Photo Challenge April….

I seem to take 99% of my macro shots out in my garden. Capturing many spectacular garden bugs seems pretty easy when they are visiting flowers and shrubs and, if we're lucky, they actually keep still for a minute or so. Flowers are also are wonderful macro subjects because of their intricate shapes, colors and textures, all making close-up shots really worthwhile.

So, for Donna's photo challenge this month, I hope you will 

enjoy these beautiful creatures visiting my garden 

last Summer. 

All shots were taken with the Olympus SP-590UZ set on Macro.

A little touch up with thanks to PicMonkey.

I love the chunky bumble bee. He always comes 
to the sedum flowers with a crowd of family and friends 
in tow, busily buzzing from flower to flower, gathering 
nectar and pollinating.

The Eastern tiger swallowtail on the 'ham and eggs' 
lantana……the loved or despised, depending where you 
garden, invasive plant.
One of the most familiar butterflies in the 
Eastern United States.

My blue hydrangea blooms fried in the heat of 

last Summer, however the katydid still 

clambered about the crunchy petals……………

……………but seemed happiest here in full camouflage on the 

still green leaves. Nature is amazing up close.

I cheated with four photos instead of three! I beg 
forgiveness Donna - I just love the up-close katydid pics - 
their camouflage is amazing on the green leaves. 

Hop, fly, creep or crawl over to Donna's monthly Personal 
Photo Challenge - I bet there are some great macro/close-up 
shots to see………and you can add yours also.