I Blame My Dad (aka Flora and Fauna)

It's his fault really - the compulsion I have.  It's so disruptive too:  I can't go anywhere without wanting it,  I can't be with others without thinking about it, I slow others down because I need to stop frequently take to take part, I feel sadness and/or anxiety when I miss out on it - like, a real loss.  And the only thing I can think of that would cause this is the years and years of being subjected to my father's example.  So yeah, I blame him for my propensity to take (or at least try to take) photographs of every living thing I see while hiking or walking or visiting a new place.  I can remember Dad, stopped in the middle of a nature trail, hunched down with his lens up close to a flower.  Him making us stop to take a picture in front of a panorama.  Zooming in on a tourist attraction.  Yup, he passed it on to me, and I know because I can't go anywhere without taking a camera with me (even if I end up not using it).  And I sure did use it this summer!   Here are some of the moments of natural beauty my addiction compelled me to capture.  There are kind of a lot, but I kind of like pictures, and I kind of like looking at details, and I kind of like the beauty of Wisconsin in the summer.

At the Green Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

Green Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

Green Bay Wildlife Sanctua

Sandhill Crane, Green Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

OK, not a native to WI, but I still liked how this turned out.  At the Green Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

Queen Ann's Lace, along the East River trail

Along the East River trail

At Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve

Red-tailed Hawk at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve

Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve

Wild lilies at  Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve

At  Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve

12-Spotted Skimmer,  Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve

Painted Turtle,  Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve

Leopard Frog,  Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve

Green Heron (I've always wanted to see one of these!),  Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve

No, this is not Hawaii!  10 White Egrets,  Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve

This and the next are dahlia's my mom grew in the back yard

UWGB Arboretum

UWGB Arboretum

UWGB Arboretum

UWGB Arboretum

UWGB Arboretum

UWGB Arboretum

Sumac at the UWGB Arboretum

Back when John Mayer wasn't a terrible boyfriend with an identity crisis, he sang a song, 3 x 5, whose lyrics I still  hope will someday be something I can say with confidence:  "Didn't have a camera by my side this time. Hoping I would see the world through both my eyes"..."Oh, today I finally overcame Tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame."  Maybe I will someday abandon my addiction, but what will have to happen for that to happen? Who can say, really.  Until the day I find out, I will be the one clicking away at whatever moves.  Don't mind me.