Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Morning Kisses 82521” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
The small park at Kanawha Falls is filled with bright red flowers as the big blue truck brings me to the slim margin between river and forest. The morning chorus of joyful birds can be heard even over the roar of the river as it thrusts its way towards the Ohio. I only have a few minutes to get a few shots of the area before moving out to my next destination. So I employ the drift and pause method of driving through the parking lot with my lens hanging out of the window. Just as I am thinking nothing special is going to happen before I reach the road the familiar flash of blue and orange on black wings catches my eye. I hit the breaks and raise the camera just as he reaches the cardinal flowers and greets them with a soft kiss. Wings flutter rapidly as he explores each bloom. I’m able to connect through the lens and partake of his gentle morning which brings joy to my soul.
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 Moment 82421” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
The scent of multiple Appalachian Wildflowers hangs in the light breeze and the edge of the country lane is full of buzzing as I approach the vegetation. This spot is full of the delightful yellow faces of woodland sunflowers. Although not the giant blooms that we normally associate with sunflower these are definitely sunflowers. I doubt that we could ever find a more iconic symbol of joy than on containing the happiness exemplified in a bright yellow bloom being visited by a honeybee or bumblebee. What’s more is that this particular stand of flowers is currently a “beetropolis” that dances to both the breeze and the rhythm of tiny wings. I’ve heard urban dwellers speak about how busy the streets and sidewalks are but here in the beetropolis life isn’t constrained by the elements of mortar encased stone and rivers of hardened cement. The hustle and bustle is in the very air as the citizens of beetropolis float effortlessly about the living towers of floral glory. There world is one of wonderful destinations and plentiful supplies. Life holds much wonderment if we simply take a moment to partake of it.
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 “Pink Edged Sulphur Butterfly On Butterfly Weed 82321a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
The midday sun pours through the open sky and into the landscape near the highway. People in town refer to it as a vacant lot however it’s anything but vacant. I’ve watched this place over the decades as it was transformed from wooded wilderness to a business park. There may have been livestock there at one point but memories become faded and the face of the landscape changes under the steel treads of heavy equipment. But as sure as sunlight brings the dawn life will make a place there. What was once only a field of bare mineral soil and scattered stones soon began to heal and today is home to a variety of life like the bright orange Butterfly Weed. Of course where there’s Butterfly Weed there’s butterflies. As I approached it thinking it would be a great subject for a future post a tiny Pink Edged Sulphur Butterfly came along with sunlight dancing in its wings. At the far edge of the field the large trucks roll by at top speed without a clue as to what miracles hide within the unkept field. Likewise the Butterfly and other insects are unaware of the concrete ribbon and its high speed travelers. The two worlds are only separated by a guardrail. The sweet aroma of the Butterfly Weed has drawn the little guy from quite a way off because it was born on blueberries and there are none here. But it is often found in association with land that has been cleared by logging and forest fires. It feeds on wide variety of nectar but because it likes land that’s cleared that means it’s pollinating the plants that reclaim and heal broken forest. And that’s an important job for a little butterfly with punk rock colors.
Image Titled “Pink Edged Sulphur Butterfly On Butterfly Weed 82321b” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
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 “Avens 73021a” 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.
Also, a social media comment on an unrelated post concerning the ethics and legality of foraging has led me to remind the readers that I presume you are either foraging your own land, have permission of a landowner or are experiencing a food emergency in a survival situation. Furthermore, make sure you have the right ID on any plant that you intend to eat. While I strive to provide accurate information mistakes happen so never rely on a single source and always double check.
As a youth one the first guide books I ever consulted was a Reader’s Digest guide to North American Wildlife. The book was full of hand drawn or painted images of common flora and fauna of our wonderful landscape. One that stuck out to me was “Purple Avens” and the description made it sound like wild chocolate. It wasn’t until a few days ago that I actually encountered a form of Avens in person. But, I’d missed the flowers in bloom somehow even though I must have nearly stepped on them several times. They were growing on the edge of the highland delta at Muddlety Creek. What’s more, the first photo I took of them captured them by accident. And so began several sessions of internet Image searches confirm the identity and I’m still not settled on which type of Avens I have here.
Image Titled “Avens 73021b”. Google lens identified it as Yellow Avens.
