Midsummer minutiae

I love tiny, tiny flowers and the littlest details revealed with a close-up. I haven't discovered the skill yet, with a very fussy macro lens, to reliably get all of the flower in sharp focus, but instead let the camera choose its point of interest. Sometimes we agree on what's interesting, but often not. I liked the rich brown scaly head below the petals of this Yellow-eyed grass, but the camera had other ideas.

The barely pink urn-shaped flowers of Bearberry are a treat in mid August. This plant was obviously confused; flowering when it should be bearing fruit. The ant on the underside of the most forward leaf distracted both me and the lens.

I'm not sure which of the Bladderworts this is, but the effect of the water and the angle of the sun is pretty psychedelic! I can't ever produce this effect on purpose, but I'm tickled when the lens makes it happen by surprise.

Sweet pepperbush and its tiny fragrant flowers... as abundant as blueberries in the Pine Barrens, but not as tasty.

;-)

I was up to my ankles in mucky water when I took this one, but a close-up of Horned bladderwort requires that, almost. I love the flower's yellow spur. There's some 11 species of bladderworts in the Pine Barrens, yet I've only ever seen 2 or 3 of them.

Thanks to Steve for use of his macro... I needed a close-up flower fix!