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Amazing Nature - what has wowed you lately?

Zoran Jovanovic

Posts: 52

Location: Belgrade, Serbia

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posted 1 year ago

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"Nature always offers something"

Equisetum

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Theorie mit Praxis verbunden das ist mindestens 50:50 sein, am Praxis- Sepp Holzer

Zoran Jovanovic

Posts: 52

Location: Belgrade, Serbia

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Matthew Aspinwall wrote: It has no chlorophyll

That is what I thought.when I found in a forest (on a northern slope, close to very shallow black of organic material 5x2 m pond, on very wet clay soil).

Are these plants similar or it is my imagination?
My photo is not so good...

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Theorie mit Praxis verbunden das ist mindestens 50:50 sein, am Praxis- Sepp Holzer

Laura Emil

Posts: 97

Location: northeastern USA

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posted 1 year ago

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a mostly WHITE skunk - ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, but WHAT am I supposed to do about it? LOL!!! I think it's living under part of my house! I know it has a place in the balance of things here, but am worried about it being right under the house. Any suggestions? (see video at http://bit.ly/whiteSkunk, taken from my living room window.)

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~ laura . . . . . (with land to share in northeastern PA . . . visitors welcome . . . http://bit.ly/land2sharePICS)

Greg Martin

gardener

Posts: 2425

Location: Maine, zone 5

1106

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posted 1 year ago

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This picture reminded me that as the cooler mornings arrive I need to remember to try and do this (I managed it in a dream last night!).

Not my picture....this is the winner of the 2019 Audubon Photography Awards. Nice work Kathrin Swoboda!!!

Permaculture...picking the lock back to Eden since 1978.
Pics of my Forest Garden

Jocelyn Campbell

steward

Posts: 6413

Location: Carnation, WA (Western Washington State / Cascadia / Pacific NW)

1799

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posted 1 year ago

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Laura, that white skunk is magnificent! Is it still around or under your house? A better place to ask what to do would probably be the nibblers forum.

Greg, I'm not sure what you mean you want to do. Make shapes with warm air in the cold outdoors? Or sing like a blackbird? ;-)

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Laura Emil

Posts: 97

Location: northeastern USA

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posted 1 year ago

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Hi Jocelyn!
Perhaps my two cats had a polite conversation with the critter and it decided under my house was not the optimum location. I've not seen it again, but on occasion I catch a whiff of skunk musk in the barn. Nothing too strong, though, nor lingering. So the skunk has either found a way to co-exist, or has moved on. I felt so lucky to see it that day, and equally lucky that it did NOT take up permanent residence! Things like this just make life WONDERful!

~ laura . . . . . (with land to share in northeastern PA . . . visitors welcome . . . http://bit.ly/land2sharePICS)

Rene Nijstad

pollinator

Posts: 302

Location: La Mesa, Cundinamarca, Colombia

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posted 1 year ago

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We had a real wow not too long ago. Close to bizarre actually... Some type of spider, way over half a meter in size if you would stretch it out. Of course we went on an internet search to find out what it was... A whip spider it turned out. It actually walks on 6 legs, because the front two developed into sensory organs. It's not poisonous, but the thorns on it's huge arm like claws can grab and injure your fingers if you would try to touch it. One of the most strange creatures I ever saw showing up right next to our house!

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https://www.wetdrytropics.org

Chris Sturgeon

pollinator

Posts: 314

Location: Yukon Territory, Canada. Zone 1a

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Pictures like the one above make me sooooo glad to live in the Yukon! Thanks for sharing, Rene!

I went out earlier to check on my stuck IMO and ended up watching a pair of beavers work in the creek for about an hour.

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Building soil in the Yukon.

Rene Nijstad

pollinator

Posts: 302

Location: La Mesa, Cundinamarca, Colombia

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Hahaha Chris, it's not as bad as it looks sometimes. I would love beavers here! But not enough water.... Great picture!!!

https://www.wetdrytropics.org

Dana Natrarium

Posts: 1

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This plant growing across the street from me recently exploded with balloons! Unbelievable that a plant can create a pressure-filled chamber. May have to sneak back over there and pop one to see what’s inside.

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Joseph hackett

pioneer

Posts: 82

Location: Sydney, Australia. Subtropics

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A few years ago I was doing some nature photography in an urban park, and came across an Australian spider wasp (Cryptocheilus bicolor). The wasp had paralysed an enormous huntsman spider and I took photos as it dragged the spider 30m before I lost it. The wasp was on its way to a burrow where it would place the spider inside and lay its eggs on top. Lucky I had a long lens, because they are known to inflict enormous pain if they sting you!!

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Dave Anderson

Posts: 3

Location: Eagle Mountain, United States

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This isn't lately but as a teenager, I used to enjoy running trails near my parents house. I like to hike too but jogging the trails allowed me to see things in a different way. It's something that people who don't jog will ever see or understand. And it's incredible.