I’d spent countless hours memorizing the small rendering of Purple Avens (AKA Water Avens) in that Reader’s Digest guide however that image shows only the mature plant in bloom. It doesn’t have an image of the spiked fruit and it doesn’t really mention that there are other varieties of Avens. The same goes for the Peterson’s Field Guides. It finally occurred to me that paper was the limiting factor in how much information could be stored in a shelf full of books. The publisher and editors had to make choices about what to leave out in order to keep everything in one volume. Fortunately for us the internet isn’t restricted that way.
My current understanding is that there’s really only minor differences between the types of Avens. All types seem to be edible. The young leaves are said to be useful as a potherb and not to be very strong flavored. The roots however are where the flavor is.
Multiple sources indicate that the Avens species do tend to hybridize and that this can effect the flavor. Purple Avens is supposed to have a flavor that’s like chocolate but not quite chocolate whereas the other Avens species are described as tasting like cloves or cinnamon. Peterson’s recommended that adding milk and sugar in a tea made from the fine roots was the best way to enjoy them. Obviously the roots could be dried, ground to a powder and sprinkled like a spice.
A few sources say that avens has even been used to flavor and preserve liquor.
The clove/cinnamon flavor of certain avens seems to come from a compound inside the roots that converts into eugenol. Which makes me think that it may be able to sooth a toothache in the same way cloves do. Traditionally some Avens have been used as an anti-inflammatory, to relieve sore throat, treating digestive problems and as a wash to treat skin infections as well as hemorrhoids. The variety most mentioned in traditional medicine is Herb Bennett.
Lastly, there is a somewhat dangerous lookalike in Thimbleweed ( Next Image) so it’s pretty important to be sure what you’re collecting should you choose to do so.
All parts of Tall Thimbleweed are considered toxic. Avens 73021c.. compare to thimbleweed above.
The biggest difference that jumped out for me was that Thimbleweed has a more oval shaped fruit where the Avens is more round. The Avens has a fuzzy stem but the stem of thimbleweed is smooth. Bare in mind that the 2 photos are taken in different stages of development for each plant and the presence of pedals could make the difference in how easy it to tell them apart. Avens can be harvested year round but it’s recommended as a winter harvest because that’s when all the life is stored in the root.
As always, my intention for Forage Friday is to provide you with something that’s interesting to read and inspire you to do further research while showing you my latest photos. And that’s going to wrap up Forage Friday #118. 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 “Near The Queen’s Heart 72721” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.
Hardly a summer goes by that I don’t notice the tiny little bee-like hoverfly trying to land on me without being seen. Other times they’ll float in mid air about an inch or so above my skin as if waiting for clearance to land. They’re interested in my salt of course. Like butterflies they need salt to reproduce and humans in the Southern sun tend to have a treasure trove of salt available in their sweat. I normally allow them to get what they need. As a child I was pretty scared of bees and the hoverfly was just another bee to me until Mt grandfather pointed out that it’s just a fly without a sting and you could see its little red tongue licking like a dog. The comparison to a puppy and trust in my grandfather was enough to calm my fears and I became fascinated with the hoverfly. Like the Tachinid flies these little guys are beneficial flies. But they’re not Tachinid flies. They’re in the Syrphid fly family. As adults the hoverflies sip nectar and transfer pollen. And while they don’t carry the payload of a bee they make up the difference by visiting more flowers per flight. Some hoverflies are also predators in the maggot stage and feed on the larvae of aphids while others assist in composting. The rattailed maggot is a type of hoverfly that has a built-in snorkel and is found in the messy end of the barnyard for obvious reasons.
But back to pollination. There’s actually not a lot of research being done on the hoverfly as a pollinator. It’s known that a Chinese variety is the main pollinator of the slipper orchid in Southwest China which leads me to think that our own pink lady’s slipper orchid may have a similar relationship with our native hoverfly. If anyone knows this for sure drop a comment below. The hoverfly is a generalist when it comes to pollination. In tonight’s Feature Image it was found on Queen Anne’s Lace right next to the Belvosia Borealis fly that I covered last night. There’s actually about six thousand species of hoverfly in the world that act as pollinators in their adult stage and I’m not sure which specific hoverfly I have here but I do know that they make me smile when I see them.
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 