Last of November

It's the last week of November already! Click to enlarge.

In the blink of an eye, we went from this...

To this...

And now -- to that feeling of being watched. 

Getting Ready

 

Click to enlarge.

 

In the light of the big holiday that is coming up this week, I'd like to ask if everyone knows how Thanksgiving always ends.

        It ends with a "g" !

And have you heard this one? 

    Knock knock!

    Who's there?

    Norma Lee. 

    Norma Lee who?

    Norma Lee I don't overeat at dinner! 

 Anyway...

Knock knock!

Who's there?

Happy. 

Happy who?

Happy Thanksgiving!

After Halloween

 

Halloween is over for the humans, but the squirrels are still celebrating. Decorations are on the menu. Click to enlarge.

Mmm Indian corn. 

And.. the all-you-can eat pumpkin buffet is open for business.

Lots of leftovers for later. :-)

One Last Gentian

 

This could be the last pine barrens gentian flower of the year in our area. Click to enlarge.

Pine barrens gentians are rare. I have only ever found them in one location in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Because I was near there a few days ago and because they bloom from early September through early November, I hiked over to search in my secret spot. I found this one lone flower.

And a very pretty one it was. See you all again next September, gentians.

Happy Halloween

 

I was taking photos of my Halloween pumpkin face and... got photo bombed by a black cat. Upper right. Click to enlarge. That's a lucky omen, right?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!

Gulf Fritillary

 

I was in North Carolina recently and I saw a butterfly that I don't see up north -- this gulf fritillary. It was flitting along a sandy beach and would not stop to pose, so these few photos are all I saw of it. But I did get to say "flitting fritillary." :-)

I love how the sun shines through it like stained glass. Note the fancy black dots with white centers near the front edge of the wing. Click to enlarge.

And its long October shadow.

Buckeye Butterflies

 

A buckeye butterfly sitting on a puff of white asters. Click to enlarge.

The buckeye gets its common name from big spots on its upper wing surfaces. They are called eyespots, and are thought to scare away predators. The butterfly performs a famous "startle display" -- rapidly opening its wings to flash those big false eyes. Boo!

Also check out its pretty orange bars and bands. Buckeyes have a wingspan of about 2.5 inches and are found throughout North America.

They move south this time of year to avoid the cold weather.

I have seen a lot of buckeyes this week. Even this pair, mating in the middle on the path in the warm autumn sunshine. I wish them all a safe journey to warm places.