Shakespearean Summer Dream

Summer appears to be a time for many creatures to present their best appearance.  On Wednesday when I had a break in the afternoon I took an adventure in Brightwood to check out how the plants and the animals are adapting to the heat wave.  The first thing that caught my eye was the bright yellow flowers of partridge pea in the mini-garden opposite to Rob's Demonstration Garden.  They looked like ducklings or little angels,  dressed in yellow outfits and flapping their little wings.

Next, I came upon two turtles kissing each other.  I tend to think they were a mother-child pair.

Frogs are usually shy and  jump away or dive in water when people or animals approach.  There were a few who did not move a bit even when I was within 3 feet.  I felt special.  I took pictures of several of them.  The ear region of the first one reflected the sunlight and glowed in multiple colors   Another one had a ghost face to the right of its own, likely a special effect as if in  a scene in a fairy tale.   

Chipmunks are my favorite models, too.  When they are not busy, they can be curious and stare at me for a long time..  I just wish I had a way to show them how pretty they are in pictures.

If Shakespeare had composed a play of "Dream of a Summer Day", dragonflies would likely be all over  the stage.  One can see many different kinds of this family of insects in Brightwood Park.   I saw a dark-colored one standing on the v-shaped tip of a branch, and looking like a ballet dancer.  A red-colored dragonfly bowed at me on a leaf, then followed this act by dancing around.  At one point the beautiful creature took a break to allow me to take its taking portrait photo.

A green heron apparently did not want to miss the beauty contest.  For photographic session, the bird wanted to look cool and presented like a Ford Mustang or a jet fighter.

The sun rays and cloud pictures were taken on my way home.  How can a contest run without stage lights!