me (have got to get back in the habit of taking it everywhere!) so I decided to stop.  It was pretty dang hot, so I didn't stay long, but I did get a few pics.

Eastern Tailed-Blue - I love these tiny little butterflies

Silver-Spotted Skipper

I don't know a lot about dragonflies, but I think this is a Common Whitetail

I also did some herb gardening this week-end.  

Fairy and Oregano

And I went to the Cobblestone Farmers Market at Old Salem on Saturday.  Took my camera, but my bag filled up pretty quickly and it was so hot (I know - again with the heat excuse) I didn't take any pictures.  The one below I took at home with my iPhone.  It should be cooling down a little this week, so maybe I will try again on Saturday.

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

Lots of pretty butterflies at Reynolda Gardens today.

Male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.  I set my white balance to fluorescent-1 on this one.  I like to use that setting because it gives photos a vintagey-purply quality.

Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.  I used the popart filter on this one, which sort of super-saturates the hues.

Silver-Spotted Skipper

And a few moths, that you wouldn't really think were moths.

 Yellow Collared Scape Moth

Ailanthus Webworm Moth - love these!

Little Walden Nature Trail

There is a little known trail at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons called the Little Walden Nature Trail.  I say this because in the time since I discovered it I have only seen a handful of people there.  Surely there would be more people visiting if they knew how beautiful and peaceful it was there.  But then maybe it would not be so peaceful! There are also a couple of gardens - a butterfly garden and the AIDS Memorial Garden.  The trail itself goes around a pond and then into the woods where it passes a little stone building (I have no idea of the origin of the building, but I love it!) and down to a creek.  To get to the trail, you don't go into the main Tanglewood entrance, it's the entrance right across from Harper Road and then take the first left.  And you don't have to pay 2 bucks to park!

Silver-Spotted Skipper

Eastern-Tailed Blue

This was taken a few weeks ago.  I was walking around the pond and this little guy kept flitting around me so I held out my hand and he landed.  Good Luck!  I have never seen one of these before and not sure exactly what it is.  I think some sort of Elfin.

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

What a beautiful day at my favorite spot.  And the best thing was I didn't have to go back to work afterwards!!

Silver-Spotted Skipper

American Painted Lady

Also had a surprise at the gardens today.  I almost walked right into this guy!

Black Snake

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

Lots of pretty butterflies at Reynolda Gardens on Friday.

Silver-Spotted Skipper

Variegated Fritillary on a blanket flower

Cabbage White - My favorite shot of the day