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  • Leaving A Rosy Impression.jpg
  • A Sunset Vire From the Overlook at Klondike Park in Missouri on 1-13-21
    Sunset Overlook at Klondike 1-13-21.jpg
  • A scorched Earth Perspective of an isolated bench to rest your feet after a long hike through Klondike.
    A Place To Sit at Klondike.jpg
  • An Autumn Tree on the edge of a scenic cliff soaks up the warmth of a sunset beyond the fence line at Klondike Park
    Soaking Up A Sunset Glow.jpg
  • A Long View of the Klondike Park Cliff From Below against a backdrop of puffy white clouds.
    Klondike Cliff From Below.jpg
  • A Leading View of the Scenic Overlook at Klondike Park, One of the central focal points and viewing areas found in the Park. The vista views from this vantage point are nothing less than spectacular, especially during the Autumn months.
    A Long View of the Overlook.jpg
  • A bit of a somber and isolated perspective on a long fence line at Klondike Park that separates the treacherous cliff on the other side.
    A Mood at Knlondike Park.jpg
  • A Soft Blooming Fuchsia Colored Rose from The Garden
    Fuchsia Rose in Bloom.jpg
  • A macro shot of a fresh pink rose bloom from the garden with a fine art feel
    Rosy Pink.jpg
  • Something Klondike Park has that many other area parks don't is tall, rocky hills where visitors can see over the tops of trees - which is especially advantageous for viewing autumn colors.<br />
<br />
The park is a converted rock quarry. Some high, rocky bluffs overlook the heavily forested interiors. The water in the lake is clear enough to watch fish and some large turtles as well as the array of dragon flies. Of the seven or so short hiking trails, two are unpaved. The Lewis and Clark Trail runs parallel to Highway 94 and is the easiest and longest. The unpaved Hogsback Trail is the most scenic. Some mountain bike routes will test your skills.<br />
<br />
Located in southwestern St. Charles County, Klondike Park is a 250-acre park, acquired by the County in 1999. This park lies adjacent to Highway 94, with access to the Katy Trail and the Missouri River. The Klondike Park site has, in the past, been heavily disturbed by quarry operations and is a study of nature's resiliency. Primitive, basic tent camping and camping cabins are all avialable for rental, and the new beautiful Curt Loupe Conference Center is available or meetings, special gatherings, and wedding ceremonies and/or receptions.
    Vibrant Klondike Autumn.jpg
  • rose-climber-C.JPG
  • You can see by the expression on this doe that she is just enjoying herself while feeding on the vegetation in my Uncle’s backyard.
    white_tailed_doe2.jpg
  • A vibrant Autumn scene at Klondike Lake around an old withered tree long dead in the middle of the lake
    Colorful Lake Stump.jpg
  • rose-climber-A.JPG
  • A Red-Winged Blackbird perched on a branch under a canopy of summer green
    Blackbird Viewing From The Branch.jpg
  • Either this white-tailed doe is really hungry or my aunt and uncle have the best tasting vegetation in their back yard.
    white_tailed_doe9.jpg
  • A beautiful white-tailed doe taking a moment to pose for a photo while we continue to enjoy her company while having dinner on the deck.
    white_tailed_doe4.jpg
  • This beautiful white tailed doe walked into my uncle's backyard and just started eating the vegetation around the trees. She didn't care that we were only about 40 to 50 feet away on his back deck having dinner and enjoying great conversation. <br />
<br />
She just kept walking closer and closer to us the entire time. I just happen to have my 600mm lens with me. Talk about luck. More photos to come.
    white_tailed_doe.jpg
  • Rocky formations along the shore of Klondike Park Lake cast reflection along the waters' edge
    Klondike Rocky Shore.jpg
  • Glassy Lake Reflections at Klondike Park as the sun sets at cast a bare light through the trees. Deep shadows hide the abundance of colored foliage and faintly shimmers the top of the water
    Glass Klondike Lake.jpg
  • A lonely Robin perches in a bare isolated winter tree as the sun begins to set and casts shades of purple splendor through the skies.
