6.01.2011

Monday's Paddle

We headed out onto the pond Monday morning to get a little paddling done before the heat of the day set in.  It was beautiful -- the swamp roses were blooming everywhere, lending a delicate fragrance to the breeze.  The trees provided ample shade from a blazing sun and there was life everywhere we looked.  What more do you need?
Under the trees the very air seemed green.

Many of the stumps hosted swamp rose in full bloom.
In turn, the rose bushes played host to an assortment of critters.
 Bumblebee

 Black Saddlebags dragonfly

Hmm...how'd that get in there? ;)
The requisite green treefrog.

There are some unusual looking trees out on the pond.  I have written before about the effects of the mistletoe on the growth of tree branches.  The mistletoe that grew on this tupelo gum gave it a decidedly unicorn-like appearance.
Okay, so what if it is a pencil-necked, mule-faced unicorn?

While paddling out on the pond you have to be prepared for youngsters trying to hitch a ride.
I have absolutely no idea which species of damselfly this is.  Identifying teneral (newly emerged) odonates is a bit beyond my abilities.


And there are plenty of teneral odonates out there.  Just about anywhere you look you can find a shed from a naiad.  Here we found the exuviae of a dragonfly naiad as well as that of a spider.  There's a lot of growing going on out there.
Speaking of spiders, this one found a spot of shade in the top of a mushroom growing on the side of a dead tree out on the pond.

We found a number of bird nests while we were out paddling.  I opted not to photograph them because I didn't want to stress out the parent birds.  Instead, I will offer up this iridescent feather.

When the temperature crept up into the 90s, we decided to call it a morning and head in.  We're not as into basking in the blazing sun as this yellowbelly slider.

10 comments:

R.Powers said...

I love the way sliders stick their feet out to get maximum sun exposure.

Jacqueline Donnelly said...

So many delights! Thanks for taking us along on your paddle.

swamp4me said...

FC,
It makes me think of ballet dancers at barre ;)

woodswalker,
You're welcome! And thanks to you for taking us along on your hikes and paddles.

S N B said...

Enjoyed your post!

swamp4me said...

S N B,
I'm glad you liked it :)

Kirk Mantay said...

Looks amazing! We spent the (very windy) day at the beach but I would have enjoyed your paddle just as much!

Sybil said...

90 degrees ! That's sweltering.

Love the images. Thanks for sharing your paddle.

Susan Rose said...

OMGosh! That is NOT a pencil-necked, mule-faced unicorn. That is PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON!!!

Rurality said...

LOL, love the unicorn. But, I didn't think anything was beyond your capabilities. :)

John said...

Nice post. Your pictures do a great job showcasing the beauty of the swamp.