Today's image is one more decent image I was able to get at the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan Kansas. This Leopard was up and walking around it's enclosure even though it was fairly hot out that evening. I was able to get this image when it looked my way. fortunately, I was behind, or, actually, it was behind glass. 😅 This leopard is an Amur Leopard and their natural habitat are forests of far east Russia and northeast China. They are critically endangered.
It's Wildflower Wednesday here on the Blog! Today's flower is one that is blooming in my area right now, Western Ironweed. It usually blooms July though September and is in the Sunflower family. It is one of the most common pasture weeds in Kansas but is very bitter so cattle will not eat it though sheep will. It can grow up to 5 feet tall.
I like being able to see these guys. I usually can find them in the cooler months hanging out on the gravel road that I bike ride on fairly consistently. On this particular day, I found and captured one on a road by the high school. This is a Horned Lark and you can see the feathers that give it that name.
Happy Monday and happy new week! Starting off the week with an image of a couple of bright orange Marigolds. I have never been thrilled with the smell of Marigolds but I like the look of the flower and the details it has up close. Apparently other things in nature aren't fond of the smell either as it is a good companion plant to deter pests.
It's Steamy Sunday here on the Blog on a double digit day! 😁 The Union Pacific Big Boy locomotive 4014, has been on a trip across the country to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. It is on it's way back home to Cheyenne Wyoming after having completed it's east coast run. I was able to capture this image of it as it was passing through Grantville Kansas on it's way to Topeka for a scheduled stop. I had to take this image in the rain. It's an incredible sight to see though, such a huge locomotive, a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, basically 2 engines put together under one boiler and articulated in the middle to help get around curves.
In early June we were having pretty significant storms about once a week. This is the sky between a couple where we had about 5 inches of rain total. It was a crazy evening but made for a beautiful sky.
It's Friday, TGIF! I haven't been seeing many butterflies, as I have mentioned, but lately the Skippers are showing up a bit. I captured this one on a Teasel bloom not long ago. Love the bubbly bokeh in it so sharing for today because Friday's Are Bokehlicious!
