52 Frames- Week 32

 This week's challenge was called "Macro". Played around with several ideas and submitted one.

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The Drop and The Fail

I am walking down Flagler Avenue and minding my own business, when suddenly out of the corner of my eye I spot this thing flying down, scooping something, and then flying up. 

I follow the up motion and aim my camera.

This thing lands and I shoot.

Of course, as you probably guessed from the above photo, I am not carrying my big boy. Hence, at 120 mm the only way I could zoom closer was to switch the camera from a full frame to a cropped.

And even so, this is as close as I could get.

I am squinting, aiming, and as to be expected, walking a little faster in order to get closer to the phone pole, when suddenly.......

Needless to say, in my excitment and haste in trying to quickly focus....I  miss a great shot. 

Whatever that thing had caught, was now on the ground while he was still perched on the pole looking down.

Two more clicks, because clicks are cheap and fun....

And then just like that the thing was gone, with me nowhere closer to him than before.

By the way, in case you were wondering National Geographic called my husband and said not to bother sending these photos in. 🙃😉

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Meet Our New Neighbors.........

  The Wrens!

 Since it's hard to tell the difference, this could be Papa Wren .......

........and this could be Mama Wren

But one thing for sure.......

This is Baby Wren 

 Close up of Baby Wren

Home location.......

nestedd behind the outdoor speakers.

 Don't dare turn on the speakers now....don't think Baby Wren would enjoy my tunes.

Ma and Pa are around all the time and enjoy singing a lot, so I guess my tunes can wait.

 

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Once Again........

  We had a photoshoot today.

Ok, it wasn't a planned one, especially since the model is one that keeps getting on my nerves BIG time. But even so, one must admit that the model is rather cute and sometimes one must just let bygones be bygones and just click while the clicking is good.

 

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New Neighbors

 Our new neighbors had some babies this week.

To be honest, I am not sure if they are new neighbors or ones that like this rent free area and come back each season.

I've tip toed while they built their new home.

I've tip toed while mama sat warming the eggs.

I've tip toed when they hatched.

I still tip toe while walking out onto the patio but I am not sure if tip toeing is needed.

I watch them... 

They watch me....

She watches them....

This is dad bringing the bacon home.

Close up of dad...

She watches until dad comes home...then she leaves and dad feeds the bacon and off he goes....

And then she comes back to check....

This has been the routine the last few days.....

Today all's quite in the western front....

Not sure what is going on.

No mom to check in.

No dad bringing home the bacon.

No movement.

Time will tell.

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Caught In The Act

 No matter what part of the country you are residing, squirrels are squirrels!

Opportunistic little thieves.

But they are fun to watch.

 

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Mckee Botanical Gardens

 McKee Botanical Gardens located in Vero Beach is an 18 -acre lush jungle landscape, which supports Florida's most extraordinary botanical collections.

McKee was founded in 1928, closed in 1976, and then reopened in 2002. Reviving and now improving the garden has been a Vero Beach community project.

The story behind the Mckeen Botanical Gardens goes as such: 

When Waldo E. Sexton and business partner Arthur McKee bought this property, their plan was to clear it for citrus groves. Instead, Sexton, brought in well-known landscape architect William Lyman Phillips to design a series of ponds and waterfalls and vistas. Good friend David Fairchild (of Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Miami) supplied exotic plants. And soon, newly mobile Americans driving down U.S. 1 to South Florida were stopping and visiting McKee Garden by the thousands.

Like most mid-century roadside attractions, McKee Garden could not compete with the likes of Disney. With freeways, few drove by its gates and in 1976, McKee Garden closed. 

Most of the land became condos and golf courses. A mere 18 acres, including the historic McKee Garden Hall of Giants, lay dormant until a citizen campaign in the 1990s succeeded in raising money and purchasing it.

Since then, McKee Botanical Garden has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and devoted Vero Beach donors and volunteers have helped preserve, restore and replant.

Map of McKee Botanical Garden in Vero Beach

(source)

 

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