#ShotonCanon – Page 2 – Gfpacificbee’s Insights & photography

Thursday Trios: 2026 July 23

Cervus axis

The whole family went on an adventurous outing on Monday (unusual for our family). Coleman’s mom and I discussed where we might could go Sunday evening and decided it would be an excellent idea for us all to go with her driving. Where did we decide to go?

We chose to go on a wagon ride at the Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville, North Carolina. Why did we decide to spend the day together and not just have Coleman and myself go somewhere together? This coming Saturday is Coleman’s birthday. He’ll be turning Seven (7) and we wanted to do something special for him when his mom and baby sister, Sophia, could join us.

Of course, I brought my camera along and not just my iPhone. An outing like this doesn’t happen often; I needed to capture the adventure so we could enjoy the memories.

Here is just one set of trios from our adventure …

As per the Lazy 5 Ranch’s Guidebook this beautiful set of Trios are Axis Deer (Cervus axis). The Axis Deer are also known as Chital Deer which means spotted in Hindustani. Interestingly, the Axis Deer retains its spots throughout its lifespan (approximately 22 years). They are available to be seen at the Lazy 5 Ranch year round.

Click on image to enlarge.

Carol’s Thursday Trios-2026.07.23

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Lazy 5 Ranch; 15100 Mooresville Road; Mooresville, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Note: I’ll be sharing more about our adventure at the Lazy 5 Ranch in future posts.

Monday Window – 2026 July 20

Kitty by a Window –
2 – AI creation by PR

Castle Windows

When you think of Castle Windows you probably think of ancient and/or historical castles, however, these windows are in a Castle Playground at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina. The Castle Playground is a fairly new playground inside the botanical gardens for children to climb, explore, and basically have an all out Funtime while at the Stowe.

***Monday Window***
***Castle Playground***
***Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden***

On the day Coleman and I were at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden it was extremely hot and humid and we only saw one other child at the playground. Being so hot Coleman only had a short time to play before we moved on to the Tunnel Fountain for him to enjoy some water time.

The gallery of images above show the Castle Windows. The ones gallery below shows what Coleman is looking out the Window at and holding. For an active boy he was skeptical and yet excited to swing out the Window and repel down to the ground.

Coleman
Castle Playground Window
Monday Window

Click on images to enlarge.

Monday Window-2026.07.20

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Castle Playground; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stay Cool. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monday Portrait – 2026 July 20

Monarch

Monarch Butterflies are one of the most familiar and recognized species of butterflies of North America butterflies. The Danaus plexippus, which are widely known as Butterflies Monarch or Monarch Butterfly, are famous for their 3,000 mile annual migration.

North and South Carolina serve as a crucial geographical corridor for the Eastern migratory population. Monarchs are a welcome sight in the Carolinas and a sign of seasonal change. The Monarchs pass through the Carolinas twice a year. Once in the Spring and again in the Fall.

When we see them arriving in the beginning of Spring (late March and April) they are migrating northward. The first generation Monarchs stop to lay eggs on emerging native milkweed. The second generation continues the migration journey all the way into Canada. In the Fall (Autumn)the “Methuselah generation” (aka the “super generation”), the Monarchs born at the end of summer, fly southward towards Mexico from September through mid-October.

This Monarch and ones shown in other posts are maintained in a controlled environment in the Butterfly Bungalow at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina. To see more Monarch Butterflies check out my Whatsoever is Lovely post by clicking here.

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Monday Portrait-2026.07.20

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Butterfly Bungalow; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to enjoy nature. Admire the beautiful flowers and plants. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Whatsoever is Lovely: Beautiful Flowers & Butterflies #2

XingfuMama hosts the weekly challenge Whatsoever Is Lovely. The challenge is simple. Just reflect back over your week and see what is lovely, whether a thing or a moment, share in a post what is precious and lovely to you.

This week I am continuing with Whatsoever is Lovely to me; Beautiful Flowers & Butterflies #2. These images were taken on Coleman’s & my recent visit to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina. The first area we visited was the Butterfly Bungalow. We had not previously visited the Butterfly Bungalow since the times we’ve visited Daniel Stowe Conservancy before were in the Springtime.

The best time of the year to visit the Butterfly Bungalow is during the Summer. Why do you think Summer is the best time to visit. Let me tell you. It is the best and only season to visit the Butterfly Bungalow due to the fact that it is a seasonal attraction that only operates from late May through early September, the warmest months of the year.

