Yes nature is amazing.  The bumble bees hAve been out in full force on the penstamon, snapdragons and roses.  I love when my gardens are in full bloom and the bees are buzzing. Makes me sad though that my honeybees didn't make it through the winter.

That last one is so the coolest.  My backyard tonight... I hear cars, a few dogs barking, children playing, and a few fireworks (like those little popper ones and some whistling ones).  I love summer nights, when everyone is out.

And coming from my house: intermittent crying and screaming... if you've had a kid with a bad diaper rash, you know what I mean.  What must the neighbors think :(

Madkow been there wait till they are older and you are trying to enjoy a nice sunset with your hubby, and you hear the screams and the door opens  and serenity is lost.

Great pics GregL. I spent 30 min a few weeks ago trying to get a pic of an ant carrying a rather large flower blossom but with my little digital camera it didn't come out.

I like the sounds at night the best in BVS.  The shrill cry of the redtail, chirping of bats, the owls who whoing and night russeling sounds are cool.

 You probably know this madkow but if his diaper rash is very red with little white patches/dots it may be a yeast infection instead of a diaper rash.   Poor guy with a sore bum...he sure was good last night.

Yes reffup! I used to have a cabin 18 miles down a dirt road outside of FLagstaff.  Used to love to listen to the birds, watch the squirerrls and an occasional deer walk---bam!!! Screen door would fly open---MOOOOOM! He poked me and took my.........

Deer run off, birds are gone.

Great pictures.... now does anyone have any idea what's in MY backyard?  Found this ugly critter out there tonight. I can't figure out how to post a picture, but if you click on my profile, there is a larger view....  He's about 3 inches long... and can fly.  

Oh my gosh, I love Flagstaff.  I never had the opportunity to explore there as much as I would like, but it was one of the greatest places to stop for the night.  The rest area there is up high, very quiet and cool.  How would you describe the sound of wind going through pines?  It kinda sounds to me like someone saying "shh".

I think it's just a regular old rash.  Just giving him some naked time outside- which he certainly doesn't mind- and ointment when he has to wear a diaper :)  By far the worst was when he was on antibiotics for an ear infection.  I hope he never has to go on antibiotics again...

Sunshine, I swear I've seen that bug somewhere, and I've heard the name... but I can't remember at all what it's called.  I'm no help at all!  I'll be happy when the earwigs and ants go away.  We're having a mini invasion, but I really hate to use spray inside the house.  So I've been cleaning like a nut and trying to clear out any wet hiding places near the house.  Hopefully that will work well enough to keep the buggys at bay.

Very nice pictures Greg. You really know how to use micro. When I'm taking pictures of wildlife and come across some small objects like that I just add extension tubes to my 100-400mm lens.

Re:  ants in the kitchen.   I discovered a perfect way to kill ants on the kitchen counter without poisoning your family!   Just get a bottle of Windex  and when you see an ant, spray him!!  He will die in his tracks and you can wipe him up with a paper towel leaving no poisonous residue in your kitchen.   This wasn't my original idea, but it works great and I use that method all the time.   Obviously, in areas that ant spray isn't a problem, go ahead and zap them with Raid or other bug sprays...

I don't mind bugs outside in their natural element, but when they come inside on MY turf, they are dead meat!

Thanks Job, I'm still getting used to the macro lens, it's 100mm and it has a SUPER sensitive window of focus, and a very short depth of field.  I've resisted going to higher ISO's to get greater depth of field, but you can see in some of these pictures that I'll have to.  I have this uncanny luck too, that whenever I squat down to take a picture of a flower the wind kicks up!  Patience!

Madkow for ear infections squirt a little breast milk in his ear if you are nursing.  The other thing we still use to this day with our kids is  olive oil and fresh garlic , warmed and then rubbed in the ear...  your son will smell like an italian bistro, but it always seemed to work.

Sunshine pulled out my Audubon insect field guide looks like a pine sawyer.

Check out this moth.  We have alot of them.

Colitas, that's a Luna Moth.

Greg, just like Tehachapi, it's a windy here too. I'll use sticks or anything I can find to brace up flowers, plants, etc. There are tools for the trade but why spend the money when you can just use nature to do the job. Besides, things used in nature won't look out of place if it's shown in the picture.