    Robins Lonely Tree.jpg
  • A Row of Vibrant Autumn Trees on Ahden Knight Hampton Memorial Lake at August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in Saint Charles, Missouri
    Autumn Tree Line at Busch.jpg
  • A Vibrant Autumn Scene along Highway D in New Melle, Missouri as the season begin to change and the trees are bursting with new Fall colors.
    Autumn Has Arrived.jpg
  • rose-climber-B.JPG
  • A Blue Macro Of Some Wild Foliage/Vegetation
    A Blue Mood.jpg
  • Even white-tailed does know eating greens is good for you.
    white_tailed_doe8.jpg
  • The white-tailed doe still browsing and sampling the vegetation trying to decide what to eat.
    white_tailed_doe5.jpg
  • Once the site of a silica sand quarry, Klondike Park is a glowing example of nature's resiliency.  Located just off the Katy Trail, the 250-acre park is a popular destination for outdoor recreationalists, families, and youth activity groups.  Natural and paved trails wind through tree-lined hillsides to offer a challenging ride or hike and spectacular views of wildlife, native plants, and the surrounding Missouri River Valley.
    A Beautiful Day At Klondike Lake.jpg
  • A floral assortment topped by a prominent orange gerber daisy with bleached and muted color tones against a white backdrop.<br />
<br />
Daisies belong to one of the largest families of plants in the world, that of vascular plants, i.e. those which circulate goodness around their systems, making up almost 10% of all flowering plants on Earth.
    Achromatized Assortment.jpg
  • Taken near Marthasville, Missouri this Old Dilapidated Barn was just begging to be photographed. I love old barn shots, something very calming to me about them for some reason.<br />
<br />
Marthasville is located near the site of the early 1763 French fur trading post named La Charrette. It was founded by Dr. John Young in 1817 and named after his first wife Martha Fuqua.<br />
<br />
The Missouri, Kansas and Eastern Railroad was completed through Marthasville in the winter of 1892 and taken over by the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad (MKT) in July of 1893.<br />
<br />
The area is also full of historical importance, both local and national. The Lewis and Clark Discovery Expedition overnighted here in 1804 on their way up the Missouri and again on the way home in September of 1806. Daniel Boone and his relatives lived in the area. He and Rebecca were buried on the Bryan farm. His gravesite is just one mile east of Marthasville.<br />
<br />
The region was widely settled by German immigrants during the 1800's who brought their wine making skills with them and were attracted to this Missouri River Valley which has become known as the Missouri Rhineland.<br />
<br />
Some of the many attractions in and around the area are; the KATY State Park Hiking and Biking Trail, the Lewis and Clark Trail, and the Daniel Boone Monument. You'll find the finest wineries tucked in along our scenic drives through the hills and along the Missouri River.
    This Old Barn.jpg
  • An Evil Grackle Eyes a Nearby Feeder waiting for an innocent bird to approach so he can torment them.
    Ominous Molting Grackle.jpg
  • Peruvian Lily Dance.jpg
  • A doe stops in an autumn field to pose for a profile photo
    Autumn Doe.jpg
  • I think we need to teach this white-tailed doe that you should chew with your mouth closed. Lol
    white_tailed_doe10.jpg
  • Another beautiful photo of the doe finishing eating a piece of vegetation.
    white_tailed_doe7.jpg
  • I am almost certain this doe is listening to our dinner conversations.
    white_tailed_doe6.jpg
  • This beautiful white-tailed doe is just browsing the vegetation trying to decide what would be great for lunch or dinner.
    white_tailed_doe3.jpg
  • Fun with vibrant pink petals from the flower garden
    Fun With Flowers.jpg
  • The sun rises behind the trees near the cove at Klondike Park lake
    Klondike Cove 2.jpg
  • A small downy woodpecker visits my feeder under warm autumn foliage
    Downy Autumn Tree.jpg
  • Common Grackles are large, lanky blackbirds with long legs and long tails. The head is flat and the bill is longer than in most blackbirds, with the hint of a downward curve. In flight, the wings appear short in comparison to the tail. Males are slightly larger than females.
