Photo-a-Day Challenge

Rain Welcomes Fall

Seasons change and so do we

Two inches of rain Sunday afternoon. After daily rains the previous week. And, almost daily rains all summer. We are wet, dripping, soaked, soggy, saturated, and I don’t mind. Much better than dry and in flames (sorry, California).

I was wrong about the ducklings. Even after Lydia’s bullying, they returned Monday morning — all twelve. The little ones ate quickly and left quickly. Lydia appeared later with Langston and Pozo.

Tuesday evening, Lydia, Langston, and Pozo were eating near our patio when the ducklings came ashore looking for food. Immediately, Lydia dashed down the path. Langston and Pozo followed her. She chased the ducklings into the water, swimming aggressively behind them. A few ducklings managed to get back on the shore and came to the patio to eat. Pozo and Langston were with them. No fights, no problems. Then, Lydia appeared again and chased the ducklings to the water.

The only aggressive behavior I’ve seen in Muscovies before was between two males or a male and a female (sexual, of course). This outrageous behavior of a female duck toward ducklings is new to me. And, very disturbing. Yet, maybe this is how ducklings get pushed into adulthood. The way of nature.

I often see sandhill cranes in a client’s neighborhood. But, today was the first time I saw a courtship dance! After this sexy display, the two lovers casually walked across the street in front of my car.

On our noon walk, Syau and I came across this butterfly that patiently waited for me to take a photo before flying away. I Googled it and found that this butterfly is a Zebra Longwing and the State Butterfly of Florida. I didn’t even know we had a state butterfly!

A cold front arrived today — our first of the fall season. For you Yankees, it would be a cool front. 66F this morning. Chilly for this Floridian. Where are my sweaters??

I recently wrote a response to a prompt to name the seasons. I named winter Camellia. Today, I noticed these camellia buds. Autumn just arrived and this bush is already preparing for winter. Truth is, this bud will bloom long before winter arrives, as will many others. But, to me, winter is the crimson camellias I’ll see brightening our least colorful season. This bush is at the edge of a forest in the bank of a client’s office.

There are many more of these bushes deeper in the woods. In a few months, I’ll see lots of red dotting the brown and green, and it will be the Camellia Season.

© Dennett 2021

A little more than a year ago, I started the Photo-a-Day Challenge to help combat the virus blues. I take photos every day and choose one (maybe, two) to represent the day. Then, add a one-or-two-word descriptor and maybe, some narrative. A simple way to observe and preserve.

Want to join the fun? It’s all about noticing and appreciating your environment and sharing it with us, as these photographers and story-tellers have:

Erika Burkhalter / Eileen Vorbach Collins / Anne Bonfert / Sasha Meyer / Tracy Aston/ Lisa Bolin / Juan O. Aguilera / David Wade Chambers / June Nguyen / Mia Verita / Susan Alison / LensAfield / Barbara Radisavljevic / Diana Lotti / Barbara Dalton / Kim Zuch / K. Barrett / Sandra Barrett / Shruthi Sundaram / Gustavo Mendez

(If you participated in the Photo-A-Day Challenge and your name isn’t listed above, please let me know.)

Please follow the Snapshot rules:

Lead with a photo/title and subtitle follow No more than 10 photos per post No more than 750 words per post Yes, we know that the photos are yours but you still have to state that they’re your work

And, have fun!