Zebra Longwing Butterflies are very fast flyers. I missed several before this one paused on a lantana blossom.
These bold yellow flowers always catch my eye. I sometimes call them daisies, sometimes sunflowers, and I suspect there are multiple wild and garden varieties.
These pink tinged beauties were in a more formal planted area near the check-in area at Magnolia, seen with Coleus in the background.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
October 8, 2025
I’ve photographed this gate, part of a small family cemetery plot at Donnelley WMA, many times. Rarely do the results amount to much but I liked this one with the sun shining on the pond at the far end of the lodge lawn.
Billy Fields Family Cemetery Plot
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
September 5, 2025
It was something of a challenge to get a nice composition of this dragonfly while keeping my feet out of the garden bed.
Somewhat oddly, he never took flight while I was watching.
And he was the only one I saw in this 100 foot (30 meter) long garden.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 11, 2025
An island, or maybe just a tree line, where most of the palm trees are dead or dying. The morning we were there started out foggy and the Black Vultures were slow to get into the air. A few started flapping their wings, perhaps to warm up. At least one Roseate Spoonbill silhouette was visible and a Wood Stork flew by. It was quite spectacular.
Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
February 11, 2025
A spot of color from last week, before the ice, snow and cold descended on the lowcountry of South Carolina.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 19, 2025
A small cemetery plot sits on the grounds of the Department of Natural Resources lodge at Donnelley WMA. I’ve passed it hundreds of times, walked around it dozens of times. This time the fog called me to try to capture the essence.
Billy Fields Family Cemetery Plot
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
December 30, 2024
I heard them before I saw them… several Camellia bushes were abuzz with bees.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 20, 2024
These stems caught my eye, I was drawn to the cube shape of look of what appears to be the dried center of flower.
There was just enough breeze that I didn’t get super sharp shots.
I wish now that I had touched it to see if it contained seeds.
I passed this spot numerous times this summer and into the fall but have no recollection of what was blooming here, likely something I dismissed as a “weed.”
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
December 9, 2024
A few Tufted Titmice took the occasional pause while searching for bugs in the leaves of this tree. This branch of the tree appeared dead, and with no leaves gave me a couple of brief photo opportunities.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
August 18, 2024
This Black and Yellow Garden Spider anchored her web to a palm tree at the edge of the big pond at Magnolia Cemetery.
I walked right by it once, then a little breeze ruffled the whole web bringing it to my attention.
The spider was hanging out there on her zig-zag stabilimentum. The mosquitoes were plentiful and I was surprised there weren’t any visible in the web.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
August 18, 2024
