Grounded - Thematic Photography

We have had 36 hours of continuous rain and it's still raining; my golf course is waterlogged so I'm grounded today - Sob!

Carmi couldn't have come up with a more appropriate theme in the circumstances. I have a lot of my brother's WWII photographs which show grounded aircraft like this one in the desert (probably Egypt).

Grounded in the desert

I hope it landed intentionally; this one with a military connection certainly did.

Chalk-Fronted Corporal Dragonfly

This is the time of year in the UK for conkers, a lot of which you find on on the ground.

Horse Chestnuts (Conkers)

OK, so I cheated by throwing them on the grass.

Others though like the dragonfly can choose where they land.

Brown Butterfly and a Bee on Greater Knapweed

I'm sure you'll agree that this one has every right to show off.

Peacock Butterfly

Mind you this one from America is a contender in the grounded beauty stakes.

Red-spotted Purple Butterfly

It seems to have the wrong name as the spots on its wings are orange.

I'm pleased to take part this week and to be able to select subjects that can choose when to be grounded. Not all will have that honour on Carmi's thematic-photographic-214 as you can see.

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

As I watch it rain in Michigan I must beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden.

The flowers on the chives in the herb garden at my daughter’s home are a favourite with butterflies and dragonflies. I have had to spend time on the web to identify what they are. If I’ve got their names wrong please let me know.

Silver-Spotted Skipper

This butterfly was reluctant to fully open its wings:

Silver-Spotted Skipper

However this little beauty was more obliging:

Pearl Crescent

It was an elegant dragonfly that really caught my eye:

Widow Skimmer

The most prolific dragonfly was this vicious brute seen here on a post to the deck at the back of the house:

Chalk-Fronted Corporal

 This was more at home on a rock by the lake:

Chalk-Fronted Corporal

What looked like blue-flying matchsticks just stayed on the reeds. It was only when you look closer you can see they are stripped.

Double-Stripped Bluet

Meanwhile the roses in the bed in the centre of the back paddock are ignored by butter- and dragonflies alike.

“I beg your pardon.

I never promised you a rose garden.”

You will have to make do with these pictures instead.