Epidote

Epidote

The chemical formula for Epidote, according to Wikipedia is Ca₂Al₂(Fe³⁺;Al)(SiO₄)(Si₂O₇)O(OH).  I found only one thing about its uses.  The dark spot in the image and in the following image is Allanite, a related species.

Epidote with Allanite

The crystals in this samle are small.  Without looking closely enough I would never have recognized it from the description.  I can only begin to see the transparency of the crystals in this 8x image.  It is an igneous rock.  The size of crystals varies greatly (to 35 cm).  It also occurs in secondary metamorphic rocks such as marble.

The large crystals with are perfectly transparent have been ocassionally cut as gems.

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Farming Soon?

Massey-Ferguson 8200 Planter

My neighbor and friend, Keith Kisling, is preparing to plant corn.  The soil has been too wet and too cool as yet.  

Massey-Ferguson 8200 Planter

He is using the time to repair and prepare his equipment.

Massey-Ferguson 8200 Planter

When conditions are right, Keith will work with a vengeance.  He probably has about 350 acres to plant. I would not be surprised to see him working at night.

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Bloodroot

Bloodroot

I saw this flower on March 30, 2016.  I was able to make this focus stack capture.  It is the only one I have seen so far this season (4-9-16).  The leaves stay curled until the bloom has opened and the petals fall off (one day).  I went back on the 31st and found the plant but the petals were gone.  I would like to do a time lapse of the plant to see what pollinates it.

The juice is red and poisonous and small bees or flies pollinate it according the Wikipedia.

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Mallard Drake

Mallard Drake

I saw this fellow the other day.  As other birds, the mallards are thinking procreation at this time of year.

Mallard Drake

The feathers on his head are iridescent.  They achieve the color by bending the light.  Their apparent color depends on the direction of the light.

Mallard Drake

"Where could we have a nest?"

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Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Mating is in full swing.  This is a male in the act of making his call.

These birds nest around the ponds and in the meadow.  They are a quiet bird but you can listen to their vocalizations to tell their emotional state.  When they begin whistling it is time to pay attention.  Depending on the individual, they become aggressive at this point.  They may "dive bomb" you.  They are protecting their nest.  The female attends to the next and the male sits up high watching over it.

You can hear the whistle here.

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