My Sister's Flower Garden

Was over at my sister's for something other than taking photos of her front yard flower garden but when I arrived I immediately got out my Nikon D700 and, with a Nikkor 50mm lens on it (it's the only one I had with me), I started firing off shots.

Of course, since I don't know jack about flowers but do like to take photos of them because I'm a big fan of colorful things, I don't know what kind of flower this is.

I know, I know. I should have asked my sister but I was too busy worrying about my camera settings to ask her what the names of them were.

But I've had two women, one from the Internet Tubes, and another I met recently, tell me they think it's a Rock Rose --- or in the Cistaceae family because there's nearly 200 different varieties.

YELLOWJACKET NEST

I was out at the Hardcore Texas ranch house in Aledo, Texas one summer afternoon visiting my buddies Hippy Steve and William Bryan Massey III, head of kitchen operations at Fred's Texas Cafe, and spotted this yellow jacket nest up in one corner of the back porch.

So I got good and close and pointed my Nikon D80 up at it and took some shots.

As I was shooting, the yellowjacket on top of the nest turned my way and hunched down and fiercely stared at me, ready to attack my intrusion. I just said, "Hold on, buddy, I'll be finished in a sec."

Can you see the progress of the baby yellowjackets in the cocoons? See the one cocoon with the black head all shiny and seemingly ready to take flight? If not, click on the photo to get a closer look.

Man, insects are cool.

These yellowjackets look fierce as all get out and they are. Click for more about the yellowjacket flying badasses.