Day 250 > Toft Point

The rocky lake Michigan shore at Toft Point on Wisconsin's Door County Peninsula.

Day 249 > Door County Praying Mantis

I couldn't have know it when I rolled out of bed this morning but this day was to become one of those memorable ones that make the 365 day photo project all worthwhile!
I began my day with a 1 1/4 hour road trip up the Door County Peninsula with my destination being the Ridges Sanctuary in Bailey's Harbor on the shore of Lake Michigan.
My intended subject for the day was a certain wildflower I suspected I'd find growing near the beach.
I found it immediately upon arrival at the preserve and got down to business capturing the winning image.
After doing all I felt I could do with the flower and being quite satisfied with the results, I decided it was still early and being in this beautiful natural area, it would be a shame not to explore a bit more, considering I had not walked the trails there in six weeks or more.
I wanted to check out the water before headed inland to the forest so I followed a trail along the open grassy area I had been shooting in toward the nearby public beach.
I had not walked very far when a large insect took flight from a tall plant growing on the edge of the trail. I noticed immediately that it was different from anything I could recall seeing before. It had a wingspan the width a large dragonfly but milky colored wings. A grasshopper? A very large Katydid? My curiosity got the best of me and I followed the bug to the general area I had seen it fly toward and looked very closely through the vegetation but could see nothing.
Knowing it had to be near, I continued to look all around...until suddenly my eyes stopped on something I could scarcely believe...A Praying Mantis?!
I may have uttered some words I won't repeat here to express my surprise and excitement but then quickly went into photographer mode...I could not blow this chance for such a spectacular capture!! I'm happy to say I did not. :)
This is likely a rather uncommon if not rare find in the state of Wisconsin. Over the past decade I'd heard some talk of the Praying Mantis being sighting on rare occasion on the Peninsula and had considered how exciting it would be to actually see one for myself. But knowing how unlikely this would be I had never given it more than a passing thought beyond that.
So I guess it's safe to say that today was another of those very lucky days when Mother Nature decides to have mercy on me and presents me with a very unexpected and wonderful gift.
Thanks Ma!

Day 248 > Old Milwaukee

I took a walk around Milwaukee today...

Day 247 > Nice Legs!

Hideous, I know.

One of the goals of any photographer is to capture images that, in one way or another, garner a reaction from those who view them. I think I've accomplished my goal today. It was with no small amount of glee that I posted this photo in anticipation of the horrified reactions to come.

This was easily one of the largest spiders I have ever encountered in my area.
HUGE.

Day 246 > Nepenthes

A trap of the carnivorous plant Nepenthes Alata...

From Wikipedia:

The name Nepenthes was first published in 1737 in Carolus Linnaeus's Hortus Cliffortianus. It references a passage in Homer's Odyssey, in which the potion "Nepenthes pharmakon" is given to Helen by an Egyptian queen. "Nepenthe" literally means "without grief" (ne = not, penthos = grief) and, in Greek mythology, is a drug that quells all sorrows with forgetfulness. Linnaeus explained:

If this is not Helen's Nepenthes, it certainly will be for all botanists. What botanist would not be filled with admiration if, after a long journey, he should find this wonderful plant. In his astonishment past ills would be forgotten when beholding this admirable work of the Creator!

Day 245 > Threatened Species / Cream Gentian

During a recent plant inven tory of the Baird Creek Parkway a number of rather rare species were discovered, among them Creamed Gentian. The presence of this rare plant in the parkway is yet another indicator of just how precious a resource Baird Creek and other natural areas like it are to the preservation and protection of native plant species.
The flower is interesting because, unlike most other flowers it only opens slightly at the tip. As I shot this photo, bumblebees, undaunted by the closed petals, repeatedly forced their way into the blossoms.

Day 244 > Wild Grapes

Wild Grapes on an old fence in the Baird Creek Parkway.
I guess this photo is also the first appearance of what could be called "Fall Colors".
It's safe to say that things in the natural world are about to change dramatically in the next 60 days. Yikes.