For this post I am focusing on the Monarch Butterfly. The Monarch Butterflies eagerly feast on Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush) because it functions as an elite nectar source. The nectar of Buddleja davidii is rich in sucrose, glucose, and fructose which offers a dense spike of immediate energy. The blooms of Buddleja davidii emit a powerful sweet, honey-like aroma that attracts Monarchs from a distance.

Below are Monarch Butterfly photos I took on our visit …

Monarch Butterfly on Summer Lilac aka Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush)
Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush)

These pictured here are maintained in the controlled environment of the Butterfly Bungalow inside the Gardens of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina.

Click on images to enlarge.

Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2026 Week 28

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Location: Butterfly Bungalow; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Bely, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a lovely weekend filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

“Coleman’s favorite refreshing garden fountain splash!”

SIX WORD SATURDAY
The Fountain
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Belmont, NC

This fountain at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden looks so refreshing! It is located near the entrance to the Lost Hollow: The Kimbrell Family Children’s Garden. Coleman is having fun playing nearby.

The fountain spray is a powerful, tall column of white, frothy water shooting dramatically upwards. It crests at a significant height before cascading back down, creating a lively splash and ripples in the water below. have loved playing nearby.

Click on images to enlarge.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2026.07.18

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere (WWE)

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment

Location: Fountain near Lost Hollow; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stay Cool. Stay Hydrated. Spread joy and happiness all around. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Pull Up a Seat Week #29 — In a Botanical Garden #2

Welcome! This week I’m continuing with sharing various benches and chairs at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina. It is still extremely hot and humid here in our region of North Carolina. Here are a few more benches and chairs that are scattered here and there around the Gardens.

Here are my entries for this week …

***#PullUpaSeat***
***#DanielStoweConservancy***
***Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden***

Click on images to enlarge.

XingfuMama’s Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2026-Week 29

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stay Cool. Stay Adventurous. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Which Way Challenge (CWWC) 2026: Any Which Way in Black and White On Asphalt Roads or Paved Pathways [07.17.2026]

CBWC/CWWC
Cee’s Black & White Challenge
Cee’s Which Way Challenge

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). I trust everyone has had a good week and able to spend some time to take a walk or hike in the vast outdoors. This week’s theme is Any Which Way in Black and White On Asphalt Roads or Paved Pathways. In choosing the Black and White theme for this week’s Which Way Challenge I am honouring the memory of Cee’s Black and White Challenge. The Which Way can be any paved pathway, sidewalk, paved trail, or paved road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. As always signs are always welcome.

For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

Here are my entries …

Cee’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)
Cee’s Black and White Challenge (CBWC) Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)
***Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden***

Click on each image to enlarge.

Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.

For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.

Geriatri’x’ Fotogallery’s Into The Black

Suzette’s For Deb’s CWWC Any Which Way With The Colors Black or Brown

Marina’s Sidewalk with Black

Dan’s Nothing Special Saturday — SoCS

Cath’s Which Way… {Black Angus Cows}

Marilyn’s Brown & Black inThe Which Way

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)

Cee’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment; Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Daniel Stowe Conservancy; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

*** Note: Next Week we will be exploring and sharing the theme of CWWC: Any Which Way (Your Choice) [07.24.2026]

Thursday Trios: (on Friday) 2026.07.17

“Cattleya Orchid”

While these may look like real, they are not. These “Cattleya Orchid” are glass blown orchids created by master glassblower Jason Gamrath. He specifically tailored this highly intricate large scale Cattleya Orchid glass statue for Daniel Stowe Conservancy (formerly known as Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden). His Cattleya sculpture was designed to display all progressive phases of the flower’s life. This statue was originally apart of a Grandiflora Exhibition. Jason created the Cattleya Orchid glass statue by using highly intense, collaborative modelling and glass-blowing process.

Even though Jason calls the sculpture “Cattleya Orchid” according to the Daniel Stowe Conservancy website call these flowers Glass Daffodils. However, in its description it calls the statue an orchid piece stating that Jason’s purpose was to allow people to “observe with the same eyes through which ‘he’ humbly and graciously experiences our natural world” (Quote by Jason Gamrath).

Click on each image to enlarge.

Carol’s Thursday Trios-2026.07.17

Also posting in Remembrance of:

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: William H. Williamson, III Orchid Conservatory; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Thursday Doors: July 16

*Ritva at*
*Ritva Sillanmäki Photography*

More Doors

at Daniel Stowe

Botanical Garden

Last week I shared the entrance Doors to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; this week I sharing Doors within the Gardens.

Click on images to enlarge.

Dan’s Thursday Doors-2026.07.16

Camera: Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a funtastic rest of your week and weekend ahead. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with w. I appreciate y’all very much.

