I found these delightful little purple violets growing along the side of a woods road. These Maine wildflowers bloom in early spring in Maine and are often in bloom during Fiddleheading time. My mother always marveled and their beauty and declared she would bring something to dig them up for her wildflower garden the following year. Somehow, she always forgot her promise by the following year, but that didn't quell her excitement when she saw them again.

This photo of a female Ruby Throated Hummingbird was taken just before sunset with the rays of the sun on the hummingbird. I love the way it gave her a heavenly appearance with the soft colors. The female Ruby Throated Hummingbird is typically more colorful with an emerald green back and dark tail feathers tipped in white. For more information and photos of hummingbirds, watch for my new book "Hummingbirds Live in My Backyard" coming soon.

I captured this ant as it was climbing the string to my hummingbird feeder. They typically cluster around the edges of the feeder to drink any nectar that leaks out. If you feed hummingbirds, you may notice them trying to drive away the ants and there is a good reason for that. Ants will attack and kill newly hatched hummingbirds in the nest and are even known for eating hummingbird eggs. Using an ant moat will help keep ants away from hummingbird feeders.

Today's photo is a collection of photos I captured a few days ago. They are all shot with a Nikkor 85mm Macro lens with a D3200 Nikon. My children gave me the lens for Christmas and I used it to photograph frozen bubbles and snowflakes this winter, but this is my first real chance to get outside and photograph flowers and insects. The images above are of apple blossoms and a spring azure butterfly. Check back often for new photos of flowers, dew drops and insects.