SIPPING NECTAR FROM THE WILD BERGAMOT FLOWER Size:13x19 FINE ART PAPER I reached the trailhead before

I reached the trailhead before 5:00 am

false sunflowers and teasel weed make up this bouquet of wildflowers at Wildflower Park in Northern Illinois

I knew where in the preserve I wanted to go to photograph the wildflowers because

looked skyward for patterns from the altostratus clouds and began photographing

SIPPING NECTAR FROM THE WILD BERGAMOT FLOWER Size:13x19 FINE ART PAPER I reached the trailhead beforeThis morning I wanted to try and find some monarch butterflies to photograph in the park. Over the past few years in this area, I have been seeing more and more of them and with the abundance of wildflowers including the common and swamp milkweed that they feed on, I knew there would be a good chance of seeing them. With my nikkor 300mm attached to the tripod, I moved through the park in search of the monarchs. It wasn't long before I seen my first