CALICO ASTER

Saturday's hike brought us to the woods edge where we encountered Calico Aster wild flower. The above photo shows them growing along the ground and close ups below.

Song of Solomon 2:12

"The flowers have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land."

Persimmon Fruit

These fruit are Persimmon. They taste good when ripe. But really bitter before.

Isaiah 16:9

"Therefore I will weep bitterly for Jazer, for the vine of Sibmah; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; For the shouting over your summer fruits and your harvest has fallen away."

Blue Jay

On our hike Friday there were a lot of Blue Jays flying back and forth. This one landed on top of this tree about 75 yards away. I got the photo with my  Canon EF 75-300 4.5 - 5.6 III zoom lens. I under exposed it 2/3 of a stop. Setting it on Aperture priority.   

Canon EOS Rebel T3

f/8 1/800 ISO-100 300mm -0.7 step

John 1:3 "All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being."

Colossians 1:17 "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

Hebrews 1:3 "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins. He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Tree Stem Butt Rot

Here are 2 healthy trees that I will watch to see if the exposed parts of the stems of these trees will cause them to be in distress. Currently there seems to be no problems at all.

This Bitternut Hickory seems to have some butt rot in the base of the tree. 

Here the E. Cottonwood tree seems to have grown together at the base and further up the stem of the tree. Why was there a gap in the middle? Why did the tree wait to grow together further up the stem?

This tree does not seem to have the problem the Bitternut Hickory has. There is not as much decay happening with this tree.

Slippery Elm

Shingle Oak Remeasured

Photos taken the 26th of May 2014.



Shooting up the bole of this tree you can see the scars of old branches that grew in the past.



Photo of the tree in October 2010

 2014 Measurements
height 87'
 canopy 66' 56'
Circumference 101.25"
Total points of 203.5

 Oct 7 2010 measurement:
 height 83'
Canopy 63' one way and 67' the other
Circumference 95.5
Total points of 194.6

Height increased 5% Circumference increase 6% in 3 1/2 growing seasons.

There is a E Cottonwood tree encroaching from the left side of the photo. Notice the Shingle oak top growth is growing away from that tree.

Psalm 97:6 "The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples have seen His glory.

Sumac

Purple Martin

These Purple Martin houses are set up by the Missouri River.



This was fun to shoot. This bird is bring food to her youngsters. Photos taken the 20th of July.

Chuck's Purple Martin Page has some great info.

Also look at the Purple Martin Assn.

Grass Contrast

Contrast of grass between August and March.

The August photo was taken a day after a 3" rain.

Conk Growth on Dead Log

1.