Sunday Stills 2026 July 13th:

Groups of Three (3) or More

in the Gardens of

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Good Day everyone! This week Terri with Second Wind Leisure Perspectives has given us the prompt of Groups of Three (3) or More. I have selected Groups of Three or More in The Gardens at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Having selected floral Groups of Three (3) or More I am linking this post with Terri’s The #Flower Hour.

Click on rack image to enlarge.

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Groups of 3 or More

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #39

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm and Altura UV Filter Attachment.

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the beautiful Flowers. Enjoy Nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monday – 2026 July 13

Crassula pyramidalis

Succulents in the Garden at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

Silent Sunday: 2026 July 12

Hemerocallis ‘Autumn Minaret’
Aka Autumn Minaret Daylily

Silent Sunday-2026.07.12

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to enjoy the flowers. Get Outdoors and commune with nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

One Word Sunday (#OWS) —2026 July 12 — Bicoloured

Debbie with Travel with Intent has selected the word Bicoloured for this week’s One Word Sunday theme. When I first saw the term Bicoloured, I thought of duotoned images not two distinct colours or shades. Hence the last images has both Bicoloured and Duotoned.

Floral Examples …

One …

Two …

Pink and White Phalaenopsis
Aka Moth Orchids

Duotoned vs. Bicoloured …

One Word Sunday (OWS)
Light blue and brown duotone colorization of the **Prairie Castle Playground’s Net Tunnel.**

Natural light brown and Black are the colours of the Net Tunnel which is made from thick sturdy rope as part of the **Prairie Castle Playground** inside **Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.**

Click on images to enlarge.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday (#OWS)-Bicoloured

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Cameras: 1-2) Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment; 3-4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the Flowers. Be observant of the amazingly beautiful colours found in nature. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 CosPhoChal: Close Up with Butterflies

Dale, the host of the Cosmic Photo Challenge, has challenged us to post a few close-up shots for this week’s challenge. Coleman and I had just recently visited the Butterfly Bungalow watching the butterflies fluttering to and fro from flower to flower feasting on nectar and/or pollen till their hearts content. Therefore, I thought it might be worth it to share a few close-ups with you.

First, in the image above we are viewing two Eastern Giant Swallowtails enjoying the tasty delight in the butterfly feeder.

Next, let’s take a closer look at the Butterfly feeder. Not only are the Swallowtails having a delicious feast of the sugar water solution mixed with fruit to provide them with energy, but severe black ants are joining in to sample it as well.

And finally for a close-up view of the Eastern Giant Swallowtails themselves. Observe the delicate line, pattern, and color details in the design of the Swallowtails wings. Notice their distinctive appearance with their prominent antennae that are dark, slender, and distinctively club-tipped. Its legs are also slender, dark, and segmented allowing it to grip the edge of the feeder.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Cosmic Photo Challenge (#CosPhoChal)-Close-Up

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Butterfly Bungalow; Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Be observant of all creatures large and small that call our Earth home. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Pull Up a Seat Week #28 — In a Botanical Garden

Welcome, I’m thrilled you stopped by for a visit. This week I’m holding off on Further Adventures of Coleman Pulling Up a Seat at Anne Springs Close Greenway. Instead I’m posting a few benches from our recent visit to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina.

It was an extremely hot and humid afternoon here in our region of North Carolina, so a few benches scattered here and there around the Gardens were a welcome relief to hydrate and catch (at least mine) our breath before venturing on around the Gardens.

Here are my entries for this week …

Click on images to enlarge.

XingfuMama’s Pull Up a Seat 2026 – Week #28

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stay Cool. Stay Adventurous. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Thursday Trios: (on Friday) 2026.07.10

Floral Trios

Calibrachoa x hybrida
Aka Million Bells;
*Mini Petunia; Trailing Petunia*

*Summerific® ‘Cranberry Crush’*
*Rose Mallow Hibiscus*

Click on each image to enlarge.

Carol’s Thursday Trios-2026.07.10

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location:

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Which Way Challenge (CWWC) 2026: Any Which Way with the colours of Brown and/or Black [07.10.2026]

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). I trust everyone has had a good week and able to spend some time to take a walk or hike in the vast outdoors. This week’s theme is CWWC: Any Which Way with the colours of Brown and/orBlack. The Which Way can be any path, sidewalk, trail, or road as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. As always signs are always welcome.

For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

For the adventure we parked at the Dairy Barn Entrance to Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina. We hiked down the pathway towards the Spillway, crossed the Swinging Bridge, and on towards Lake Haigler where we hiked along the Blue Star Trail. We encountered many Brown objects along our route and even a few Black one too.

