Writing Spider

The Black and Yellow Garden Spider according to my Google resources.

Dangerous Beauty: Poisonous Plants

I was researching about how to make a cutting from the Angel Trumpet tree and discovered that while they are easy to root and grow even from seed they are also extremely poisonous.
The experts say not to handle them very much and to be especially careful of the seed pod.
Some say it can affect a person or animal the way a hallucinogenic drug does.

Awareness is my ounce of prevention. I think I'll research every new plant right away from now on.

Green Changes Anyone Can Do Anytime That Also Save Money

1. Instead of buying or packing extra full size or trial size products re-use plastic bottles for trips. Use them for shampoo, conditioner and liquid soap. Rinse and repeat.

2. Use low wattage light bulbs. Also called energy efficient bulbs. Their shape is different from the traditional incandescent bulbs so they may not fit every lamp or appliance so using traditional bulbs in a lower wattage would save energy.

3. Air dried laundry, especially sheets, smells fresh, saves energy and money. Indoor air drying works well with the folding dryer contraptions that can be stored when not in use. Even in the wintertime they work well if they stand over a heater vent. This will also put humidity into the air which is usually low in the winter with a heater running.

4. Turn the water flow to low and slow when washing your face , brushing your teeth, hand washing dishes or clothes.

5. Turn the dryer off on the dishwasher and let the dishes air dry.

Make it a game to try and see how many ways there are in your day to day life to save energy and money.
It's been said by frugal authorities to try and see what's the least amount of energy or time needed to get the job done.
Use less:
clothes detergent
hot water
water
heat
paper
gas
Until you find your bottom line as far as clean enough clothes or how much water is really needed to wash that load.

Smokey Mountain Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly By The Chattooga River

Butterflies absorb moisture and nutrients from the ground made wet by the Chattooga River near Highlands, North Carolina.

This is a blue Pipevine Swallowtail which is somewhat common in the North Carolina mountains and rarely seen in the coastal areas.

The blue colors range from bright blue to a dusky green/gray blue.

A good example of how the Green Earth nourishes its own by providing what we need.

Love is in the Air on elle's Green Earth

Love was in the air at the state zoo this week and making pink littles seems to be this avians mindset.

Pink flamingos are pink due to the high content of beta carotene in their diets which include algae and small shrimp.

The parents also share nursing duties because, like pigeons, they both have the ability to produce a milk that is high in fat for their young.

Certain species of flamingos are considered threatened.

Wild Mustangs

Thanks to http://www.thepioneerwoman.com for making this photo available as a free download. Your photo op's must be endless living on a working ranch.

Abundantly Green Earth

Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada. The conservatory was decorated for the holidays showing the beauty and the fruit of the earth. The green earth.

Mossy Tree

Spanish Moss covered tree at the Jackson Savannah River boat landing.

The blue sky is a perfect and lively background.

Desert Rainbow

The Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas creates a photo op.

The mist and light were perfect.