A CURIOUS BIRD Size:13x19 FINE ART PAPER oak and hophornbeam trees of

oak and hophornbeam trees of this deciduous forest were terrific and spectacular on this October morning

A beautiful umbel from the swamp milkweed is made up of many tiny florets and if you zoom in on them

False sunflowers were the dominant flower with blue vervain

A canoe sits idle along the banks of the Fox River with dame's rocket flowers on display

I reached the trailhead soon after leaving the house with camera gear in hand and it wasn't long before I started seeing the wildflowers that were in pristine condition and in the distance

A CURIOUS BIRD Size:13x19 FINE ART PAPER oak and hophornbeam trees ofWhile I was photographing the coneflowers, this female red winged blackbird must have been curious what I was doing because she landed close by. With her being brilliantly illuminated by the morning sun, I turned my attention and camera on her, focusing and composing along with the yellow coneflowers that adds a touch of the scenery nearby and began shooting. Wildflower Park Northern Illinois. (516 167)