Skeleton-like trees silhouette the evening sky and say farewell to the end of another winter day on Eighty Acres. Thank you sun. #NaturePhotography #EarthMotherssecrets #Wisconsin #Discoverwisconsin #Midwest #EightyAcresPhotography #DunnCounty #EightyAcres #TravelWI

This week the nation celebrated Independence Day with spectacular fireworks that shook and rattled the skies. The Earth Mother also celebrates each day with her own spectacular fireworks. Just as beautiful.... just a softer kind of fireworks. #Midwest #Naturephotography #dunncounty #EightyAcres #wisconsin

Washing the dust from its wings, the sparrow slipped into the cool waters in an Eighty Acres' bird bath. It twisted, shook and danced sending hundreds of water droplets flying into the afternoon sunshine. Cooled and cleaned, it thanked me with a song and then quickly flew away. #Sparrow #EightyAcres #Eightyacresphotography #photography #Naturephotography #TravelWI #Discoverwisconsin #Midwest #birdbath #Bird

The Earth Mother sent a Twelve-spotted Skimmer dragonfly to Eighty Acres this week. It danced in the wind and it's transparent wings reflected the early morning sunlight. For a brief second the dragonfly gently sat upon my hand and in that moment our life journeys crossed. #Dragonflys #dunncounty #Naturephotography #EightyAcres #wisconsin

The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have recently migrated back from Central America. They weigh 3-4 grams, less than the weight of a nickel and generally fly 25-40 mph. Perhaps the two most amazing facts about the Hummingbird is that their wings beat between 60-80 times PER SECOND and they are the only bird that can fly backwards! Once on Eighty Acres they seem to be in perpetual motion visiting each flower and the Hummingbird feeder several times each day. One gear. One speed. O

The day's work is done and the Earth Mother whispers to the sun to linger for just a short time before it says good bye. Her final act is to call forth fire breathing dragons to scatter crimson, pink and yellow flames across the sky. Then the Earth Mother smiles....and slowly brings the final curtain down. #sunsets #EightyAcres #dunncounty #wisconsin #Naturephotography

Groundhogs have many names including ground pig, whistler, and red monk. On Eighty Acres I also have given them many different names...some not repeatable!!! Groundhogs are great diggers and with their powerful legs and thick claws seem to enjoy digging in my flower beds and under my garden shed. I'm all for coexisting on Eighty Acres but strongly encourage all groundhogs to respect my space! The photo above shows a groundhog standing on its hind legs with his mouth full o

It is rare to see a black squirrel on Eighty Acres. They are not a separate variety or species. Rather they are actually eastern gray squirrels with a genetic condition called Melanism. It is estimated that this genetic condition occurs about once in every ten thousand births. Eighty Acres currently has one black squirrel. Makes me wonder where the other 9,999 squirrels are on Eighty Acres? #EightyAcres #dunncounty #Naturephotography #wisconsin #BlackSquirrel

Each spring I find bleeding heart flowers blooming on Eighty Acres. The heart-shaped fuchsia colored petals make me pause and enjoy the flower's bold color and unique shape. I will let the poets speak to the symbolism and romantic connotations of the flower. For me it is a simple reminder from the Earth Mother to slow down, be mindful and in my heart, be thankful for the gifts She gives to me each day. #dunncounty #EightyAcres #Naturephotography #BleedingHeartFlowers

Our world is filled with stories about cute bunny rabbits. Brer Rabbit, Disney's Thumper, Bigwig from the classic novel Watership Down, the White rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, Looney Tunes Bugs Bunny, and the always adorable Easter Bunny. Today you will find an abundance of rabbits on Eighty Acres and they all have one thing in common. They enjoy eating my flowers, shrubs and trees! Their cuteness is fading fast. Where is Wiley E. Coyote when I need him? #Naturephotograph

Recently on a cool and rainy afternoon, this red-tailed hawk landed on a birch tree located just outside my window on Eighty Acres. We entered into a staring contest which I quickly lost. As we sat and watched each other I wondered how long this encounter would last or if our paths would ever cross again. Then suddenly without warning it swooped down and glided across the hay field and was quickly swallowed up in the tree line. Thanks for stopping by. . #Redtailedhawk #

A recently fallen elm tree on Eighty Acres revealed the beautiful patterns of tunneling bark beetles. The narrow center cavity is where the adult beetle's eggs were laid As the larvae grew, the egg gallery tunnels increased in diameter. In one months time the larvae emerged as a one eighth inch long, dark reddish brown beetle. The giant elm has died, but if we look carefully, we will see the Earth Mother continues to share the trees beauty under the dead elm's bark. #Natur

The Earth Mother sends her eastern bluebirds back to Eighty Acres around April first. They soon begin constructing their nests and will lay four to five eggs which will hatch in two weeks. Pictured above is a female eastern bluebird who is protecting her nest and watching for intruders like house sparrows and starlings. Thanks to birdhouse boxes the bluebirds are becoming much more common on Eighty Acres. Why not put a birdhouse box up, and you too can have a home builde

Turd Trees and Dead Man's Fingers are just some of the colorful names given to this rough black swollen area that clings to tree branches. This black gnarly growth is widely know as Black Knot disease and will be found on cherry and plum trees. The first sign of the disease is green velvet swellings on the fruit tree branches. During the second year they turn into the ugly black shapes pictured above. Each spring spores are released from the knots and are blown in the win

Maybe he struggled to find a safe place to lay down, rest, close his eyes and fall asleep. I found his bones scattered about in the spring and honored him with a prayer to the Earth Mother. Thanks for his strength, beauty and for making his last bed on Eighty Acres. #Whitetaildeer #Naturephotography #EightyAcres #wisconsin #dunncounty

After six months away, Wisconsin's state bird the robin returned to Eighty Acres. A sure sign of spring. Welcome home Robin! #Robin #dunncounty #Naturephotography #EightyAcres #wisconsin

The day's first light slips across the tree tops on Eighty Acres. There is a softness to the morning light and with it brings hope that the Earth Mother will share her secrets. Time to get out of the house. Touch the land, feel the breeze, hear the earth's heart beat. Today is my journey. Yes! A new day is born. ***Visit my updated website and celebrate one year of Eighty Acres Photography. Thanks for your support! www.eightyacresphotography.com #N

As the sun melted the snow, the Earth Mother's tears slowly slid downward and froze into a shimmering icy stalactite. Sometimes there can be beauty in a Mother's tears. #EightyAcres #dunncounty #photography #Naturephotography #Icicles

For several weeks I stepped over these river stones wrapped in ice. Then came the day I became aware of the beauty in the frozen coral-like ice and colorful rock gems. Why did it take so long for me to see this beauty? Each day the Earth Mother provides me countless opportunities to capture Her beauty and spirit, but so often I am distracted and do not hear Her voice. Mindfulness is my prayer for today. #Naturephotography #EightyAcres #dunncounty #wisconsin

Eighty Acres is home to four types of squirrels; gray, fox, black, and red. The smallest of the squirrels is the red, and the Earth Mother has given them a most fierce and courageous heart. It measures only twelve inches from head to toe but will defend it's territory like no other. Without a bit of fear, I have seen them attack much bigger squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and even crows. Fiercely territorial they will even stare me down or chatter their disapproval if I atte