Karl L. King Bandshell

Located at Oleson Park, this beautiful bandshell recently underwent

major renovations. It was originally built as a project of the Works Progress Administration, one of the New Deal agencies created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Ground was broken in 1936.

Vivid!

Peeking Bunny

This bunny has been visiting my yard all summer long

and gets bolder as the days pass, coming closer and closer to the house.

Dusk~Soft~Light

Storm Silhouette

Conefower Duet

Dewdrops on Hosta

Iowa's Loess Hills

Pronounced, 'luss', the beautiful, rolling Loess Hills

make up a large portion

of the western border of Iowa.

Bride Model

I made Maddi her very own bridal veil for her 'dress-up' chest.

She modeled it for me and with each click of the camera

she would change position and strike a new pose. :)

Hummingbird

This female Ruby-throated Hummingbird visits my delphiniums

almost daily, but she's a bit camera shy. :)

Taz/aka Grumpy

Taz doesn't like to be bothered...............especially for photos!

Hollyhocks

Childhood memories wouldn't be complete without remembering

the hollyhocks that grew beside almost every garage in the

neighborhood. Pink, red, white; their towering stalks were

abundant with beautiful flowers. If you were lucky enough to

have a push-on clothespin handy, you could make a doll, with the skirt

being made from the huge hollyhock flower.

Dreaming Chairs

Chairs atop a hill overlooking a beautiful valley, perfect for pondering and dreaming

Weathered

Old barn tucked into a hillside in the Loess Hills of Iowa

Pining

Chicken begs at the door to be let out, but as her name suggests,

quickly wants back indoors where she feels safe.

De'light'ful!

Where's the jelly?

Shadows

Sand Dollar

I love the delicate intricacy of sand dollars.

Hungry Robin

This hungry robin has dirt on his beak from digging in the dirt searching for worms.

Wood Duck

Spring has arrived and this Wood Duck and his mate have built a nest nearby.

Ballet of the Trees

Ballet of the Trees
Originally uploaded by kaleidoscope

Snow laden trees danced a ballet for passersby.

Posing

Posing
Originally uploaded by kaleidoscope

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
John Muir

Radiant!

Radiant!
Originally uploaded by kaleidoscope

Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter.
Ansel Adams

Love the Downy!

Love the Downy!
Originally uploaded by kaleidoscope

Spotted this little guy clinging to one of the giant sunflowers I grow for winter bird feeding. The plants get so top heavy I must tie them to shepherds hooks or 7 foot steel rods I embed into the ground.

Speed Racer

Speed Racer
Originally uploaded by Finiky

This outstanding work is from my friend Finiky from over at Flickr. Fabulous!!

Trumpeter Swan Rescue

Trumpeter Swan Rescue
Originally uploaded by kaleidoscope

Once nearly extinct, trumpeter swans were reintroduced to Iowa in 1995. Habitat loss and over-hunting led to the near-demise of the once common birds. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of Iowa's wetlands have been drained for the sake of the almighty dollar. Beemer Pond is located near Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa, and is referred to by DNR biologists as 'the trumpeter swan capital of Iowa.' There are approximately 80 swans at the pond, dozens of Canadian geese and countless ducks.

Click on the photograph to read about the rescue!

Envy

Envy
Originally uploaded by LeFion

This photograph is so beautiful it takes my breath away! A true master behind the lens, LeFion, is the wonderful photographer. Visit his Flickr pages, I promise you won't be disappointed!
http://flickr.com/photos/lefion/

Music in the Stillness

Music in the Stillness
Originally uploaded by kaleidoscope

I parked my car near a bridge and was watching a pair of deer downstream from here, hoping they would wander close enough for a few pictures, when something startled them. They may have spotted me, but I had my camera on the tripod and was trying not to move. :) After they fled, I stayed there just to listen. The gently flowing water seemed to be singing and soon birds joined in the chorus.

Fog Light

Fog Light
Originally uploaded by kaleidoscope

Early today the sun tried its best to break through the fog.