Late summer. When things begin winding down for the season and autumn is just around the corner. Summer vacations at a end and the little ones have returned to school.
Many of the birds that spend the season in the area have begun their travels southward to warmer climates, while there are those that are yet to arrive from Canada and other parts northern on their migration route.
The Goldfinches are busy enjoying the seeds of sunflowers, zinnias and yes, even of Swiss Chard.
It seems as if things have stalled for a while, but instead the butterflies have come out in force. They are a bit shy, and it is tempting to use a macro lens for photographing them, but when approaching them the butterflies take off. Instead I used my big 500mm lens with 1.4x extender and captured some beautiful images without disturbing them.
There were a few other beauties in the vegetable garden that I visited on this outing at Howard County Conservancy including a charming female Orchard Oriole and a sweet Eastern Phoebe.
It was a beautiful morning in the garden in the late summer. Life continues to ebb and flow through the seasons.
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
Nice pics!
Thank you so much Jeb.
Nature is so beautiful and your captures are amazing always 🙂 those colors especially wow!
You are too sweet Andy – these butterflies have been incredible.
LOVE the sunflowers shot on the white background – absolutely STUNNING!!!
LOL ! And that was a total mistake Joanne. I just couldn’t get my settings right. I removed the blue from the background in lightroom as it was already mostly washed out.
Don’t you just LOVE those mistakes, lol!
Yes I do Joanne ! Had a few more today too. 🙂
Oooh, I love you ability to capture birds and butterflies, especially that second butterfly! I don’t have the patience (or the equipment!) to ever get any good shots. They always take off the second I’m about to snap the shot! Wonderful work here, as always!
You are so darling L.S. Indeed it does take a lot of patience and running around the flowers. You would think I was a crazy lady or something. Thank you so much for your wonderful comment.
Wow, stunning shots!!!
Thank you so much Rexlin!
Beautiful series!
Thank you Belinda, and welcome!
Beautiful.
Thank you my dear friend.
Lovely photo!
Thank you !!
Such gorgeous images, Emily. Goldfinches and butterflies; what more could one ask for?
I’m with you Sylvia. I’ll be back Saturday, so who knows what I’ll come up with. 🙂
Late summer musings well done.
Appreciate your compliment Brigham Stephen (Is it Stephen or Brigham? )
Little wonders of nature. Summer will never really be over for you with these lovely captures. xo
Such a wonderful thing to say, and true, I will always remember these moments. No two are the same. 🙂
No they’re not are they? We’ve just started Spring here and I’m so looking forward to it. Such a beautiful time of year. 🙂
How exciting ! Can’t wait to enjoy spring when I’m snowed in here in Maryland. 🙂
SO BEAUTIFUL 🙂