Today's photo is a wild violet with a little digital twirl added to the background. I love this effect because it uses the natural colors of the image to make the twirls. I like to think of it as the energy of the violet with its soft colors and delicate swirl. This effect does not work with all photos, but it is delightful when it does.

Today's photo is of the pier at Old Orchard Beach in November.  The beach was deserted, the entertainment was closed down and all that remained were seagulls, sand and the ocean. Although it was extremely windy and cold, I enjoyed my first visit to the beach. Quite frankly, I was happy to visit during the off season when I could enjoy the natural beauty of the place without the distractions of modern life.

Today's photo is a frozen dewdrop or raindrop. The perfect little sphere was frozen in time when the temperatures dropped here in Maine. 

According to an ancient Arab legend, dewdrops filled with the light of the moon fell from heaven and landed in the sea where they were swallowed by oysters creating luminous pearls. I prefer to think of them as the jewels of fairies that hide among the flowers.

Today's photo is of raindrops on a blackberry vine. I love the beautiful fall colors in the background.  This was taken a few weeks ago along the roadside where I live. 

Today's photo is a young red squirrel. Two of them arrived as babies in my yard in the spring of 2016 and have remained ever since. This photo was taken last winter. Although they have grown, they still frequent my bird feeders and I'm sure will be the subject of many photos throughout the winter. According to the Adirondack Ecological Center the red squirrel's average lifespan ranges from 3 to 5 years, but some can live up to 10 years. Neither of these squirrels had babies this summer, but I am hopeful I will see new babies in the spring.

In my location red squirrels are rampart, but there are very few gray squirrels. According to some sources, even though they are much smaller than the gray squirrel, red squirrels are more aggressive and will chase gray squirrels out of their territory. 

They can become a nuisance at bird feeders, but I prefer to feed the squirrels as I enjoy their antics in the yard.

Today's photo shows a male and female ruby throated hummingbird buzzing around a bouquet of wildflowers. These tiny birds summer in Maine, arriving the first week of May and heading south again sometime in September. They are a welcome sight in Maine gardens and backyards. While many Maine residents provide feeders to attract hummingbirds to the backyard, they can be found buzzing around flowerbeds or feeding on native flowers.