Highlights at Midday - Great Meadows NWR

I rarely feel moved to make photographs in the harsh contrasting light of a summer afternoon.  But my visiting sister and I have a brief opportunity for a midday walk today, and summer's magic prevailed and inspired.

Great egret in lotus field

American lotus and pickerel-weed

Monarch feeding on buttonbush...probing each tubular flower

Green frog on lotus leaves