You immediately registered your dissent when your mom suggested we all grab our iPads and try our hand at nature photography. But, as usual, it turned out better than you were expecting.
Our first stop was Villa Park, where we immediately saw the egret-in-residence wading at water’s edge. But it was hard to get a good shot among all the trees. Our amateurish attempts did yield a few memorable pictures of the bird as it decided we were getting too close for comfort.
Then there was the green heron, perched peacefully just near the shoreline,
the deer that was calmly browsing, pausing several times to stare back at us,
and some cool fungus that seemed particularly photogenic.
After taking these photos, we headed to Harriet Alexander Nature Center, where we mostly kept our iPads tucked away, protecting them from potential pond water mishaps. We paused several moments to watch this caterpillar up close, gobbling up its dinner.
As you and your dad were walking toward the parking lot, your mom managed to capture a photo of some bees busy collecting nectar.
Across the street, at the arboretum, your brother found the gravel just as fascinating as the flowers.
The blacked-eyed Susans were as lovely as ever,
and the silver sage looked so soft you may have had an impulse to pet it.
It turned out to be a lovely evening for a walk, and a bit of cloud-gazing. And the picture-taking added a fun new twist to our outdoor time that day.