    Grackle On Golden Grass.jpg
  • Once the site of a silica sand quarry, Klondike Park is a glowing example of nature's resiliency. Located just off the Katy Trail, the 250-acre park is a popular destination for outdoor recreationalists, families, and youth activity groups. Natural and paved trails wind through tree-lined hillsides to offer a challenging ride or hike and spectacular views of wildlife, native plants, and the surrounding Missouri River Valley. An indoor conference center that may be rented for weddings, business meetings, and other group functions; three picnic shelters, camper cabins and tent camping sites; a fishing lake; a boat ramp for access to the Missouri River; and about 5 miles of paved or natural trail.<br />
<br />
According to early records, the land upon which Klondike Park sits was originally owned by Wilhelm (William) Engelage, a farmer from Prussia. In 1898, the Tavern Rock Sand Company bought a portion of the property and began Klondike Quarry. The silica sand mined from this quarry was mixed with soda and limestone to create glass products. The top layer (from 8? to 18? was used to make amber glass because of its yellow, claystained color, while clear glass was made from the white sand found below 18 feet. Production reached its peak in 1945 when 233,420 tons of sand were exported from the quarry to meet war demands. The quarry was permanently closed in 1983.
    Winter Sets at Klondike Park.jpg
  • An orange Gerber Daisy pops in the garden from the early morning sunlight.<br />
<br />
The Gerbera Daisy is the fifth most popular flower in the world, gerbera daisies can mean innocence, purity, and cheerfulness. These large daisy variations come in a number of vibrant colors, and sending them is the perfect way to brighten someone's day.<br />
<br />
The meanings of gerbera daisies stem from those attributed to the general daisy family. These meanings include innocence and purity, and daisies are also a classic symbol of beauty. However, the gerbera variety holds an added meaning of cheerfulness, which stems from the assortment of colors available. An assorted bouquet of gerbera daisies can lift the spirit and sending one is an ideal way to brighten someone's day. The sheer multitude of available varieties has helped the gerbera daisy become a favorite choice for many different occasions.<br />
<br />
The gerbera daisy was discovered in 1884 near Barberton, South Africa, by Scotsman Robert Jameson. While the flower's scientific name, Gerbera jamesonii, recollects the name of its founder, the meaning of its common name draws from German naturalist Traugott Gerber. Breeding programs that began in England in 1890 enhanced the flower's quality and color variations. The gerbera daisy's popularity soon traveled to growers in the Netherlands which, along with Columbia, is the primary distributor of the flower's cut version today. The gerbera currently ranks as the fifth most popular flower in the world behind the rose, carnations, chrysanthemum, and tulip.<br />
<br />
Gerbera L. is a genus of ornamental plants from the sunflower family. It was named in honour of the German botanist and naturalist Traugott Gerber who travelled extensively in Russia and was a friend of Carolus Linnaeus.
    Garden Daisy Delight.jpg
  • Large pink and purple petals one each cluster surround pointy yellow florets from the center in this flowing fine art floral shot from a garden.<br />
<br />
I have not been able to get an identification on these flowers yet, try as I have.
    Pink and Purple Floral Pallete.jpg
  • Klondike Park has so much to offer, the lake loop is a nice walk for the family. It's also a great fishing spot. The trails in the park would be great for mountain biking. If you are a fan of mountain biking then this park is a must for it being so close to St. Louis. I like riding the Katy trail to this park and then take the paved trail up to the bluff overlook to watch the birds fly and see the Labadie Plant across the Missouri river.
