Molting

Garden spiders go through several molts (shedding their exoskeleton) before they are fully grown.

Black and yellow garden spider and the shed exoskeleton.
With each molting their color becomes more pronounced.
See previous photo posted on June 24th.

Red Canna

Fun at the Playground

Jack and Annaka enjoy time at the playground.

Pink Crape

The pink crape myrtle is blooming, it must be July.
Native to Asia, the crape myrtle is very common in the southern US,
having been introduced over 150 years ago.

Colorful Caterpiller

Climbing up in the World

Color Accent

I was testing out an interesting feature on the camera that allows you to select one color and the rest of photo is black and white. I like the effect and need to experiment with it some more.

Ethan at the Beach

Children and Nature

Richard Louv in his book, Last Child in the Woods, brings together cutting-edge research showing that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development - physical, emotional and spiritual.

"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder ... he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in."

from Rachel Carson's The Sense of Wonder

As a grandfather I feel an obligation to encourage my four grandchildren to explore nature and to know God's creation.

Grandpa and William explore a spider web.

Fireworks in the Neighborhood