Another of my little cameras appears to have bitten the dust. Or more likely the sand. I don’t think it’s good for cameras to take them down to the beach to take pictures of the Bay whipped into whitecaps, or the tiny flowers growing in the shelter of the bluff. It’s good for me, though, so I intend to keep doing it. Must go get another camera first. Meanwhile, the sturdy little blind camera did its best.
Here is your slideshow from yesterday’s walk. If you can see that tiny butterfly, maybe you can help me identify it. I’m not much good at butterflies.
If you have a recommendation for a sand-resistant camera that would not go amiss either.
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Posted in: Adventures outdoors, Up North in Michigan
Torch Lake Views 
P.j. grath
April 24, 2012
I love dandelions, too! Their happy faces–
Butterfly…must look up…maybe a–oh, darn, the name just went out of my head, but there’s a large family of butterflies with those colors and irregular wing edges. I can’t see this one that well. (Can’t BELIEVE the name was RIGHT THERE and is now gone! Well, I can believe….)
Gerry
April 24, 2012
Happy dandelions. I know what you mean about words – they flit away just like the butterflies.
tootlepedal
April 24, 2012
Who needs a new camera with shots like these?
Gerry
April 24, 2012
You are too kind. I need one so I can see what I’m doing. You should have seen all the spoiled shots.
WOL
April 24, 2012
Regarding the butterfly, too much black and white for an orange sulphur.
(see: http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/21-large-orange-sulphur )
I believe what you’ve got there is your American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis).
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Vanessa-virginiensis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Painted_Lady
Says the Vanessa virginiensis is common to temperate North America. Are you temperate where you are? We’re kind of intemperate here in the Tx panhandle at the moment. Supposed to get up to 94 today, and 101 tomorrow, and it’s not even May yet. I had best get my front bed mulched so I can give it a good soak.
Gerry
April 24, 2012
Thank you! I’m sure you’re right, with the bonus that I have a nice new site to pore over when I want to know about butterflies.
If it were 94 here I would be intemperate. In fact, I would be downright hostile. Up here on the shores of Lake Michigan it is rare for us to get that hot even in July and August. If it were to get up to 101 no one here would know because we would all have fled to the Upper Peninsula and the shores of Lake Superior. I wish you some nice temperate breezes.
uphilldowndale
April 24, 2012
Perwinkle blue, glorious.
Gerry
April 24, 2012
What, you didn’t like the dandy lion? OK, I admit the periwinkle is pretty.
Martha
April 24, 2012
What’s wrong with your camera? Details, please. The one I take to work spends the day jammed in my back pocket. I can’t believe how your woods are so full of flowers now! We still have nothing.
And if you ever say “naturalized” to a DNR person about those invasive species you will get a talking to!
Gerry
April 24, 2012
“Lens error.” First it wouldn’t retract, and then when it finally decided to retract it wouldn’t open up again. I’m pretty sure there’s sand in the mechanism. This would be the second one that’s had the same symptoms. The little blind camera works just fine except that the screen is broken so I can’t see to adjust settings and can’t see to focus and . . . nuts.
“Naturalized” was used somewhat ironically. Lots of people planted myrtle as a ground cover around cottages in Eden Shores back in the 1950s-1970s. Now it’s everywhere, just like tiger lilies and sweetpeas and other escapees. Anyway, every year the DNR plants non-native fishes, which we catch and eat. Life is full of ironies.
Sybil
April 24, 2012
I “accidentally” bought three (cheap) digital cameras on e-Bay. Didn’t think I’d get all three for my low bids … Daughter and her boyfriend and the happy befificiaries of my excess.
Gerry
April 24, 2012
Maybe I should consider a bulk purchase.
shoreacres
April 24, 2012
Your photos are glorious – just thank your lucky stars we have digital now. If we didn’t, I couldn’t afford to process all those I happily toss away.
I don’t know a lick about cameras or butterflies. But I’ve recently learned we have a treasure called a miniature dandelion here – it’s only a half-inch across. Amazing. I’m still fondest of what you show. Do you stick them under each other’s chins to see if you like butter? That was big in Iowa kid-dom.
Joss
April 25, 2012
Oh, yes, I’ve always loved dandelions too. I’ve even considered growing them in my garden deliberately, in a bed. Trouble is, unless I kept dead heading them everyday they’d spread and soon I’d have dandelions everywhere. They are hard to get rid of as the roots go down so deep.
Nye
April 25, 2012
The Lamium is so pretty, and nice shot. The butterfly made me think of the Monarch Butterfly because of the black and orange colors.
Gerry
April 26, 2012
Thank you, Nye. The butterfly made me think of a miniature Monarch, too, but it’s a lot smaller and less “pointy.” Butterflies are a challenge. Pretty things, though, and fun to watch.
Giiid
April 28, 2012
The photos are fine, – (love the myrtle) but if you really have to buy a new camera, why not choose a waterproof this time. I have just looked it up, and waterproof cameras are also sandproof. They are probably made for playful children, – and for grown ups who are just as curious and fearless, when it comes to combine sand and camera. Think about the many new subjects you will get, when you can take under water photos.
Gerry
April 28, 2012
The thought of taking underwater photos is delicious. There is a lot of Underwater Around Here.
Robin
April 28, 2012
I was going to suggest a waterproof camera, but see someone else has done that already. Your photos are beautiful. Seems blind in this case is not so bad.
flandrumhill
April 29, 2012
Those periwinkles are stunningly beautiful. I wish mine grew as profusely as the ones in your photographs.
I consulted with Mr. Audubon and came to the same conclusion as WOL regarding the identity of that lovely butterfly. It’s also known as a Cosmopolite and is considered the most widespread butterfly in the world.