Weekly Photo Challenge – Unusual
Today is a most unusual day, because we have never lived it before; we will never live it again; it is the only day we have.
- William Arthur Ward
Sap running down the bark of an evergreen tree - I suppose that isn’t all that unusual.
But what about a blob of spruce tree sap with an insect (from last fall) clutched in it’s gooey clasp? Now that is unusual!
Why can’t I be different and unusual… like everyone else?
- Vivian Stanshall
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My Similar Insect Story - I Spy with My Little Eye, Something that is Orange – The Polygonia Butterfly
Hi,
I love how you have captured the sap from the tree, that is incredible, and the tear drop about to fall, you got that at the right moment.
Very good shot of the insect in the sap. Well done.
Hi Mags – I wanted to wait around to see if the sap drop did anything, but it was very cold out, so I think it was frozen there.
Never saw a close up of sap before. Cool
Then sap is unusual for you, Ruth!
Love these photos – great detail! Isn’t amber fossilized tree sap? I think Jurassic Park was based on the premise of extraction of DNA from remains of creatures caught in tree sap.
Hi Composer – I thought amber came from sap, but apparently it comes from fossilized tree resin. Sap circulates through the plant’s vascular system while resin comes from the epithelial cells. Resin is normally red, clear, and hard. Sap is yellowish or white, sticky and gummy. I think my photographs are of sap, but I’ll check more carefully in the spring when everything thaws. Then I’ll be able to determine if the stuff is sticky and gummy.
wanting to be different and unusual – reminds me of being in junior high. Only sometimes that never goes away.
Hi Barb – Yes, people do seem to be a curious mix of desires – wanted to be different, while wanting to be the same.
As I looked at the images you posted, I was reminded of the fact that, this past weekend, I finally purchased a digital camera. Back in the 1970s through the 1990s, I was quite active in photography, then with film cameras. Finally, I’m ready to re-enter the world of photography and step up to the technology of the 21st century. Appropriately, I purchased the camera in time for our long road trip (Oregon to Florida) to begin this coming weekend. Next, I’ll figure out how to include images in my posts. Bill
Congrats Bill – How exciting – you’ll love the freedom of taking lots of photos without the cost of film and printing. Before you upload your photos, be sure to resize them!
Nice catch.
Please feel free to drop by and view my interpretation of Contrast:
https://fstopfantasy.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/weekly-photo-challenge-unusual-ant-hills/
Welcome to my blog Chris – I liked your ant hills!
Thank you, although I used a lot of poetic license in describing these structures as “hills”.
I especially love the first photo. I don’t want to get gross and tell you what it reminded me of before I scrolled down and saw the caption. Hint… it’s related to cold and flu season…
Yes Carol, I know what your mean – I have a cold right now.
That picture was amber-dexterous…
Hi PMAO – I’m amber-dextrous too – I’m right handed but I can ‘mouse’ with my left hand.
Great photos for the challenge. Your photos of sap are most interesting. The one with the insect in it is really intriguing.
Hi E.C. – Now that I know which trees are sappiest, I’ll have to watch them more carefully for bugs.
You have an unusual knack for capturing the most interesting things in nature. Wonderful!
Thanks Lorna – I think part of my ability to see things a bit differently is because I am built closer to the ground…
How amazing, you captured the water drop and caught the insect!
Hi Amy – yes – I caught everything, including very cold hands the days I took those photos!
great photos…how perfect that you saw the insects
Hi Jo – I’m certainly going to look for more insects caught in the sappy trees.
To date, this has been my favorite. Excellent photo op. Beautiful.
Thanks Amanda – The gauntlet is down – I’ll have to search for even better photos!
The poor, er, sap. I’ve been in some sticky situations myself… : P
Incredible capture, Margie, very striking.
But this post would have astounded me even without the photos– because I never expected to see any blogger quoting the quite wonderful and wholly unique Viv Stanshall of the late lamented Bonzo Dog Band. You are, as I suspected, a true hipster!! : )
Hi Mark – I lived in the UK a few years after the demise of Stanshall, but can’t say I was all that aware of his work and life, just a bit about his sharp wit!
Interesting post – don’t get stuck to the sap when you go to check it
Hi Martin – Wouldn’t that make a great photo – a human stuck to the side of a tree!
I feel sorry for the insect – but what a great photo!
You are very compassionate, Judee. When I looked at the insect, I thought it might have been one of the ants that bites, so I wasn’t all that upset at seeing it removed from the gene pool.
Both images are amazing. You’ll have an insect in amber if you wait long enough. It would be a long wait…
Yes Robin, amber takes a long, long time!
It is unusual to see insects trapped in the sap, but there again I’ve never seen any tree give out as much sap as the ones in your photographs, maybe I’m just not looking….
Hi Mike – I thought it was unusual to see that much sap on those two trees, but like you, maybe I just haven’t paid enough attention to that sort of thing.
What an unlucky ant. Great photos for “unusual!”
Hi Fergie – I seem to have millions and millions of ants here – particularly the biting kind that attack my ankles when I’m digging in the flower beds!
totally awesome!
Thanks LivE, and welcome to my blog!
amazing pictures!!
Thanks Summer, and welcome to my blog!