Let’s take a look at our hiking adventure …

CWWC
Cee’s Which Way Challenge
– Brown and/or Black
CFFC
***Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge***
***– Crayola Black***

Click on each image to enlarge.

Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.

For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.

Geriatri’x’ Fotogallery’s Dirt Track

Brian’s Down the road a piece

Marina’s Path with Brown

Cath’s Camera’s Which Way… {The Muddy Road Ahead}

Cath’s Camera’s Which Way… {Not Just Blue Skies}

Pepper from HeavensSunshine’s Between the Wildflowers

Dawn’s Which Way: Along the Brown of the Creek

Rich’s Brown The Trail

Deb’s Which Way Challenge (CWWC)

Dan’s CFFC-Black

Cameta: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250 mm and EF75-300 mm lenses.

Location: Blue Star Trail; Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

*** Note: Next Week we will be exploring and sharing the theme of CWWC: Any Which Way in Black and White On Asphalt Roads or Paved Pathways [07.17.2026]

The #Flower Hour #38 — 2026 July 07

Carduus nutans

Click on image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #38

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens

Location: Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Stop and smell the flowers. Admire them and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour #37: Patriotic Colours in Florals — 2026 July 03

Happy Fourth of July!

RED …

WHITE …

*Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’*
*aka Callery Pear*

BLUE …

Happy Birthday America!

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The Flower Hour #37

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; Apple iPhone 13 Pro; Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Monochrome Madness #63 — Bright As Can Be _2026.07.01

Hosting Monochrome Madness this week is Margaret from Pyrenees to Pennines blog. She has chosen a theme of as Bright as Can Be. How Bright is Bright as Can Be? Maybe my selections are as Bright as Can Be, but maybe yours might be brighter.

Here are my entries …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Cameras: Apple 14 Pro Max; Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max; Canon EOS Rebel T3i, and Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Locations: As stated above.

God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Anyone wishing to join in and participate, please go to the Monochrome Madness page to find out how.

2026 Last on the Card — June 30th

Brian from Bushboys World hosts a monthly challenge called Last On the Card. His rules are simple to follow if you’re interested in participating.

Here are The rules:
1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th or whenever your last photo was taken.
2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate.
3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do
4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments
5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard

Here are my contributions …

From my Canon EOS T7 (2000D):

*Gastonia burgei,*
*skeleton of an herbivorous*
*ankylosaurian dinosaur*
*at The Schiele Museum*
*of Natural History Gastonia, NC*

From my Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Click on each image to enlarge.

#Brian’s Last on the Card-2026 June 30

God Bless. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 CFFC: Crayola Blue (in my world)

Dan from No Facilities hosts the Fun Foto Challenge at and this week he is asking for our The Crayola Box of 8 – Blue . I have gone into my recent and archive files to see what I could locate to best represent this week’s theme. I will also be sharing Blue Along Trails as part of Friday’s CWWC post (Stay tuned to more Blue and feel free to share your blue with Cee’s Which Way Challenge as well as Dan’s CFFC challenge this week.

Here are my entries …

*Robinwood Lake Warlick YMCA Gastonia, NC*

Click on each image to enlarge.

Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC)-Blue

God Bless. Enjoy your week. May it be filled with love, joy, laughter, and lots of fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Sunday Stills: Animal of the Month —Reptiles in the Carolinas

I’m joining Terri Webster Schrandt in her new Sunday Stills theme of Animal of the Month. This challenge will be for posting photos of an Animal, Bird, insect, reptile or other Creature of the Month. This month she also has a subtheme of Wild. I am focusing my images on Reptiles in the Wild areas of the Southeastern United States (mainly the Carolinas).

*Pond Slider*
*The Pond*
*The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, NC*

Terri’s Sunday Stills: Animal of the Month – Wild

God Bless. Have an adventurous week. Stay Cool. Enjoy the Outdoors. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monday – 2026 June 22

Hydrangea quercifolia

Click on each image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Nature Trail; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Pull Up a Seat Week 25— At a Museum, Coleman Style #2

Coleman Style

At The Schiele Museum

of Natural History

In the Catawba Indian Village …

XingfuMama’s Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2026-Week 25

Camera: 1-2)Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment; 3-4) Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Catawba Indian Village; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monochrome Madness #62 2026 June 17

Jugs, Jugs, & More

(Inside & Out)

This week’s host for Monochrome Madness is Brian from Bushboys World. He has chosen a theme of Jugs for this week’s challenge. Jugs have been around for ages and made from varies materials like clay, glass, and even plastic. I much prefer sun-dried clay or glass-blown jugs to the more modern lightweight high-density polyethylene (plastic) jugs.

