Day 324 - McKee-Beshers WMA

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

***Scroll down to see my offer for Red Cross donations.***

Off to the next flower!

My mother admires a flower

Acres and acres of sunflowers!  That's what you'll find when you visit the McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area in northern Montgomery County, Maryland.

The sunflowers are planted by the state in order to attract game birds.  That may be true, but they also attract bees, goldfinches, nature enthusiasts, and photographers.  

Almost transparent butterfly -- or moth?

Sunflower and chicory

I picked up my mother today in Gaithersburg, and then we attempted to find the sunflower field.   Although the Department of Natural Resources provides a map, the main road on the map, Hunting Quarter, is blocked off in the center by "Road Closed" barriers.  I called my friend Norma after I got stymied, and she said to continue on River Road past both entrances to Hunting Quarter, to a large, muddy parking lot along the road.  We did just that, and there, down a lane beyond the trees, were the fields.  They are not seen from the road when driving by.

Photographer out standing in his field

Nature's Bouquet

There were a couple of other photographers there, and we admired the amount of bee activity, which was good to see, considering the plight of honeybees, who are endangered primarily by parasites.  Today, they were clustering two or three to a flower, just as busy as...well, you know.

I walked the perimeter of the two fields along River Road, stopping with my tripod at various locations.  There were also Queen Anne's lace, daisy fleabane, chicory, bindweed, and Black-eyed Susans in abundance.

Under a glorious sky!

Unfolding Beauty

If you go, go soon.  They are almost past their peak, but there are still new flowers opening up.  Take bug spray and wear old shoes.  And don't forget your camera!

Save the date!  Monday, September 2, will be the last day of my year long photo walk project, and I'm planning a big celebration walk with anyone who wants to join me!  September 2 is also Labor Day, so many of you will have the day off.  The walk will be in downtown Frederick, around 9 a.m., followed by a brunch.  More details will be posted on my blog as they get confirmed.  But mark your calendars, grab your cameras, put on your walking shoes, and join me for my final Daily Photo Walk.  Let's jam the streets of Frederick with photo walkers! 

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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Forward me by email any receipt for an online donation made to the Red Cross for disaster relief, and I will send you a 5x7 print of your choice from any of my daily photo walks or from my website.  Offer good until September 2, 2013.

Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps (I use the Nikon Coolpix P7700)
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so