Gall of a #RedConeGallWasp, underside of a leaf of #ValleyOak #insects #galls #insectgalls #oak #oaks #oaktree #oaktrees #Nikon #NikonPhotography #macrophotography #insectphotography

Entombed within its original plastic shrink-wrap, my Wal-Mart "bargain"-bin VHS copy of Howard the Duck. #tbt #throwback #throwbackThursday #HowardtheDuck #VHS #videotape #VHSvideotape

When the oak leaves fall is a great time to study insect galls. Red Cone Gall Wasp, not red here but within described color variation. (Valley Oak.) #insects #galls #insectgalls #oak #oaks #oaktree #oaktrees #ValleyOak #RedConeGallWasp #Nikon #NikonPhotography #macrophotography #insectphotography

Once an oak tree. #environmental #streetphotography

#Monarch #Butterfly on tropical (?) #milkweed (non-native) Two weeks ago I saw my 1st #monarchbutterfly Thrilling, yet...also sad, given their #endangered status #CorteMadera #California #butterfly #butterflies #naturephotography #nikon #nikonphotography

Contemporary #pastel #pencil , wood-"barrel"/shaft/casing splinters/flakes when trimmed along the mid-line of semi-halves. Wood grain differences apparent, affecting the low-angle long-taper smooth application of the drawing media onto the paper. #drawing #tactile #touch #haptic #hapticresponse

A new #drawing needs a broader tip, I'll smooth and taper the point on the #paper. One of my oldest #Conte #pencils, dense wood barrel of larger circumference, ultra-fine consistent granularity. Green edge reflection of trees. #pencil #drawingpencil #pleinair #expeditionary #tactile #touch #haptic

From several years ago, a light fixture against a riveted tower on the Golden Gate Bridge. #GoldenGateBridge #SanFrancisco #California #nikon #nikonphotography #streetphotography

I've always been curious about what drove the decision to alternate the structural beams on the this bridge. Several possibilities come to mind. #STEM #STEMed #STEMeducation #STEAM #STEAMed #STEAMeducation #architecture #architectural #design #streetphotography

Seeing either I think of the other. #carhartt #Skellington #jackskellington #nightmarebeforechristmas #visualthinking #design

In an epic battle, two #waterstriders pummel each other with concentric ripples. This went on for several minutes, each appeared to be focused on the other. A third on the left remains suspiciously quiet. #California #insects #Hemiptera #water #wildlife #nature #photography #nikon #nikonphotography

It's the #summer #solstice on our fragile little planet. Sagital-plane midline symmetrical defensive #coloration and structure. Top: #caterpillar of #Pipevine #butterfly with orange #tubercles (may help chrysalis) Inset: #MuleDeer #fawn spotted rows along spine #life #nature #wildlifephotography

Little #Lagunitas #California , #NoKings today! 200+ people at its peak, 300+ including comings-and-goings. Very minor opposition, no incidents, tremendous support from most passing cars, honking/clapping/peace-signs, and from the many multitudes of #cyclists. #NorthernCalifornia #Peaceful #Protest

#California Wild #Buckwheat, with #honeybee A sturdy native plant that needs little water when established, very beneficial to #insects and animals. #Bloomscrolling #flowers #bee #bees #NorthernCalifornia

That little rant that you do when your parents think that you are old enough to feed yourself but you do not think so.... #Chickadee #Chickadees #birds #birdphotography #nikon #nikonphotography #gardens #NorthernCalifornia

Blooming blossom clusters #California Buckeye/Horse-chestnut Native species #NorthernCalifornia #Bloomscrolling #blossoms #flowers #buckeye #chestnut #chestnuttree

Small #CarpenterBee on #California #Native #Rose. CarpenterBee entering burrow, appeared to be harvesting the #lichen , male nearby. Roses are early this year, normally June, possibly due to longer rainy season in #NorthernCalifornia #insects #insectphotography #naturephotography #Bloomscrolling