These are a few of the Jugs I have found in my archives to share with y’all.

Located in Fairies-Coltharp Cabin
Anne Springs Close Greenway
*Fort Mill, SC*

Click on each image to enlarge.

Brian’s Monochrome Madness #62-Jugs

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness (MM)

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm & EF-S18-55mm lenes; Apple iPhone 13 Pro; Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Locations: As stated above.

God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Anyone wishing to join in and participate, please go to the Monochrome Madness page to find out how.

Macro Monday – 2026 June 15

Allium fistulosum

Click on each image to enlarge.

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour-2026.06.15

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Pull Up a Seat Week 24— At a Museum, Coleman Style #1

Coleman Style

at The Schiele Museum

of Natural History

*Coleman*
*Pulling Up a Seat*
*on a*
*Farmall Cub Tractor*

*Coleman*
*Pull Up a Seat*
*on a Tractor*

XingfuMama’s Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2026-Week 24

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a fantastic weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Thursday Trios: (on Friday) 2026.06.12

Trios of Bales

on Wagon Loop Trail

Coleman and I hiked along Wagon Loop a couple of weeks ago. Wagon Loop is one of 25 unique trails in Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

This trail follows part of Steele Creek and connects to Haigler Loop, Blue Star, Steele Creek, North Steele Creek, Ford Gap, Muscadine and Wild Azalea trails. You can access the trail behind the Williams Education Center or oﬀ Haigler Loop.

The distance for the complete Wagon Loop trail is 1.4 miles in length.It meanders through forested landscapes, creeks, and open fields (like this field of cut and rolled hay bales). It is often combined with Muscadine, Billy’s Walk, and the Lake Haigler Loop trail for a longer hiking experience.

As you meander along the Wagon Loop trail you’ll pass by several points of historical significance such as the Nation Ford Trail. The trails are well maintained, however, I would recommend you wear a good pair of hiking shoes. There are exposed tree roots and when the rains occur so does the mud along the trails.

*A Trio of Hay Bales*
*(Oops, plus one)*

There is a few to enter Anne Springs Close Greenway of $17 per adult, youth (ages 3-12) $8 (kids under 3 are free). The Greenway does offer memberships which I recommend if you live near the Fort Mill, South Carolina area. To find out more about the Greenway’s memberships click here.

Carol’s Thursday Trios-2026.06.12

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Wagon Loop; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monochrome Madness #61 2026 June 11

The View From Underneath

Why go for the ordinary shot when you can capture the exceptional, unconventional, and unique beauty from a different and unusual perspective? I like to capture views from underneath bridges and/or trestles. The structural integrity and design in each bridge or trestle are unique and some with intricate characteristics and features.

*Looking at the*
*structural design*
*underneath a Footbridge in*
*Goat Island Park and Greenway,*
*Cramerton, North Carolina*

*The Beauty of the*
*Catawba River Flowing*
*underneath a Street Bridge*
*and the Structural Design,*
*Strength of Lines, and*
*the Sound Engineering System.*
*Founder’s Trail,*
*Fort Mill, South Carolina*

*Sound Structural Engineering Design*
*strengthens the supporting*
*interlocking network*
*increasing the lasting*
*Capabilities of the Trestle Bridge.*
*Founder’s Trail*
*Fort Mill, South Carolina*

The beauty of black and white/monochrome photography brings a unique perspective on how we see and experience the world around us. What will you photograph in monochrome this week?

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness (MM)

Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; 2-3) Apple iPhone 13 Pro Ultra Wide

Locations: As stated above.

God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Anyone wishing to join in and participate, please go to the Monochrome Madness page to find out how.

2026 Thursday Doors: June 11

Obscure or Not

Sometimes when Coleman and I are out and about hiking or visiting a museum like The Schiele Museum of Natural History I will try to capture objects, like doors, the majority of people wouldn’t ordinarily think to capture with their cameras. These I’m sharing today are ones more obscure than others you might expect to see.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Dan’s Thursday Doors-2026.06.11

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment; Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take Care. May your week by filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Wordless Wednesday — 2026 June 10

Creating a Pollinator Garden

Wordless Wednesday-2026.06.10

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Pollinator Garden; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Enjoy Nature’s beautiful creations. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

The #Flower Hour #34 — 2026 June 09

Fragaria virginiana

The Fragaria virginiana, is also known Scarlett Strawberry and Wild Strawberry. It is a flowering perennial that produces edible fruit. It spreads by runners making it an easy choice for use as groundcover. It can also be used as erosion control holding soil on slopes.

