Future Butterfly

Our spicebush has to be the most watched shrub in the neighborhood. Folded over leaves - especially the ones that are very thick - and bite marks on other leaves can only mean one thing: we're expecting! Last week, I noticed something that looked like a bird dropping. It turned out to be a tiny larvae. And I've been keeping close watch on a big leaf that seems to be thick as a sausage. I can't be outside all the time, of course, so preparation is crucial. I kept a macro lens on the camera and had the tripod prepared at the right height. Yesterday, I finally spotted and photographed this gorgeous caterpillar:

Caterpillars are never in the open very long. They eat and then retreat under their leaf to avoid predators. Being prepared certainly helped me capture the moment.

Water Lily

Yesterday, I photographed a local garden for an assignment. I was particularly attracted to the pond with its big pink lilies. While we have recently installed a pond in our yard and have put in two lily pots, they are nowhere near as big as these beauties were. Needless to say, I took almost more photos of the lilies than I took for the assignment.