    Polarizing Autunmn Lake.jpg
  • Once the site of a silica sand quarry, Klondike Park is a glowing example of nature's resiliency.  Located just off the Katy Trail, the 250-acre park is a popular destination for outdoor recreationalists, families, and youth activity groups.  Natural and paved trails wind through tree-lined hillsides to offer a challenging ride or hike and spectacular views of wildlife, native plants, and the surrounding Missouri River Valley.
    Klondike Park Autumn Lake.jpg
  • A Row of Vibrant Autumn Trees on Ahden Knight Hampton Memorial Lake at August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in Saint Charles, Missouri
    Autumn Trees at Busch.jpg
  • Perched Molting Grackle.jpg
  • Getting My Gracle On.jpg
  • Grackle Grabs a Seed.jpg
  • Grackle With An Additude.jpg
  • A sunflower plant of the genus Helianthus having large flower heads with dark disk florets and showy yellow rays. A very tall plant that has large yellow flowers with a round brown center. Sunflowers produce seeds that are used for making cooking oil.
    Twilight Sunflower.jpg
  • Fresh new blooms in the garden inspiring me with a bit of a dreamy touch
    Visions From A Rose.jpg
  • Branched Trepidation.jpg
  • The flowers in this arrangement were starting to wilt, and the petals were beginning to show signs of the last days coming. I wanted to get a descent shot of them, without conveying the age and wilted petals. My approach was to process the image to highlight these areas to covey some character and detail, instead of the appearance of decay.
    Peruvian Lily Grain.jpg
  • There is something about the colors of autumn and even winter this year based on or weather in Saint Louis that inspires me. I really love simple tree line photos that just express the color of the season. Somehow simple landscape images such as this inspire me.
    autumn-ress-A.jpg
  • Little Robin C.jpg
  • A Splash of Contrast.jpg
  • Trees-of-Change.jpg
  • Tall blue skies with wispy clouds above the reflecting tree line at Klondike Park lake in Saint Charles, Missouri.
    Klondike Tall Skies.jpg
  • This beautiful common grackle was hanging out at the Saint Louis Zoo with the Prairie Dogs and Peacocks.
    grackle.jpg
  • Looking out from the Scenic Overlook at Klondike Park in Saint Charles, Missouri at Sunset. Situated off Route 94 between Defiance and Augusta. Nestled in Missouri's scenic wine country, Klondike Park offers campers a chance to reconnect to nature and the outdoors. The camp is a popular destination for Girl and Boy Scout troops.
    The View From Klondike Overlook.jpg
  • A wonderful mix of colors, the deep blue water and sky, and the bare white rock. Klondike Park, once the site of a silica sand quarry, is a popular destination for outdoor recreationalists, families, and youth activity groups. Trails, both paved and natural, criss-cross the verdant hillsides and offer bicyclists, joggers, and hikers spectacular views of wildlife, native plants, and the surrounding Missouri River Valley.
    Klondike Park Autumn Lake 2.jpg
  • Monday Morning Light Casts a Glow on this Delicate Orange Zinnia Bloom
    Monday Morning Glow.jpg
  • A fun flowering bush with glowing petals contrasted against a dark background with purple, pink and cream florets.
    Poppin Floral Bush.jpg
  • The roots of lotus are planted in the soil of the pond or river bottom, while the leaves float on top of the water surface or are held well above it. The flowers are usually found on thick stems rising several centimeters above the leaves. The plant normally grows up to a height of about 150 cm and a horizontal spread of up to 3 meters, but some unverified reports place the height as high as over 5 meters. The leaves may be as large as 60 cm in diameter, while the showy flowers can be up to 20 cm in diameter.