Wild Strawberries are native to North America, from Newfoundland and Alberta in Canada , south down Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma as well as the states in between like North and South Carolina. The plant produces small white flowers in the Spring with tiny, highly flavorful red berries following in late spring and early summer. They are primarily pollinated by a diverse mix of native bees, hoverflies, and small butterflies.

*North Carolina’s native*
*Wild Strawberry*

These Scarlett Strawberries (Fragaria virginiana) are grown in the garden in The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia, North Carolina. The Garden also contains several bee hives providing the bees which pollinate many of the flowers grown here.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #34-2026.06.09

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Smell the amazing fragrance of flowers. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Macro Monday – 2026 June 08

Xylocopa micans

on Cornus foemina

These Swamp Dogwood Flowers are located on the banks of Lake Haigler by the Hunter E. Martin Kayak Launch on Haigler Loop at Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

***Cornus foemina***,
aka ***Swamp Dogwood***
or ***Stiff Dogwood***

Click on image to enlarge.

Macro Monday (MM)

Terri’s The Flower Hour-2026.06.08

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Haigler Loop; at Hunter E. Martin Kayak Launch; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a terrific week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

One Word Sunday (#OWS) —2026 June 07 — Swirl

Swirls in Nature

Whenever Coleman and I go hiking no matter where we go we can just about always discover swirls. Sometimes they can be swirly lines on bents (piers), or found naturally in nature, or sometimes they can be something simple as a child’s scribbles of swirls and squiggly lines.

Here are a few examples of Swirls we have discovered while hiking.

Swirly lines on a bridge bent
Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway
Gastonia, North Carolina

Yes, Water ripples can be Swirls
The Pond; Nature Trail;
The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina

Now for the piece to resistance …

Swirls and Squiggles
made by Coleman
when he was 3.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Swirl (2026.06.07)

God Bless. Have a terrific week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Silent Sunday: 2026 June 07

Baptisia alba

*It is native to central*
*and eastern North America*
*and is typically found in open*
*woodland areas prairies*
*with tall grasslands.*
*However, in this case the plant*
*is grown in the landscape*
*and garden areas of*
*The Schiele Museum of Natural History*
*in Gastonia, North Carolina.*

Silent Sunday-2026.06.07

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Gardens; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Pure Blossom Shining Through the Gloom

The snowy petals whisper grace,
And leave a perfume in this place.
These luminous and trusting blooms,
Are shining through the solemn glooms.

A sacred blossom, pure and white,
Unfolds its heart to meet the light.
The elegant and silent trust,
Will bloom in beauty since it must.

This graceful flower shows devotion,
To stir the spirit like an ocean.
It rests beneath the moonlit skies,
Where quiet magic never dies.

Debbie’s Six Word Saturday-2026.06.06

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden in The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. May your day be filled with love, peace, happiness and an abundance of laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Pull Up a Seat Week 23— in a Greenway #2

Coleman Style In

Anne Springs Close Greenway

XingfuMama’s Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2026-Week 23

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. May you have a lovely week filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour — 2026 June 05

Monarda fistulosa

Monarda fistulosa (Wild Bergamot) is also referred to as wild bee balm, Appalachian Bergamot, Eastern Bergamot. It is a hardy, perennial wildflower native to North America and is in the mint genus family. It has distinctive lavender-pink blossoms, aromatic foliage which has an exceptional ability to attract pollinators and historically has been used for medicinal purposes.

It serves as a pollinator magnet drawing an enormous amount of bumblebees, native bees, predatory wasps, and butterflies. [The Garden where these are planted also has a section of four beehives with plenty of bees to help pollinate the flowers grown therein.]

For those interested in expanding their palates, you might want to try tasting its edible leaves and flowers. They add a spicy, citrusy, oregano-like kick to salads, jellies, and meat dishes. Also may note that historically the leaves have been used, by indigenous peoples, to brew teas to treat colds, flus, and digestive issues.

Wild bergamot
(Monarda fistulosa)
**Terri’s The #Flower Hour**

Terri’s The Flower Hour #33

Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge-What’s Flowering Where You Are?

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden; In The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 FOWC — A Harvest of Pumpkins

Fandango’s One-Word Challenge

The FOWC prompt for Tuesday is Pumpkin. Know I’m behind a couple of days, but still wanted to share these Pumpkins with y’all.

*Lake Haigler Entrance*
*Anne Springs Close Greenway*
*Fort Mill, SC*

*Autumn Festival*
*The Schiele Museum*
*of Natural History*
*Gastonia, NC*

Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC)-Pumpkin

Cameras: 1-2 &4)Apple iPhone 14 Pro Ma; 3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens

Locations: As Stated above.

