While hiking last Saturday I passed a lot of prickly pear cactus on the trail as is often the case but this time I noticed that yellow jackets seem to really like the fruit. I mean really like it! There were about 20 of them inside and around the pear. The first photo is what a prickly pear cactus looks like. The second and third photos are a close-up of all the yellow jackets. The fourth pic is what the inside of the fruit looks like. I went to a seed harvest for our local conservation group a few weeks ago and as a treat one of the docents brought a cleaned prickly pear for each of us to eat. Very interesting. Sweet, but not too sweet. Jodi-

I have a plain ole point and shoot camera. I pull it out my bag, and shoot, all while riding most of the time. Sometimes they are crooked, and I have to straighten them out (using picassa) but often they turn out great. this is my camera and phone bag:

It's my favorite time of year too, Jasdip. Weather is lovely (mostly) and I enjoy that fall scent in the air. Too bad winter has to follow! lol!

Oh Nicole, thank you for that link! I have never seen a Sand Hill Crane, let alone hear one. That was great!