    Water Lily Seed Pod.jpg
  • Canna (or canna lily, although not a true lily) is a genus of nineteen species of flowering plants. The species have large, attractive foliage and horticulturists have turned it into a large-flowered and bright garden plant. In addition, it is one of the world's richest starch sources, and is an agricultural plant. Although a plant of the tropics, most cultivars have been developed in temperate climates and are easy to grow in most countries of the world as long as they can enjoy at least 6?8 hours average sunlight during the summer.<br />
<br />
The plants are large tropical and subtropical perennial herbs with a rhizomatous rootstock. The broad, flat, alternate leaves, that are such a feature of this plant, grow out of a stem in a long narrow roll and then unfurl. The leaves are typically solid green but some cultivars have glaucose, brownish, maroon, or even variegated leaves.
    Crimson Canna Lily Bud.jpg
  • More than any other ape, chimpanzees use tools. They use sticks to fish for insects, poking the twigs into the holes of ant or termite mounds and pulling them out, covered with wiggling food. Chimps use stones to crack open hard-shelled nuts or fruits. They also use leaves as sponges, either to soak up drinking water or to clean the body. And they use leafy twigs to keep away flies...What's even more interesting: we now know that not all chimpanzee communities use the same tools, or use them in the same way. Every community passes on its own customs from generation to generation. This shows that chimps have unique cultures, just like people do.
    chimp.jpg
  • Soft Cobalt, Baby Blue Flower Petals In A Square Format. This Blue Spraid Gerber Daisy Adds A Baby Blue Soft Focus For Your Walls. Add some fresh seasonal color to floral arrangements and decor with this Wild Gerbera. With a just picked look that will never fade, it's even better than the real thing. This stem contains one bloom and no leaves.
    Cobalt Petals.jpg
  • The Douglas Aster is an Rhizomatous perennial wildflower with much-branched stems and light purple aster-like flower heads. It has Ray flowers are blue to purple and disk flowers are yellow. The flowers are 1-2 cm long. A distinguishing characterisitic of Douglas aster is its thick overlapping bracts beneath each flower head. Also, outer margins of thegracts have a thin, transparent (waxy/papery) look.<br />
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The Painted lady butterfly, red admiral, spring azure, orange sulphur, and woodland skipper butterflies are attracted to the flowers.<br />
<br />
The Douglas Aster (Subspicatum) is generally described as a perennial forb/herb. This is native to the U.S. (United States) has its most active growth period in the spring and summer . The Douglas Aster (Subspicatum) has green foliage and inconspicuous purple flowers, with an abuncance of conspicuous brown fruits or seeds. The greatest bloom is usually observed in the late summer, with fruit and seed production starting in the summer and continuing until fall. Leaves are not retained year to year. The Douglas Aster (Subspicatum) has a short life span relative to most other plant species and a rapid growth rate.
    Douglas Aster on Amber.jpg
  • This Chimp tries to blend it with the trees at the Saint Louis Zoo.<br />
<br />
More than any other ape, chimpanzees use tools. They use sticks to fish for insects, poking the twigs into the holes of ant or termite mounds and pulling them out, covered with wiggling food. Chimps use stones to crack open hard-shelled nuts or fruits. They also use leaves as sponges, either to soak up drinking water or to clean the body. And they use leafy twigs to keep away flies.<br />
<br />
What's one of the first things you notice about chimpanzees? Probably their arms. These apes have very long, powerful arms and long-fingered hands - perfect for hanging around in trees. Chimps spend a lot of time in trees, where they do most of their feeding and nesting.
    Chimpanzee Camouflage.jpg
  • Common chicory is a somewhat woody, perennial herbaceous plant of the dandelion family Asteraceae, usually with bright blue flowers, rarely white or pink. Many varieties are cultivated for salad leaves, chicons, or roots, which are baked, ground, and used as a coffee substitute and food additive.
    Blue Wildflower On Walk Bokeh.jpg
  • This beautiful black bodied swallowtail is black with shiny blue or green wings. It has blue between two rows of orange spots on the underside of the hind wings and the colors on the upper side of the hind wings have one row of white spots. The caterpillars look like small snakes, having large eyespots; they hide in folded leaves during the day and come out to feed in the evenings. The chrysalis is either brown or green resembling the stem in which it is attached. These butterflies are a pleasure to watch and a welcome visitor to any garden.
    Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly.jpg
  • This golden tones goose gives a gander from a bed of leaves
    Golden Goose.jpg
  • Both black and white rhinoceroses are actually gray. They are different not in color but in lip shape. The black rhino has a pointed upper lip, while its white relative has a squared lip. The difference in lip shape is related to the animals' diets. Black rhinos are browsers that get most of their sustenance from eating trees and bushes. They use their lips to pluck leaves and fruit from the branches. White rhinos graze on grasses, walking with their enormous heads and squared lips lowered to the ground.<br />
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The black rhinoceros or hook-lipped rhinoceros is a species of rhinoceros, native to eastern and central Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Angola. <br />
Black rhinos boast two horns, the foremost more prominent than the other. Rhino horns grow as much as three inches (eight centimeters) a year, and have been known to grow up to five feet (one and a half meters) long. Females use their horns to protect their young, while males use them to battle attackers.
    Lurching Rhino.jpg
  • A pretty pink Zinnia flower contrasted against a metallic backdrop. <br />
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Zinnia is a genus of 20 species of annual and perennial plants of the family Asteraceae. They are native to scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from the Southwestern United States to South America, with a centre of diversity in Mexico<br />
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Zinnia leaves are opposite and usually stalkless (sessile), with a shape ranging from linear to ovate, and pale to middle green in color. The flowers have a range of appearances, from a single row of petals, to a dome shape, with the colors white, chartreuse, yellow, orange, red, purple, and lilac.<br />
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Zinnias are popular garden flowers, usually grown from seed, and preferably in fertile, humus-rich, and well-drained soil, in an area with full sun. They will reseed themselves each year. Over 100 cultivars have been produced since selective breeding started in the 19th century.
    Zinnia Urban Contrast.jpg
  • The familiar woody cone is the female cone, which produces seeds. The male cones, which produce pollen, are usually herbaceous and much less conspicuous even at full maturity. The name 'cone' derives from the fact that the shape in some species resembles a geometric cone. The individual plates of a cone are known as scales.<br />
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The male cone (microstrobilus or pollen cone) is structurally similar across all conifers, differing only in small ways (mostly in scale arrangement) from species to species. Extending out from a central axis are microsporophylls (modified leaves). Under each microsporophyll is one or several microsporangia (pollen sacs).<br />
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The female cone (megastrobilus, seed cone, or ovulate cone) contains ovules which, when fertilized by pollen, become seeds. The female cone structure varies more markedly between the different conifer families, and is often crucial for the identification of many species of conifers.
    March Snow Cones.jpg
  • A Female House Sparrow hidden through the vibrant green leaves in a tree.
    Female Perched on Branch.jpg
  • klondike park,reflection,lake,missouri,saint charles,trees,fall,autumn,leaves,sand,landscape,blue sky,clouds,mirror image,vibrant,scenic,park,wentzville
    Green Trees - Purple Skies.jpg
  • Black-eyed Susans are flowering plants that grow over three feet tall. They have green leaves up to six inches long.
    Susans Swirly Eyes.jpg
  • A pink and cream tulip on a textured yellow and floral backdrop with a fine art feel.<br />
<br />
Despite the fact that these flowers can grow in various climates, the tulip unfortunately lives a very short life. They die within three to seven days. However, while they are living, they grow rapidly, even after they have been cut.  It's not uncommon for cut tulip to grown an inch in a vase. In addition to growing after being cut, tulips are also known for moving around vases. This is because tulips will bend and "droop" in the direction of light.<br />
<br />
Tulips are thirsty flowers and will drink a lot of water, so you will want to make sure to add new fresh water to the vase often. You can trim their stems with a knife to help them drink easier. There's no need to put any sort of flower food in the water. Tulips will be fine with plain water. Their stems can have up to a dozen leaves, but most have closer to six.<br />
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Tulips grow in a vast array of vibrant colors including yellow, red, pink, purple, orange and more.