God Bless. May you have a Stable of Love, Friendship, and Joy. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monochrome Madness #61 2026 June 04

Water Flowing

Upward & Downward

This week’s Monochrome Madness is hosted by Leanne Cole. She has chosen to challenge us to post images which show water flowing. Mine not only includes waterfalls, but also Spillways, Oceans, Dams, Lakes, Rivers and Garden Fountains. Water flows in many different ways from straight upwards to upstream and downstream, including over rocks and barriers.

Now to show y’all my entries …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #61-Flowing Water

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere

God Bless. Have a funtastic week ahead. May your week be filled with love, laughter, and happiness. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Anyone wishing to join in and participate, please go to the Monochrome Madness page to find out how.

One-Liner Wednesday 2026 June 03

One Liner Wednesday
Badge by Laura
@riddlefromthemiddle.com

*It was June, and the world smelled of roses.*
*The sunshine was like powdered gold*
*over the grassy hillside. ~Maud Hart Lovelace, Betsy-Tacy and Tib, 1941*

Click on image to enlarge.

#1LinerWednesday

Linda’s One Liner Wednesday

God Bless. Love One Another. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Last on the Card — May 31

Brian from Bushboys World hosts a monthly challenge called Last On the Card. His rules are simple to follow if you’re interested in participating.

Here are The rules:
1. Post the last photo on your SD card or last photo on your phone for the 30th or whenever your last photo was taken.
2. No editing – who cares if it is out of focus, not framed as you would like or the subject matter didn’t cooperate.
3. You don’t have to have any explanations, just the photo will do
4. Create a Pingback to this post or link in the comments
5. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard

Here are my contributions …

From my Canon EOS T7 (2000D):

*The Pond*
*The Schiele Museum*
*of Natural History*
*Gastonia, NC*

From my Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Click on each image to enlarge.

#Brian’s Last on the Card-2026 May 31

God Bless. Have a funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 LAPC #400: The Rule of Threes featuring Florals

Tina with Travels and Trifles is this week’s host for the Lens Artist Photo Challenge. She has chosen a. Theme of The Rule of Three, not to be confused with The Rule of Thirds. I quite frequently post for Carol’s Thursday Trios so finding groups of three’s isn’t difficult for me. Whenever I am out and about I always look for possible three’s to use later on. For this challenge I am foxing The Rule of Three’s in Floral settings.

*Canna discolor*
*(aka Achira*
*or edible canna) Gastonia, NC*

*Flowering Dogwood*
(Cornus florida)
Native to the
Eastern North America
Official Flower of Tennessee

Oakleaf Hydrangea,
Hydrangea quercifolia
The Farm at
The Schiele Museum
*of Natural History*

*Rhododendron arborescens,*
*or smooth/sweet azalea*

Tina’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge (LAPC) #400-The Rule of Three

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #33

Carol’s Thursday Trios

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monday Portrait #17 — 2026 June 01

Barbados Blackbelly Sheep

Click on image to enlarge.

Monday Portrait-2026.06.01

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens

Locations: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Monochrome Monday(MM)/Monochrome Madness: 2026 June 01

Monochromatic at the Greenway

Visiting the Anne Springs Close Greenway, sometimes it’s nice to shoot in black and white instead of always in colour. The effects can be just as striking if not more dramatic and impressive.

These first images were taking while hiking along the trail towards and at Lake Haigler.

Lake Haigler
Lake Haigler Loop
Anne Springs Close Greenway

The next set of images were taken while Coleman was playing on the climbing structure in the Schroering Forest Playground.

***Schroering Forest Playground***
***Lake Haigler Entrance***
***Anne Springs Close Greenway***
***Fort Mill, South Carolina***

Click on each image to enlarge.

Monday Monochrome

Monochrome Monday

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel 2000D with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens; & Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max

Locations: As Stated Below Images.

God Bless. Have a pleasant and funtastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Silent Sunday: 2026 May 31

Going for a Swim

*Swimming Upstream*
*in the*
*South Fork Catawba River*

Silent Sunday-2026.05.31

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: South Fork Catawba River; Goat Island Park and Greenway; Cramerton, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a wonderful week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2026 Pull Up a Seat Week 22— in a Greenway #1

Coleman Style in

Schroering Forest Playground

Anne Springs Close Greenway

*Coleman sitting on the Climbing Structure*

XingfuMama’s Pull Up a Seat #22

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: Schroering Forest Playground; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. May you have a lovely week filled with love, joy, and laughter. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Floral Friday/The #Flower Hour/Spring Festival — 2026 May 29

A Garden of

Echinacea purpurea

Unlike Terri or Brian, I have not seen any dogwood trees lately. I have, however, recently visited the Garden inside The Farm at The Schiele Museum of Natural History with a lovely variety of plants and flowers. I am focusing on the beautiful Echinacea purpurea, more commonly known as Purple Coneflower or Eastern Purple Coneflower.

