Weekly Photo Challenge: Growth

Progression, a photo by Fergiemoto on Flickr.  (click on photo to enlarge)
Linking up with Texture Tuesday, Nature Notes, Tuesday Tips and Pics, Rural Thursday, Flower Art Friday

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bouquet of rubies
floating atop emeralds
romantic red tulips
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These photos, which I took in our yard, show three different “growth” stages of the same tulip blooms.  Three years ago (which is a different year than when these photos were taken) these same tulips reached a maximum height of 3 feet, just less than 1 meter!  What a growth spurt!

Yesterday, when I was searching for the symbolism of the red tulip, I found that it means “perfect love” or “true love” and is the 11th wedding anniversary flower.  Coincidentally, hubby and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary this past weekend – another representation of “growth!”

This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge is to share a picture
that means GROWTH to you!

References:

• http://www.teleflora.com/tulips/flowers-plants/tulip-detail.asp
• http://www.ehow.com/facts_5829637_red-tulip-mean_.html

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“C” Challenge: Combative, Confrontational

Hummingbird Fight, a photo by Fergiemoto on Flickr.  (click on photo to enlarge)
Linking up with Texture Tuesday, Windows on Wildlife, Our World Tuesday, Tuesday Tips and Pics, Weekly Top Shot  and Nature Notes.

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swift, charming beauty
feisty, relentless fireball
greedy hummingbird
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Today, in our yard, I captured this confrontation by two hummingbirds.  These types of displays have been an all-day occurrence lately.

Last Friday, I noticed a new hummingbird to our feeders.  It was a bright, glowing, copper/orange-colored hummingbird – so beautiful and eye-catching…until I realized how aggressively it was attacking the other hummingbirds.  It fervently patrols its newly claimed territory and attacks other hummingbirds approaching the feeders with such intense speed, force and combativeness that it almost knocks me off-balance when it flies by me.  They are much noisier than the others and are not afraid to confront and threaten other larger birds near the feeders, and even me (tail fanning is considered a threat display)!

After a google search, I believe what we have is a Rufous Hummingbird.  The Rufous is the most aggressive of the hummingbirds, very defensive and are known to overtake territories already established by other birds.  They will exhibit threat displays at other creatures, including humans.  The other hummingbirds around our yard (black-chinned and broad-tailed) are territorial, which is typical, but not near as aggressive as the Rufous.  Today, I noticed we now have at least three of these feisty Rufous’…but they certainly are pretty.

There is plenty of food to go around.  We have several bird feeders and have planted many flowers that attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.

Yet how tragic to spend all day in confrontation.  It would be nice if there could be more sharing, and less greed and fighting…by all species.
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This is for the letter “C” Story Challenge by Frizztext, to share a short story or reflection, even an aphorism using a word tagged with each letter of the alphabet.
Kim Klassen textures used are Mayzee and BeStill

References:

• http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/rufous_hummingbird/id
• http://birding.about.com/od/birdprofiles/p/rufoushummingbird.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufous_Hummingbird

G! Challenge: Gambol (Footprints #2)

Dancing, a photo by Fergiemoto on Flickr.  (Click on image to enlarge).
Linking up with Creative Exchange, World Bird Wednesday and Texture Tuesday.

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Graceful feathers twirl
and form a vibrant rainbow
An enchanting dance
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HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Gambol – “to  skip about, as in dancing or playing; frolic”

I’m posting this for the “G” Challenge by Frizztext (“G” is for Gambol); and for Valentines Day.