In April and again in August, when I go to Lake Mattamuskeet, I slow down in one section of the road near the lake.
I am looking for my favorite patch of carnivorous plants to photograph.
In the first photo: the tall pitcher plants with yellow gold red-streaked hoods are trumpet pitcher plants and the hooded structures are hollow leaves that fill with water that traps insects that fall in. The pale solid green hooded leaves belong to a different pitcher species and I couldn’t identify it. What is neat about the first photo is the dark brown blossom that is at the lower left – that is the flower of the trumpet pitcher plant that has matured and is going to pop open and spread its seeds. In the second photo you can see the early trumpet pitcher plant blossom and get some idea between the two blossom photos of why this carnivorous plant is called “trumpet”.

WALK8965 08-24-16 @ 14-23-05 Mattamuskeet trumpets

WALK8969 08-24-16 @ 14-23-45 Mattamuskeet trumpets

WALK5754 Apr 04 2015  12-03-10 Haw RiverRed-tailed hawk American crow

the immature red-tailed hawk crossed the line into the nesting territory of the American crow
the defense was immediate and intense; sometimes the crow was chasing, sometimes the hawk would chase
they both crossed the river and were still tangling when I lost sight of them

flowers for ditty

Spring has sprung
the grass has riz
I wonder where the posies is
why, here they tiz

a memory note: my late parents always gave each other a version, changing the last 2 lines, of this ditty each first day of Spring
they would hide their note for the other to find during the day

IMG_3455 last susan of season 2014

It having been a grey day here in central North Carolina, I decided to post a spot of brightness for all of you.