Winging it . . . . . . . . . .

As mentioned recently, there are still surprises hidden in the garden even when 

the flowers aren't blooming due to the weather conditions.

Yesterday I found two - a dragonfly wing and a huge toadstool which had popped up 

under the fig tree. The lumpy fungus cannot be mistaken for a mushroom by any means, 

but it definitely has an astonishing beauty all of its own.
I think this is the Black-staining polypore -  Meriplus sumstinel- which 
grows around the base or stumps of deciduous trees, July through September, and can
reach 32 inches across - this one was about 10 inches.

As for the ethereal and delicate beauty of a tiny wing, discarded on the front 
steps . . . . . one wonders what happened to the dragonfly. 
I so hope it had its days in the sun.

Here's hoping your weekend has a few lovely 

surprises in store for you.

The Green Darner . . .

Was he after the last of the figs? Or maybe just resting 

on his way south. Well known for its great migration 
distance, it flies from the northern United States south 
into Texas and even Mexico.

The Common Green Darner stopped by my fig tree on Friday. 
He stayed long enough for me to run into the cottage and 
grab my Olympus and set it on 'Birds' in hopes of getting 
a good shot of those dashing colors and quivering gossamer 
wings. Common and abundant, it is one of the largest 
dragonflies, males grow to 3" in length with a wingspan 
of up to 3-1/2". 
Adult darners catch insects on the wing, including moths, 
flies and mosquitoes. Lovely dragonflies please, please 
return to the garden next Summer - I'll have plenty of 
mosquitoes for you to dine on, I promise.