July 7, 2012 Opening Face This is the same sunflower as here: http://www.kdstewart.net/Whats-New/Images-from-2012-dailies/21342710_3FH6pv#!i=1943421232&k=3q7DTZB just opened by a few days more time. The shot is actually not nearly as sharp as it should be. The flower is on a long, waving stem that moves with the slightest breeze, at an awkward height and no place to brace myself, so blurrier than what makes a good image.
July 6, 2012 Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden I took this the first weekend in May at my cousin's wedding (yes, and am just now getting to processing the images). They had an official photog, so I was just snapping for pleasure and extra photos. It was a gorgeous event at a gorgeous place, Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Charlotte, NC - website here: http://www.dsbg.org/wed_corp_social.php Thanks for all the comments on my images over the last couple of days and guesses on the insect!
July 5, 2012 I took this on July 3, but posting it today (hey, that's pretty good for me - and Art, I think your idea of an archive challenge is great). This creature was on my screen tent on my deck as I was leaving for an interview, so I snapped a quick one of him. I wish I had had the time (and ability) to put something in the image to give an idea of perspective. Its body was about 3 or 3.5 inches long, and then the antennae would be in addition to that. Entomologist friends - what say ye? What manner of beast is this? Enormous grasshopper? Katydid? Locust and I should prepare for swarms? UPDATE: Google images show that this is definitely a katydid!