15 Nature Photo Album

This year, the Valley Watch garden was not a priority as I was overcome with pain anytime I stood for more than a couple of minutes due to a serious back problem. However, that problem was taken care of on July 22, when I had a “fusion” of my L5 and S1 vertebrae. The surgery was a success and I am starting to once again enjoy the critters and insects that reside in the natural garden at the Valley Watch office in Evansville.- John Blair, valleywatch.net editor

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Echinacea is always a welcome addition to summer. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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One sure sign of Spring are Hollyhocks and along with those come Hollyhock Weevils which can usually be found paired up with the male on top. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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An immature grasshopper finds an easy life on a small, yellow flower. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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Bumble Bees have been visible in the garden on a limited basis in 2015 but honey bees have been virtually non-existent this year even in the vacant clover field across the street. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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Hostas are a hardy plant and their flowers are delicate and beautiful when observed close up. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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I just love Mimosa trees and we planted one in the Valley Watch lawn to honor one of our foremer leaders, Louise Gerbing. The delicate blooms can bee seen on the tree from around the middle of June to the first frost. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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A cherry tree that only produces tiny, bitter and sour cherries “volunteered” a few years back. Sadly, it seems to lose its leaves in August and is a candidate for being taken down this fall and replaced with something longer pasting and prettier. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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Morning Glories have always been a staple of the Valley Watch lawn and garden. They produce new blooms daily through the summer and until the first frost. This is a bloom which shriveled into a circle of pink near the office door. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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Of course we understand that fruit flies seem more of a pest than something to admire, but these flies on an echinacea bloom are colorful and add to the richness of the garden. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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This is an early shoot of a Mexican Sunflower plant that blooms from early September through the frost. It usually attracts butterflies, especially Monarchs but this year, with Monarchs in crisis due to herbicide use those butterflies have been in short supply. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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Curt Finke informs me that this bug is called a “candy striped leaf hopper” It is sure pretty. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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If you have seen previous Nature Photo Albums on this site, you will know that we just love Moonflowers. We grow them by the entrance to our office and they have just begun to bloom. © 2015 BlairPhotEVV

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This is one of the few moths/butterflies we have seen this year. It stopped to pose for a picture before meandering off. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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A dead leaf from the Cherry tree fell upon an open Morning Glory bloom and presented a nice contrast of color. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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Roses are truly one of the great flowers to behold, This one was just rained upon and casts a beautiful red glow for all to see. ©2015 BlairPhotoEVV

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This Orb Weaver Garden Spider caught a bee that was gathering pollen from the beautiful and aromatic Clematis that is adorning much of the garden since June. © 2015 BlairPhotoEVV

Winter color web