Christina Evans (cgstudios) : photos : Exhibit Images - In My Own Backyard -- prints available : CASSIUS BLUE/SILKGRASS Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius theonus) nectaring on Narrowleaf Silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) Small, pretty Cassius Blues can be found in my yard most of the summer and into fall, usually in sunny areas. The males are brilliant blue on the top side, something I've usually only seen during flight.- powered by SmugMug

These images were exhibited in three venues in Pinellas County in 2006 and 2007. They are available as framed or unframed prints. See the links below for prices. Other sizes are available in some cases, please inquire if interested. All the images were taken in my suburban yard (less than 1/4 acre) over three years time (2005-2007). They show some of the beauty and diversity that can be found in a landscape planted with Florida native plants.

LINK TO FRAMED IMAGE PRICES: http://cgstudios.smugmug.com/gallery/1466565/1/109333535/Original

LINK TO UNFRAMED IMAGE PRICES: http://cgstudios.smugmug.com/gallery/1466565/1/109333544/Original

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Christina Evans (cgstudios) > NORTHERN CARDINAL

Male Northern Cardinal
Some of the cardinals’ favorite berries are those from Simpson's Stopper, Rouge Plant, and Firebush.
Our pair of resident cardinals enjoy the variety of berries and bugs available in our yard. Their “pretty, pretty” song is one of my favorite signs of spring. I’m often struck by their apparent devotion to each other—they are seldom seen apart.

Christina Evans (cgstudios) > TALL ROSINWEED/HALICTID BEE

Tall Rosinweed (Silphium spp.) visited by a Halictid Bee
Also called Starry Rosinweed, this sunflower-like native attracts many of the metallic green bees and on this day, an absolutely perfect flower under high overcast skies attracted me as well.

Christina Evans (cgstudios) > HOODED WARBLER

Male Hooded Warbler with Moth Larva
This photo illustrates the need to eliminate the use of pesticides for a wildlife-friendly yard.
A fine-looking male Hooded Warbler spent three days foraging in the leaf litter in the backyard during spring migration. He nabbed a moth larva and very kindly jumped up on a birdbath at close range. I managed one shot before his snack was gobbled up.
Since I got rid of all the lawn in the backyard, these birds, as well as ovenbirds and waterthrushes, forage in the open beneath the tree canopy where they are easy to watch from our windows.

Christina Evans (cgstudios) > FLORIDA CARPENTER ANT/SCORPION TAIL

Florida Carpenter Ant (Camponotus floridanus) on Scorpion Tail flower (Heliotropium angiospermum)
A series of images combined on 4 layers.
Caption by Mark Deyrup:
A Florida Carpenter Ant surveys the world from its perch atop a Scorpion Tail inflorescence. This common species of ant often visits flowers for nectar and is also attracted to the secretions of sap-sucking insects. There are a few species of plants that seem to be pollinated by ants, but, for the most part, ants are not effective pollinators. This is partly because they walk, rather than fly, and are unlikely to go from plant to plant. It is also partly because ants clean their bodies frequently, and remove pollen that is clinging to them. This photo shows an ant that is apparently folding its front legs in contemplation, but this is really an action shot that shows the ant using special combs on its front legs to clean itself.

Christina Evans (cgstudios) > HONEY BEE/FLATWOODS PLUM

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) on Flatwoods Plum Blossoms (Prunus umbellata)
Flatwoods Plum is not only beautiful in bloom, but an excellent wildlife plant.

Caption by Mark Deyrup:
Here an imported Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) collects pollen from plum blossoms. Her pollen baskets on her hind legs, the right one can be seen here, are almost full. This bee may have had help finding these flowers. Honey Bees are famous for their ability to communicate the position of a patch of flowers to their hive-mates. When first discovered, this communication system seemed so unlikely that it was met with considerable incredulity. This Honey Bee “language” is one reason why these bees are such efficient foragers, and there is some concern that they might out-compete and displace native species. There is no clear evidence that this is happening, and such evidence would be difficult to collect.

Christina Evans (cgstudios) > SKYFLOWER

Skyflower (Hydrolea corymbosa)
I adore blue flowers. Sometimes instead of focusing in on details, it is nice to open the camera aperture and try to capture the essence of such a pretty thing.

Christina Evans (cgstudios) > CASSIUS BLUE/SILKGRASS

Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius theonus) nectaring on Narrowleaf Silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia)
Small, pretty Cassius Blues can be found in my yard most of the summer and into fall, usually in sunny areas. The males are brilliant blue on the top side, something I've usually only seen during flight.

CASSIUS BLUE/SILKGRASS

Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius theonus) nectaring on Narrowleaf Silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia)
Small, pretty Cassius Blues can be found in my yard most of the summer and into fall, usually in sunny areas. The males are brilliant blue on the top side, something I've usually only seen during flight.