Ferns—specifically, this common fern from the Driopteris genus found in our forests—fascinate me because they are clear examples of fractals. The spiral formed by the unfurling fern is itself a fractal. Math isn’t exactly my favorite subject, but I’m fascinated by how some plants grow in patterns that can be expressed mathematically.
I wanted to take a photo of this spiral this spring, and I managed to do it today.
#nature #ferns #macrophotography #macro #fractals

#SilentSunday
This year, for the first time, I waded across the river. The water was cold as you’d expect in the spring. Once my feet got used to it, I waded upstream along the gravel banks avoiding the deep spots. People don’t go there anymore; there are only animal tracks in the sand. A hornet flew by confidently navigating across the river. Several large animals passed through the forest along the bank; against the sun, I couldn’t tell what they were. They didn’t notice me. I love it.
#nature

Forget-me-nots (Miosotis), this particular species likely Miosotis scorpioides, or the marsh forget-me-not, are now forming pale blue patches in the floodplain forest. They have replaced the previous white patches of snowdrops and the vibrant colors of various early spring plants. Wild garlic is also getting ready to bloom. Then parts of the forest floor will be white again, and the forest will smell of garlic.
#nature #bloomscrolling #macro #macrophoto #FloodForest #flowers

It’s hard to photograph ants; they rarely stop and are very fast. But there is one moment when they don’t run away—when they’re with aphids, their symbionts. These shiny black ants, Lasius fuliginosus, can be recognized by their heart-shaped heads and are truly glossy. Thanks to good lighting conditions, a tripod, and the aphids, my photos turned out well.
#nature #ants #macrophoto #macro

Not such #SilentSunday

Today, while picking garlic in the floodplain forest, I managed to snap a photo of this handsome fellow on a wild garlic leaf. It’s an oak weevil, Curculio glandium. He’s probably young, because he hasn’t yet learned the trick most weevils use—when a photographer stares at you, retreat to the underside of the leaf and wait until they leave. Not this one—he patiently let me take his picture.
#nature #macrophoto #macro #naturephotography #beetle

The maple trees are now in bloom in the forest (and in the city, for that matter). Today I photographed this Acer platanoides in the forest. I find these flowers beautiful; at no other time of year do I see such a bright green-yellow color. The large trees shine in the dark forest like clouds of light, and the small trees near the ground, which have only a few fl owers, look like clusters of fireflies.
#nature #naturephotography #trees #BloomScrolling #macro #SilentSunday