    Tawny Cream Tulip.jpg
  • A bold and vibrant macro closeup of a pink and purple Marguerite Daisy against a textured rainbow colored backdrop. A bit of a hippy vibe that screamed a bit of flower power for me.<br />
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This spray flower has a classic bloom with many ray petals radiating out from a disk-shaped center. This colorful package of popping purple tinted daisies would add an alluring appeal to any wedding bouquet, table centerpiece or flower arrangement! <br />
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The Marguerite daisy or also know as the Argyranthemum frutescens, is a lovely daisy featuring a large middle of the flower generally yellow but depending on the variety they can also be pinkish in color.<br />
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The petals of the Marguerite are generally white, pink, or yellow. They can have single or double blooms and they are usually 1-2 inches in size. The leaves and such of Marguerite daisies are a blue-green color, thin and almost fern like.<br />
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The Marguerite daisy does best in richly fertilized, well drained soil. They also like to be planted in fully sunny areas. They work really well as a boarder or on the outside edge of your year or garden adding the perfect splash of color to the area.<br />
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This type of daisy is a pretty hardy plant, if you have them planted outside make sure to water them about twice a week. If the plant starts to wilt it is a sign that they need a bit more water. Keep the soil moist pretty often, but never all the time because like with most plants, their root will rot if left in constant water.
    Flower Empowered.jpg
  • A Green Ladybug (Spotted Cucumber Beetle) Macro Shot. These beetles usually are found on the leaves and flowers of plant species such as melon, cucumber and squash varieties.
    Green Lady.jpg
  • The common yellow dandelion flower head can change into the familiar, white, globular seed head overnight. Each seed has a tiny parachute, to spread far and wide in the wind. <br />
The thick, brittle, beige, branching taproot grows up to 10" long. All parts of this plant exude a white milky sap when broken.<br />
<br />
Dandelions are generally easily recognizable in all seasons.  The growth of leaves from the basal rosette, the leaf shape with its characteristic multi-toothed edges (although some dandelions exhibit less toothiness and a smoother, broader leaf - these are generally found in shady areas) is easy to spot even in winter.  If unsure, break a stem or leaf and the characteristic milky sap will emerge. When in bloom, dandelions are bright yellow and hard to miss. <br />
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The genus name of the dandelion comes from the Greek word taraxos, which means disorder, and akos, which means remedy. The species name, officinale, means that it is used medicinally.  The common name may come from the Greek word leontodon, which means lion's tooth. Other sources claim the word dandelion comes from the old French word Dent-de-lion or from the Latin dens leonis, both also meaning lion's tooth or teeth.
    Irish Dandelion.jpg
  • These geese come over and start attacking the carp to make them back off and leave the baby gosling’s alone. Someone’s about to have sushi for lunch.
    back_off.jpg
  • The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger.<br />
<br />
Lions are the only cats that live in groups, which are called prides. Prides are family units that may include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their young. All of a pride's lionesses are related, and female cubs typically stay with the group as they age. Young males eventually leave and establish their own prides by taking over a group headed by another male.<br />
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This shot was taken at the Saint Louis Zoo in Big Cat Country. Sinewy muscles, beautiful fur, shearing teeth, padded toes, supple body, all describe the inhabitants of Big Cat Country. This spectacular natural outdoor setting for tigers, leopards and other big cats was constructed in 1975. Dramatic, simulated rock formations provide realistic backdrops for the handsome felines. Big Cat Country takes the form of a large wheel. Three large open yards, almost one-third of an acre each, have trees and shrubs, boulders and a pool. The center yard has a 27-foot-high waterfall. There are four smaller yards that provide excellent viewing or photographing of the climbing cats. From a safe distance, of course!
    Growling Wood Grain.jpg