Coneflowers are a popular native floral in a number of gardens (both private and commercial) in our part of the Eastern United States. They are a drought-tolerant perennial with daisy-like flowers. (It is a good thing these plants are drought tolerant since we are currently under water restrictions due to insufficient rainfall (even though it has rained here all week).

The coneflowers thrive in full sunlight and well-drained soil. All the plants and flowers in this garden are well cultivated and cared for. They have a long lasting blooming season from Summer throughout Autumn. Even though it is still Spring in our area, we have had summer-like weather and the coneflowers and other plants are thriving.

This year the garden’s Purple Coneflowers are in abundance and are a delightful attraction for pollinators (like butterflies & the bees in residence at the Farm) and provide seeds for birds. Coneflowers classic colour is purple, however, they also come in a variety of shades of pink, yellow, white, and orange.

A Gallery of
Purple Coneflowers
in a Garden

An interesting fact about the coneflowers is that every part of the plant is edible. Now I have not tried eating them as of yet, but the vibrant petals are said to have a mild, sweet , floral flavour. They make a colourful garnish for salads, desserts, or charcuterie boards. The young. tender leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked similarly to spinach. While the coneflowers are considered safe and nontoxic for humans and pets, you would want to avoid high doses due to the fact it is possible for them to cause upset stomachs. For further information about its culinary and medicinal uses check out Eat the Planet.

Click on each image to enlarge.

Terri’s The #Flower Hour #32

Dawn’s Spring Festival 2026 – Finale

Carol’s Thursday Trios

XingfuMama’s Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge-2026 Week 21

Also posting in remembrance of …

Bren’s Floral Friday

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 (2000D) with Canon EF-S55-250 mm lens and Altura UV Filter attachment.

Location: The Garden; In The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Admire the Flowers and the beauty found in nature. Have a fantastic week. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Which Way Challenge 2026 (CWWC): Any Which Way Along a Nature Trail (Paved, Unpaved, or Natural surface) [05.29.2026]

Welcome back to another Which Way Challenge (CWWC). I trust everyone has had a good week and able to spend some time to take a walk or hike in the vast outdoors. This week’s theme for the Which Way Challenge is CWWC: Any Which Way Along a Nature Trail (Paved, Unpaved, or Natural surface). The Which Way can be any trail found in nature as long as the Which Way is clearly discernible. As always signs are always welcome.

For further information regarding the Which Way Challenge (CWWC) feel free to check out the home page here.

A Nature Trail can be found in Greenways, state or national parks, and even in some city parks. They can be paved or unpaved natural surfaces or even graveled. Wherever you find to walk or hike amongst nature are fantastic places to show your Which Ways this week. Coleman and I love getting outdoors hiking in nature amongst the trees, rivers, and lakes.

Here is our latest adventure hiking along Nature Trails …

Click on each image to enlarge.

Thank you to those who have participated and supported the Which Ways Challenge. I appreciate y’all sharing your Which Ways with us.

For an idea of other’s Which Ways from this past week’s challenge, be sure to click on the following links below.

Dawn’s Memorial Day Bank Sign

Geriatri’x’ Fotogallery’s Signposts

Dan’s Travel Doors and Signs

God Bless. Get Outdoors. Take a Walk/Hike. Enjoy Nature’s Beauty. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

*** Note Next Week’s theme: CWWC: Any Which Way on an Interstate, Highway, or Paved Road [06.05.2026]

Cervus axis

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Castle Windows

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Monarch

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“Cattleya Orchid”

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More Doors

at Daniel Stowe

Botanical Garden

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Groups of Three (3) or More

in the Gardens of

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

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Crassula pyramidalis

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Carduus nutans

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Happy Fourth of July!

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Hydrangea quercifolia

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Coleman Style

At The Schiele Museum

of Natural History

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Jugs, Jugs, & More

(Inside & Out)

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Allium fistulosum

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Coleman Style

at The Schiele Museum

of Natural History

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Trios of Bales

on Wagon Loop Trail

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The View From Underneath

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Creating a Pollinator Garden

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Fragaria virginiana

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Xylocopa micans

on Cornus foemina

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Swirls in Nature

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Baptisia alba

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Monarda fistulosa

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Water Flowing

Upward & Downward

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Barbados Blackbelly Sheep