RISING ABOVE THE PRAIRIE PLANTS The early morning sunlight shines

The early morning sunlight shines bright on these Joe-Pye Weed flowers at Wildflower Park

The silvery checkerspot butterfly caterpillar feeds on the Yellow coneflower as do some moth species

as the morning wind swiftly moves across the surface of the lake leaving ripples behind in its wake

I decided to go off trail to capture the sunlight as it penetrated through to the forest floor and illuminate the autumn colors of maple

I was looking for some good composition which included the movement of the water over rocks and the reflections of the box elder trees that line the banks of Eakin Creek West

RISING ABOVE THE PRAIRIE PLANTS The early morning sunlight shinesA hot air balloon rises above the prairie on this beautiful summer morning in Northern Illinois. (454 55)