Crawdad/Crayfish ( #Arthropod ) Introduced and non-native to this area of #NorthernCalifornia , nonetheless, an amazing animal. #Nikon #Nikonphotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #mood #moody #freshwater #crustaceans #crawdad #crayfish

Rose Clover (?), in the soft sunlight after the morning rain. Non-native to this part of #NorthernCalifornia Cultivated as animal feed within dryland #pasture #grazing areas. Common in disturbed areas and #roadsides (as here). Keeps #nitrogen in soil. #Bloomscrolling #clover #clovers #legumes

Invasive Red Bryony (I believe) on a #California Coast/Coastal #Redwood #Sequoia sempervirens #NorthernCalifornia #trees #nativeplants #invasiveplants #native #invasive #weird

California Bee Plant, native species. Attractive to many #bees and #insects, and a host plant to several kinds of #butterflies . Can be cultivated. #NorthernCalifornia #BloomScrolling #flowers #flowerphotography #NaturePhotography

Magical May, the #Damselflies are back! Probably the grey phase (?) of a #California Dancer (blue color). Not a macro, per se, but a crop from a zoom. #damselfly #damselflys #odonata #insects #insectphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #naturelovers #NorthernCalifornia

Meanwhile, high up in the pine tree.... For a few years it was an impish #silhouette figure, which fell down after the utility company trimmed the branches around it, but didn't remove it. #art #streetart #rural #streetphotography #ruralphotography #nikon #nikonphotography #California #mischief

Three-cornered Leek (or Garlic) against Forget-Me-Not flowers. For #NorthernCalifornia the Leek is an invasive non-native, but very popular with the #bees . Forget-Me-Not are native, also popular with bees! Center turns white after a visit by #insects . #BloomScrolling #California #flowers

Miner's Lettuce, at the edge of the roadway #California #edible #nativeplant #BloomScrolling #flowers #PhonePhotography #rural #ruralphotography #streetphotography

Common Vetch (with ant...) Invasive to #northerncalifornia , nonetheless, interesting to discover along the side of the road. #Bloomscrolling #flowers #wildflowers #naturephotography #streetphotography #phonephotography #rural #ruralphotography

Roadside Lupine #California #Earthday #NativeFlowers #Flowers #bloomscrolling #streetphotography #naturephotography #rural #ruralphotography

Common Vetch A lovely but invasive non-native plant in this area #California but which may benefit the soil. Possible #medicinal usages, but not an option here, as this is growing along the edge of heavily-traveled road. #flowers #medicinalplant

Clouds (not clouds) - 2024 Marin County, California in-camera image, no Ai, yes normal exposure balancing etc. #nikon #digitalphotography #nikonphotography #marincounty #California

Throwback Thursday: 2017 - Monterey Pines, Half Moon Bay. graphite pencil, Bristol board #tbt #pleinair #drawing #montereypines #pencil #pencils #paper #art #draw #sketch #sketching #halfmoonbay #HMB #california

Throwback Thursday: TechDudeBro, waiting for corporate commuter bus. 19th Avenue, #SanFrancisco, #California #tbt #siliconvalley #urban #commuters

Water Strider + shadow. A true bug! When they return it's a wonderful sign of approaching springtime! #bugs #insects #STEM #STEAM #expeditionary #learning #california #wildlife #nikon #photography

River Otter tracks overlaying human boot-print. #riverotter #riverotters #otter #otters #california #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nikon #nikonphotography #anthropocene

The jays and crows were in unison alarm, which could only mean that a predator was about. Sauntering about the front-yard was a scruffy #coyote , wary and cautious, but healthy-looking! It's eyes seemed literally magnetic (but hardly conveyed in my memory sketch). #coyotes #california #wildlife

Today is a day to celebrate and commemorate the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. #MLK #MLKday #holiday

Black Mountain, Nicasio Reservoir, Marin County, California. A slight shift in perspective to emphasize the reflection, and ... the depth of the blue sky.