The rare and indigenous Copper-Iris flower blooms during a small window in Spring!  Hiking through wetlands and into a swamp one Spring morning, we hunted and searched the edge of a large lake.  The air was sultry and full of moisture with a backdrop symphony of birds, frogs, and insects.

After several hours, of gentle and slow steps in the knee high water we found a clump of the iris’ dappled with morning sunlight streaming down from openings in the branches of the Cypress Trees canopy above!  The rich orange and coppery colored flowers with intricate lines were exciting to see in contrast with the woody and dark colored water.  Never have I experienced such a complete joy of being immersed in nature!

I collaborated on this research project of the Copper-Iris with Ranger Jeff Hill of Tennessee State Parks.

On a hot August morning lush with water vapor, Big beautiful carpenter bees, defying gravity flit from flower to flower collection pollens from the Thalia Dealbata plants in the Pollinator Garden and small pond at Memphis Botanic Garden.

The fuzzy and shiny black bees contrasted with the almost iridescent purple flowers looking as dusted with nature’s pollen magic!

The amazing bees worked quickly gathering pollen and flying delicately between flowers like tiny helicopters as if posing for a Vincent Van Gogh painting.

A Lotus flower's peaceful and beautiful cycle of rebirth and inspiration.

Lotus Glow in Summer at Memphis Botanic Garden - A lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera) grows and transforms in a lowland pond habitat a.

My sultry lotus project grew and grew over 3 very hot summers.

I noticed that these amazing flowers withstood the high heat and even thrived in hot weather! Astounded, I fell in love with their brilliant contrast and decided to do a photo study.

As I sat up my camera I heard busy, buzzing Carpenter bumble bees...nearby on the Thalia Dealbata plants and felt blazing heat radiating from the ground.

The Lotus is considered sacred in Asia and has rich symbolism in many cultures. The Lotus flower to me can symbolize- “rebirth, purity, and enlightenment”.

Last summer it was extremely hot, and my camera flashed warning symbols and quit working all together. Luckily I was able to cool off in the shade.

This summer, one morning I visited the tiny lotus pond again and was mesmerized to see so many. I leaned into photograph the lotus and lost track of time, even as beads of sweat dripped down my checks.

These hot weather beauties illuminate the pond and the contrast with the dark green foliage with deeply textured leaves

A vibrant Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) glistens with water droplets! In the Spring and Summer I visited these special butterflies each week at the Butterfly Effect exhibit, a nature oasis at the Memphis Zoo.

Butterflies spend a lot of time looking for food sources! Amazingly butterflies can taste with their feet.

They use their proboscis to detect water, juice, honey, or sugar water.

Yet Monarchs are critically endangered!

Check out www.monarchwatch.org for valuable tips.

In August of 2020, during the Pandemic I was able to photograph the sunflower fields at Memphis Agricultural Center at Shelby Farms Park Conservancy.  Venturing into the field of sunflower in late afternoon, I was able to find a few sunflowers with their heads still upright.

This sunflower was alive with multiple pollinators and bees, practically humming nature’s work and joy!

This grasshopper had taken up residence among this giant seed pod head and peered back at me one sultry September late afternoon in a giant field of sunflowers, at the Midsouth Agricenter.

Beautiful male Pipevine Swallowtail glistens in the morning summer sun in August! The male Pipevine Swallowtail has iridescent blue agains a black coloration at Shelby Farms Park Conservancy.

A Peacock Butterfly eyes the flower before taking long sips of nectar from the beneficial flower.  Tiny feet grip the petals while it gathers nectar.  The blue tips on it’s antennae are uniquely colored!

Photographed at the Memphis Zoo.

A beloved, beautiful Oak tree with spreading, strong and whimsical branches growing in a meadow next to a pond at Shelby Farms Park Conservancy.  As a personal project, I visited this tree on the same day every month for an entire year.

I believe that Trees are the rockstars of our environment!  Trees help clean our air, sustain wildlife, provide shade and nourish the soil.

I can imagine that this Oak tree has a vast and extensive underground root system.  On this early cool Spring day in March, the sun lined up at the perfect moment behind the tree, which created an ethereal glow!

Watching this beautiful tree change through the seasons and give back to the landscape - was inspiring!