Jenn Bertrand

Posts: 44

posted 1 year ago

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Wild carrot perfectly entwined with a garden carrot, yin yang tomato and a heart shaped potato... Maybe my garden is in balance and full of love ?

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Cory Ray

Posts: 4

Location: San Antonio, TX

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posted 1 year ago

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Here's a couple lizard wows - An Anole with a split tail and a prairie lizard. Natural blues are always amazing.
And a bonus spider-wow, check what's in their mouth!

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Steve Thorn

gardener

Posts: 2425

Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US

874

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It's amazing to me how nature, if left to itself or even helped along by permaculture practices, usually finds a balance.

This plant had aphids on it, and you can also see an ant corralling the aphids. A ladybug larva also found the aphids and was vigorously devouring them.

I couldn't get a great photo, but this shows the ladybug larva walking away after picking up an aphid snack to go!

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Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
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Tyler Ludens

pollinator

Posts: 11804

Location: Central Texas USA Latitude 30 Zone 8

1085

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Parthenice Tiger Moth in our woods

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Idle dreamer

Daron Williams

gardener

Posts: 2167

Location: Olympia, WA - Zone 8a/b

976

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posted 1 year ago

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I don't have a picture of them but I was excited last night to discover that my "beaver pond" (I built it) already has water boatman beetles swimming around in it! The pond was dry over the entire summer and only filled up in the last week or so and already life is back in it. Just exciting to see!

Cultivate abundance for people, plants and wildlife - Growing with Nature

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Judith Browning

Posts: 7936

Location: Ozarks zone 7 alluvial,black,deep clay/loam with few rocks, wonderful creek bottom!

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We finally got out on one of our favorite hiking trails yesterday and because we have had so much rain and the day was overcast all of the colors and textures were more intense than usual.

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"We're all just walking each other home." -Ram Dass
"Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder."-Rumi

Tyler Ludens

pollinator

Posts: 11804

Location: Central Texas USA Latitude 30 Zone 8

1085

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This cute Ringtail caught on the gamecam

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Idle dreamer

thomas rubino

Rocket Scientist

Posts: 4299

Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A

1419

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Sadly we didn't get a picture.
The wife and I were headed up a forest service road, when something large flashed by the passenger window.
It quickly crossed in front of the windshield and landed in a tree 50' off the road.

A HUGE, great horned owl, had caught a columbian ground squirrel ! Right next to the car! While we were driving! She landed on the branch and glared at us! With the large squirrel hanging limp from her mouth! By the time we got over our awe at this site, she flew off deeper into the trees! Then we realized we should have tried for a photo! I think the saying goes "shoulda, woulda , coulda"

Even without a photo we will remember that event forever !

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Justin Gerardot

pioneer

Posts: 108

Location: north west Michigan

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posted 1 year ago

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Had our first significant snow a couple weeks ago, so I went hiking

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"We will never be truly healthy, satisfied, or fulfilled if we live apart and alienated from the environment from which we evolved." -Stephen Kellert

Lana Weldon

Posts: 165

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All the different geckos with their amazing patterns, spots and colours, I saw i S E Asia, and then in Germany, the fire salamanders, black and bright yellow, coming out during rainy nights in the forest.

Jocelyn Campbell

steward

Posts: 6413

Location: Carnation, WA (Western Washington State / Cascadia / Pacific NW)

1799

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posted 1 year ago

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Okay, I am in love with this beautiful composition. Wow.

Entire Alphabet Found on the Wing Patterns of Butterflies

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Greg Martin

gardener

Posts: 2425

Location: Maine, zone 5

1106

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Jocelyn, you have just given us the basis for butterfly wing font!

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Permaculture...picking the lock back to Eden since 1978.
Pics of my Forest Garden

Greg Martin

gardener

Posts: 2425

Location: Maine, zone 5

1106

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Or is it better using the dot from the "I"?

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Permaculture...picking the lock back to Eden since 1978.
Pics of my Forest Garden

Jocelyn Campbell

steward

Posts: 6413

Location: Carnation, WA (Western Washington State / Cascadia / Pacific NW)

1799

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I think the dot shows up better in your first version though just a little. Both are awesome!

Should have mentioned in my post though that some are moth wings - the article title neglected to credit the humble moth!

The artist is selling high quality prints of whatever folks want to spell out. As what you did, Greg!

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Robert Ray

gardener

Posts: 1867

Location: Cascades of Oregon

185

posted 1 year ago

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Southern Oregon

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Our inability to change everything should not stop us from changing what we can.

