The beauty of insects

Due to personal circumstances this summer, we mainly explored quiet, often wet, natural areas in our own country, Holland. No predators or raptors this time, but big fun on the square inch! It’s just a question of taking the time and watch very carefully.

Once you get involved in the amazing world of beetles, flies, wasps and dragonflies, there seems to be no end to exploring this small world of beauty.

As a bonus, you’ll find in the gridpic the story of a wasp escaping from raspberry cider after a delicious bath. Enjoy!

     Lestes viridis 

Vespa crabo

Geotrupes vernalis

Aeshna mixta

Panorpa communis

Lucilia caesar

Orthetrum ancellatum

Carabus auratus

Sympetrum danae (cornu)

Sympetrum vulgatum opulabis

Vespula vulgaris

Everglades in springtime

Even in a vast area as the Everglades, Florida, there are environmental influences (i.p. surrounding agriculture), which disturb the balanced ecosystem and reduce biodiversity.  I'm glad to at least think that the animals that live there, don't notice ;-).

It seemed to me that the alligators, iguanas and lizards were relaxed and enjoyed the sun and that the elegant egrets, herons, ibises and ospreys waited quietly for a big fish to swim along. Apart from these wonderful sights we were very lucky to see some raccoons and wild hogs scrabbling around in the twilight.

Let's hope that this unique piece of earth, this national park, with its amazing flora and fauna will be maintained and will continue to exist for a long, long time! By means of my pictures I've at least kept some worthwhile and superb moments to cherish in our memory...

American alligator

Raccoon

Lanceleaf Arrowhead

Osprey

Green Iguana

White Ibis

Eastern lubber grasshopper

Red-shouldered Hawk

Parrotfish

Little blue heron

Halloween pennant dragonfly

Cottonmouth viper

Volcanic La Palma

Of all Canarian islands la Palma is, because of its gigantic caldera, recent outbursts (1971) and vast black lava fields, perhaps the most volcanic one. It’s also the place where you can breathe the purest air of Western Europe, which helps a great deal while walking on steep trails…

When it's warm you see a lot of cheerful canaries and running lizards. And when you're very observant, you might set eyes on the beautiful Gallot’s lizard, a wonderful endemic species. Apart from beautiful nature men has created along the west coast a sort of banana republic. From a "Christo & Warhol" point of view I must say I like it … Another example of human intervention are the windmills along the coast which can be seen as decorative. 

Judge for yourself!

La Palma coastline

Gallot's lizard

Agave plant & flower

Lizard, caught by a cat

Rock succulent

Raven

"Christo" bananas

Windmills along the coast

Almond blossom

Hotel premises in the evening

London street art

In december we went to London to visit the exposition of Turner in the Tate and to enjoy the latest John Adams opera. Both ideas turned out quite well, but accidentally we also found ourselves on a new cultural track: London street art. 

Especially in east London, where there used to be a somewhat grey area, beautiful graffiti and street art coloured walls and fences. Artists just took the tempting spaces or were asked to create images according to their own insights. The result was very inspiring to us. 

East London has become an open air museum, great! It's a good idea for dull areas in other cities... 

In my photos you’ll find an impression and of course some of my own interpretation ;-)