Elise Creations & Passions

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Hibiscus Oh How I Love You

Hibiscus Wet and Wild - "delicate beauty"

This photo is showing in the Art’s Alive Gallery at Main Street Landing’s Union Station, Burlington, Vermont, during the South End Art Hop, from September 2nd through October 3rd, 2016.

Pink

Jazzberry Jam Hibiscus

Orange Hibiscus Wet and Wild

White Hibiscus Flower

up close

Pink

Jazzberry Jam Hibiscus

Orange Hibiscus

Yellow Hibiscus

White Hibiscus

Center of a White Hibiscus

Trio Of Pink Hibiscus

Orange Hibiscus Wet and Lovely

Rose Of Sharon Hibiscus flower

(Hibiscus syriacus) A member of the mallow family.

Hibiscus flowers photo altered to create Art. Just for the fun of it.

Yellow Hibiscus Brightness Makes Me Happy

So Pretty In Pink Hibiscus.

You can see more of my creations at:

linktr.ee/elisecreations

https://elisecreate.wixsite.com/mysite

THANKS FOR YOUR VISITS, FAVS AND COMMENTS. AS ALWAYS, APPRECIATED VERY MUCH! © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY ELISE T. MARKS. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS IMAGE ON WEBSITES, BLOGS OR ANY OTHER MEDIA WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Sunday, July 26, 2026

Owl

Barred Owl

(Strix varia)
I'm amazed and Grateful that this one let me get so close today.

The barred owl is also known as the northern barred owl, striped owl or, more informally, hoot owl or eight-hooter owl, is a North American large species of owl.

THANKS FOR YOUR VISITS, FAVS AND COMMENTS. AS ALWAYS, APPRECIATED VERY MUCH!
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY ELISE T. MARKS. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS IMAGE ON WEBSITES, BLOGS OR ANY OTHER MEDIA WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT WRITTEN PERMISSION.
MY PHOTOGRAPHS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
You can see more of my creations at:

linktr.ee/elisecreations
or
https://elisecreate.wixsite.com/mysite

Hummingbird Moths

Hummingbird Moth On Bee Balm
This is a Clear Wing (Hemaris thysbe) on (Monarda). They fly and move just like hummingbirds, and can remain suspended in the air in front of a flower while they unfurl their long tongues (proboscis) and insert them in flowers to sip their nectar. They even emit an audible hum like hummingbirds.
Bee Balm, Oswego Tea, Bergamot, Horsebalm Botanical Name-Monarda didyma, is in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. In the language of flowers, Monarda symbolizes compassion and sympathy. Bee Balm leaves and flowers and stems are used in alternative medicine.

Hummingbird Moth On Bee Balm

Hummingbird Moth And A Bee On Bee Balm

A clearwing humming bird moth and a bee buzzing around the bee balm in my garden. There are four species of hummingbird moths in North America. This is a Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), female. Unlike most moths, Hummingbird moths fly during the day. Like most moths they have a very long tongue which they carry rolled under their chins and that they use to reach the nectar of long-necked flowers. Hummingbird moths are members of the sphinx moth family (Sphingidae), which have heavy bodies and long front wings. The wings of these hummingbird moths are clear, with a black or brown border, and are nearly invisible when they fly. Males have a flared tail like that of a hovering hummingbird.
This photo was Awarded Capture My Vermont - Photo of the Day, for September 4, 2015.

Hummingbird Moth On Yarrow

Hummingbird Moth With Bee Balm
This is a Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris diffinis) in my garden.

Male Hummingbird Moth

Thanks for your visits, favs and comments. As always, appreciated very much!

My photographs are available for purchase

You can see more of my creations at:

linktr.ee/elisecreations

https://elisecreate.wixsite.com/mysite

Sunday, June 21, 2026

It's Peony Time

A lovely Peony. I particularly love the leaves on this one.

Peony

Peonies

Peonies are native to Asia, Europe and Western North America.

About ants on Peony Flower buds: Many plant species have special glands on their stems that produce sugary secretions which attract ants. It's not just plants either. Insects such as aphids and leafhoppers famously excrete honeydew that ants can't resist. In each of these cases, organisms are using the ants' natural tendency to guard a food source. The ants will viciously attack anything that threatens this easy meal. Peonies are doing just that with their flower buds. By secreting a sugary substance during their development, the plant are likely recruiting ants to protect the flowers, which for angiosperms, are the most precious part of the plant. It takes a lot out of a plant to flower and the threat of herbivory is ever present. If an insect tries to take a bite out of a bud, the ants quickly swarm and drive it off. It's a win-win situation. The ants get an easy, high-energy food source and the plant suffers less damage to its reproductive organs.

Peony In A Gorgeous Coral Color
Paeonia 'Coral Sunset' (Peony)

Purple Peony

Lusciously Pink Peony

Peony Closeup In Lovely Yellow

Did you know Peonies historically & culturally, from Chinese and Japanese art where they symbolize good fortune. Peonies get their name from the Greek god and healing deity Paeon. a student of the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius. In Greek mythology, peonies were associated with healing and protection. Peonies have been used medicinally to treat issues like headaches and muscle cramps.