All posts by Mel

Gorgeous Skies On Coast Guard Beach On Cape Cod!

Sometimes the early morning skies on Coast Guard Beach, part of the National Seashore,  are just breathtaking. This one was exceptional! Look at those clouds!

We were walking down to Nauset Spit and saw that this huge log that had washed ashore. I thought… what a gorgeous photograph!

It doesn’t get much prettier! What do you think?

 

Scarlet Pimpernel Wildflower At Fort Hill On Cape Cod!

Fort Hill is always one of my favorite places to take a hike… it is ever changing daily. You never know what you are going to see. (Click on blog link to see other photos.)

Phil and I were just finishing a hike when I saw this tiny red-orange flower on the side of the road. It was a really tiny flower, only 1/4,” with 5 petals and a central purple circle. The plant only grows 2-6 tall inches so it is difficult to see in the grass.  I took a few photographs and went home to do some research. It is a Scarlet Pimpernel.

I wasn’t happy with my photographs as they were a bit blurry so I debated whether to go back and try again or wait until the next time I was there. Good thing I decided to go back that same afternoon as the next morning they had all been mowed down.

So pretty, don’t you think? They bloom from June to September so, if they grow back again,  you will have plenty of time to see it.

 

 

Guess Who Was In Our Bird Bath On Cape Cod?

There is never a dull moment in our yard on Cape Cod! We awoke early the other morning and saw a little commotion out by our bird bath. Quietly we looked out the window and there were 3 baby raccoons in the bird bath with mom and dad standing nearby.  (Click on blog link to see other photo.)

It really was adorable! What do you think?

Exquisite Buckeye Butterfly At Fort Hill On Cape Cod… A First For Me!

I had never seen a Buckeye butterfly before, so it came as quite a surprise to see one on the trail at Fort Hill yesterday. I had no idea what it was… only that it was just beautiful! Those colors and those spots! What could it be? (Click on blog link to see other photos.)

I posted 3 different photographs: 1. The upper side of the Buckeye which is very colorful. 2. The wings are partially  closed. 3. The wings are mostly closed. How different it looks when its wings are closed. It just blends in. It seemed to like being right on the gravel trail.

The Buckeye lives year-round in the southern United States but ventures up to New England for the summer. It has a wing span of 2- 2.5″. It is brown with 2 orange bars on its forewings and 2 different sized eyespots on each wing. It lives in open fields and meadows.

Have you ever seen a Buckeye butterfly? Those colors and patterns are gorgeous!