Amy Francis

Posts: 350

Location: London, UK

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I get a thrill whenever I see a plant (especially if it's young/tender) break through concrete! I guess it might be mostly city folk who curse this though, i.e. spoiling their patio and seeing it as an enemy/weed (just a plant in the wrong place!) to be destroyed!!

When I moved to this flat of mine, it had a front area that was just concrete (save for marked areas for rose bushes). I loved that red valerian (a garden escape) broke up this boring, grey man made stuff.....

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It is necessary, therefore it is possible.
(Borghese)

Trace Oswald

pollinator

Posts: 2371

Location: 4b

607

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Birch trees and grape vines intertwined.

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A build too cool to miss:Mike's GreenhouseA great example:Joseph's Garden
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Mk Neal

pollinator

Posts: 498

Location: Chicago

145

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I have been amazed by the adaptability of wildlife to the urban environment.

A pair of peregrines has been frequenting the area near my office, hunting pigeons off the tops of the taller buildings.

Today on the elevated platform, I saw fluffy pigeon feathers floating through the air overhead. I thought the peregrines must be hunting. Sure enough, there on my building I saw them on each side of the fire escape. It is not a great picture. But there on the left is a falcon eating a pigeon, and on the right side its mate standing guard or waiting its turn.

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Weeds are just plants with enough surplus will to live to withstand normal levels of gardening!--Alexandra Petri

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Steve Thorn

gardener

Posts: 2425

Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US

874

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A moonlit cloudy night

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Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

Jocelyn Campbell

steward

Posts: 6413

Location: Carnation, WA (Western Washington State / Cascadia / Pacific NW)

1799

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posted 10 months ago

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I ran across an old photo. My kids are adulting now. But this picture still wows me in a special way, and this thread seemed as good as any to post it in.

I can't recall if I captioned this photo, or my daughter did as:

**Big things in life.**

When your son has recently turned 9 years old, and is the size of most 12 or 13 year olds, and your 16-year-old daughter takes this picture to celebrate the joy and awe of visiting great trees together as a family--how many big things in life is that?

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Tereza Okava

gardener

Posts: 2036

Location: South of Capricorn

819

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posted 7 months ago

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I have no picture but instead a SOUND. I was planting out starts in the garden today and heard a strange and really loud gnawing sound, as if my dog were gnawing on a bone. It didn`t change as I got closer to it, which was odd. I saw some sawdust on the ground and found a carpenter bee making a hole in an old stake from last year! This insect was making a much better hole than I could drill with my hand for sure. I'm hoping it was the same male golden carpenter bee I saw earlier this week. They are great pollinators when my passionfruit are in season.

Rene Nijstad

pollinator

Posts: 302

Location: La Mesa, Cundinamarca, Colombia

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I saw 2 pumas crossing the road right in front of me when driving home. It was about 500 meters before reaching our land. They ran and jumped and I realized they were pumas because they looked exactly like the logo of the puma shoes when they jumped over the road. I would say about 2.5 or 3 times the size of a cat. I was amazed... I never knew they lived around here.

https://www.wetdrytropics.org

Judith Browning

Posts: 7936

Location: Ozarks zone 7 alluvial,black,deep clay/loam with few rocks, wonderful creek bottom!

1692

posted 5 months ago

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Most recently on our hike yesterday with our son and family at Mt Nebo (11,929')
The photos are from what is called the Bench Trail that circles the mountain near the top...there is a rougher trail even closer to the top but this one was perfect for us for a day hike with a picnic. There are trails for bikes and more serious hikers and climbers.

I've never seen the fog so thick and textured...maybe technically a cloud at that height?

so, a day with fog, lovely fall leaves, a beautiful trail and picnic with the grandkids, nature at it's best

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"We're all just walking each other home." -Ram Dass
"Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder."-Rumi

Megan Palmer

pollinator

Posts: 202

Location: Zone 9A, 45S 168E, 329m Queenstown, NZ

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The dedication of this wee bumble bee as it carefully prised apart each saffron flower petal is truely impressive

Pete Podurgiel

Posts: 83

Location: S. New England

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posted 4 months ago

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Found these twins in the middle of my lawn last August, guessing well over 100° in the blazing sun.

First thought it was a clump of grass from my mower ...but I hadn't mowed that area in a looong time due to the drought.
Then noticed that this clump of grass had eyes ..."well, that's weird", I thought. I was amazed to find a pair of bunnies hidden in plain
sight. Apparently, rabbits like to use the front lawn as a nursery ...probably keeps them warm, it was like being in an oven that day.

Car keys added for scale, they didn't even flinch.

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"He that plants trees loves others beside himself" -Thomas Fuller

Zoran Jovanovic

Posts: 52

Location: Belgrade, Serbia

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posted 4 months ago

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some mushrooms
Raishi covered with broun spores. Unexpected image.
Turkey Tail, dangerous looking one, Devil Fingers,
That old Oak! How old could that be?

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