Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Dogbane Beetle 61621a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
The light of the summer sun cascades through the bushes that encase each side of the little creek. The backlit leaves catch the light for brief moment before falls onto a living gemstone. The tiny beetle glistens like metallic fire in the light of the sun. The scientific name Chrysochus Auratus roughly translates to “Made of Gold”. It may resemble the garden pest known as the Japanese Beetle but this little on is one hundred percent American made an feeds almost exclusively on Dogbane and Milkweed. It’s not likely to find your favorite flowers or vegetables. And because it feeds on these toxic plants it’s a very toxic little thing itself. Dogbane contains a glycoside that is toxic to the heart. The shiny Dogbane Beetle stores and concentrates the poison in special glands in its body. If a bird or other predator attempted to catch it then it does a thing called reflex bleeding. Little organs in its joints allow the blood to leak from the shell. The blood is so toxic that even this small amount can stop the heart of the predator. But enough with the dry science. Suffice it to say that this little Beetle that glistens like polished gold enjoys a life of peace and tranquility. It enjoys the place in the world which the Good Lord blessed it with. And that’s the goal of all life.
Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.
Announcement 2.0
For those who have been following me on Facebook and know of the struggle content providers have to get circulation from big tech I’ve been recommending for people to adopt MeWe as a social media platform. One of the problems I’ve run into on MeWe is that people don’t know how to navigate the platform. So to help with that I’ve created a permanent page on my website as a basic Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe I’ve tried to anticipate all basic questions there and You can bookmark the page to have as a reference and if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me. I do still have a day job and I help admin several pages on both platforms so replies might be a little slow but I will answer you.
We also have the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe that is set up as a fully functional community. There you’ll not only be able to see and connect with me but you can also make your own posts and interact with each other.
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.
If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.
I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplyuse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.
Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographerThank you again for your support of my page!♥️
Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Sunny Dispositions 61721” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
The Summer Sun glows warmly and dances along the abandoned rails that wind their way through the mountains. As golden glory sweeps the ground it raises wildflowers with an equally warm countenance. The yellow flowers in their own way emanate a joyful glow that cannot be resisted by both man and bee. The little bee works every floret with loving delight and nothing is missed. The first day of Summer brings a sunny disposition to us all.
Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.
Announcement 2.0
For those who have been following me on Facebook and know of the struggle content providers have to get circulation from big tech I’ve been recommending for people to adopt MeWe as a social media platform. One of the problems I’ve run into on MeWe is that people don’t know how to navigate the platform. So to help with that I’ve created a permanent page on my website as a basic Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe I’ve tried to anticipate all basic questions there and You can bookmark the page to have as a reference and if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me. I do still have a day job and I help admin several pages on both platforms so replies might be a little slow but I will answer you.
We also have the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe that is set up as a fully functional community. There you’ll not only be able to see and connect with me but you can also make your own posts and interact with each other.
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.
If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.
I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplyuse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.
Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographerThank you again for your support of my page!♥️
Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature was taken specifically for this Father’s Day Post. This particular Image isn’t for sale but 99.9% of the photos found on my website are. They can be purchased by clicking on the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
As soon as I open the door of the big blue truck the atmosphere around the lake is full of giggling and laughter. A few steps towards the shore reveals a young father and his sons enjoying the lake on a paddleboard. The scene takes me back a little over 40 years to specific vacation to Myrtle Beach and an inflatable raft on a windy day. The small raft was really only built for one person but my father and were determined to make it out past the breakers and tour the ocean parallel with the beach. I had total confidence in my dad’s ability to keep us safe as he is a former US Marine who’s job was a scout swimmer. Only a few years prior to my birth he was swimming miles from the ship to look for a safe place to land the rest of his unit. However, on this day the sea would reject our attempts at adventure. We’d make it out to about the same spot on every launch of our small vinyl craft powered by plastic paddles and determination and each time the Atlantic would playfully send a wave to capsize the boat and send us tumbling back to shore. We’d laugh and dump the water out then adjust our technique to try again. Finally dad looked at me and decided that it was time to throw in the towel. Our raft was leaking and to be honest he was doing all the work when it was time to paddle hard. But the inability to make it past the breakers wasn’t really a failure in the day. The shared experience is something that have kept my whole life and it did deepen the bond of father and son working as a team. I suppose that in retrospect we had our adventure in the challenge regardless of the outcome. It was time together building memories that counted. The time invested between father and child is never wasted where love is present. Happy Father’s Day Dad! I love you always.
Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.
Announcement 2.0
For those who have been following me on Facebook and know of the struggle content providers have to get circulation from big tech I’ve been recommending for people to adopt MeWe as a social media platform. One of the problems I’ve run into on MeWe is that people don’t know how to navigate the platform. So to help with that I’ve created a permanent page on my website as a basic Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe I’ve tried to anticipate all basic questions there and You can bookmark the page to have as a reference and if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me. I do still have a day job and I help admin several pages on both platforms so replies might be a little slow but I will answer you.
We also have the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe that is set up as a fully functional community. There you’ll not only be able to see and connect with me but you can also make your own posts and interact with each other.
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.
If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.
I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplyuse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.
Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographerThank you again for your support of my page!♥️
Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Indian Cucumber In Bloom 61521” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
Please remember that Forage Friday is presented as trivia and not to be mistaken for medical advice. Furthermore, please remember to respect landowners and public parks when foraging. Always obtain permission from landowners and keep in mind that most parks strictly forbid foraging.
Just beyond the edge of the tall forest there’s a place where the light is not too bright but not too dim. It’s in this area that the Indian Cucumbers grow. They love rich open forest. However, they’re not really abundant everywhere so they should only be harvested when found in abundance. And if you have access to land where they grow well it might be worth learning how to propagate them.
Image shows Indian Cucumbers flourishing in open forest.
Most of my sources say that the tubers are the part that you can eat although one source stated that the leaves are also edible. The flavor is like a Cucumber. I’m not really a big fan of Cucumbers myself but have sampled this root in the past and I found that it’s a little milder than a real Cucumber. The tubers are about the size of most people’s pinky finger which makes it worth a harvest if found in sufficient numbers.
Medicinally the Indian Cucumber is said to have anticonvulsant properties and was as such by Native Americans and specifically for children.
Indian Cucumber growing near a colony of ferns. They seem to enjoy the same growing conditions. Notice the whorl of leaves at the base.
In August Indian Cucumber will have purplish waxy berries. A few sources say that Indian Cucumber has no wildlife value but I suspect that pheasants and Turkeys may disagree. Nevertheless, because the plant isn’t really found in great numbers this is one that I would consider for a wild edibles garden or even a Guerilla Garden in the Eastern United States. ( If you plan to Guerilla Garden please select native plants and avoid invasive species. )The recommended method is to collect the ripe berries and start them in a cold frame. When you re-wild them try to memic the growth patterns they were found in. They are usually found in loose colonies with a clump of plants here and there in rich sandy soil. When collecting the seeds look up and around. Take note of the trees and other companion plants that were present with the parent plants. This last part is a good idea for any wild plants you’re going to propagate. As noted in last night’s post about Indian Pipes many wild plants require a combination of fungus and trees to do well. If a section of forest has the same trees, shrubs and soil then it’s likely that the fungus is there too. The symbiotic fungus is going to actively be searched for new connections and will likely bond to the new plants. And even if you’re like me and don’t really care for the Cucumber flavor this is a native species that should be preserved for the future. That’s it for tonight’s Forage Friday!
Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.
Announcement 2.0
For those who have been following me on Facebook and know of the struggle content providers have to get circulation from big tech I’ve been recommending for people to adopt MeWe as a social media platform. One of the problems I’ve run into on MeWe is that people don’t know how to navigate the platform. So to help with that I’ve created a permanent page on my website as a basic Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe I’ve tried to anticipate all basic questions there and You can bookmark the page to have as a reference and if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me. I do still have a day job and I help admin several pages on both platforms so replies might be a little slow but I will answer you.
We also have the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe that is set up as a fully functional community. There you’ll not only be able to see and connect with me but you can also make your own posts and interact with each other.
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.
If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.
I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplyuse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.
Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographerThank you again for your support of my page!♥️
Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “The Ghost In The Forest 61621a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
The sound of the falling rain overwhelms the forest as we shelter in the rocky outcropping surrounded by the markings of the Native Americans who dwelled here long ago. The rain is gentle and doesn’t last long. I run my fingers across the cold stone surface in an effort to find the traces of the faded lines that once told the story of a special place and the history of the people. Sadly, the public is unkind to history and some of the petroglyphs have been removed while others were overwritten by slogans and profane phrases. It seems to hold true that those who don’t respect themselves will never respect anyone else.
Those who don’t respect themselves will never respect anyone else. ( This image is not for sale)
I’ve done the best I could to make the petroglyphs stand out by digitally tracing the lines and usinga black and white filter to obscure the paint. Some have been chipped off and stolen. Some have simply worn away. The engraving seems to have been done by pecking the sandstone with a harder stone. The texture of the lines is rough and uneven in places. Whereas some of the modern engraving is sharper and the lines are more symmetrical which is evidence of modern tools. One set of initials carved beside the glyphs is dated ’26. Presumably 1926 so we can’t really blame it all on the newer generation.
As the rain lifts my guides indicate that it’s time to visit a ghost that dwells on the forest floor. The small white plants which is more commonly referred to as Indian Pipes. They were a part of my childhood and ghost plants or ghost lilies was the names that I learned first.
Image Titled “Forest Ghost 61621b”
The Idian Rocks Ruritan Club that owns the Indian Rocks Community park calls this area the Dancing Forest because of the growth habits of the mature Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurels that flourish here. I’ll be publishing photos specifically of the Dancing Forest at a later date but you can see one in the background of the image above.
As seen in tonight’s Feature Image the Indian Pipes/Ghost Plant completely lack chlorophyll. This means that they are completely heterotrophic. They cannot use the energy of the sun. Instead they rely on a very special relationship with the forest floor in order to survive.
Image Titled “Forest Ghost 61621c” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
As a youth I became infatuated with the pale flowers that dotted my grandfather’s property. I decided to build a terrarium that would include this unique flower. So I found a small clump placed them in an old Mason jar along with plenty of the native soil. By sundown they turned black and died. It wasn’t until after I took college botany that I learned why this specific plant would never adapt to captivity. It not only requires the right soil but would need one of two mycorrihizal fungus to feed it. Either Russula or Lactarius mushrooms and the fungus would require a tree to harvest nutrients in enough excess to supply both itself and the flowers. Typically the three part combination is linked to beech trees. Under perfect conditions one would need a terrarium that contains a mature beech in Bonsai form, one of the two fungus and viable seeds or root cuttings from the Indian Pipes/Ghost Plant. It’s not impossible but it’s far more effort and expertise than I can provide.
Image Titled “Forest Ghost 61621d” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
So this plant is best and more easily enjoyed in its natural habitat. A great place to do this is at The Indian Rocks Community Park in Craigsville West Virginia. It’s a fifty-five acre privately owned nature preserve that’s doing wonderful work to provide a sanctuary for native species, provide a wholesome place for families to enjoy and support a small community in rural West Virginia. It’s only about a twenty minute drive from Summersville Lake and a nice day trip to get away from the crowd.
Before I close I want to give a special thank you and shout out to Kathleen Curry, Darrin Martin and Ada Cox for not only working so hard to make a nice park but for also being my personal guides on the trail system.
Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.
Announcement 2.0
For those who have been following me on Facebook and know of the struggle content providers have to get circulation from big tech I’ve been recommending for people to adopt MeWe as a social media platform. One of the problems I’ve run into on MeWe is that people don’t know how to navigate the platform. So to help with that I’ve created a permanent page on my website as a basic Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe I’ve tried to anticipate all basic questions there and You can bookmark the page to have as a reference and if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me. I do still have a day job and I help admin several pages on both platforms so replies might be a little slow but I will answer you.
We also have the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe that is set up as a fully functional community. There you’ll not only be able to see and connect with me but you can also make your own posts and interact with each other.
Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!
To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.
If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.
I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplyuse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.
Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographerThank you again for your support of my page!♥️
LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC 