Leighton Photography & Imaging

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  • One of the most beautiful and well-known butterflies found around the world, the painted lady is commonly found across all of North America, but only less so in the southeastern-most part of the continent such as Florida and South Georgia. This one was found and photographed feeding on the nectar of the locally native Siam weed in rural Willacy County, Texas - a dozen or so miles from the Mexican border.
    Painted Lady - 4
  • One of the most beautiful and well-known butterflies found around the world, the painted lady is commonly found across all of North America, but only less so in the southeastern-most part of the continent such as Florida and South Georgia. This one was found and photographed feeding on the nectar of the locally native Siam weed in rural Willacy County, Texas - a dozen or so miles from the Mexican border.
    Painted Lady - 6
  • One of the most beautiful and well-known butterflies found around the world, the painted lady is commonly found across all of North America, but only less so in the southeastern-most part of the continent such as Florida and South Georgia. This one was found and photographed feeding on the nectar of local wild dandelions just outside of Aspen, Colorado on a beautiful Rocky Mountain summer day.
    Painted Lady - 2
  • One of the most beautiful and well-known butterflies found around the world, the painted lady is commonly found across all of North America, but only less so in the southeastern-most part of the continent such as Florida and South Georgia. This one was found and photographed feeding on the nectar of local wild dandelions just outside of Aspen, Colorado on a beautiful Rocky Mountain summer day.
    Painted Lady - 1
  • One of the most beautiful and well-known butterflies found around the world, the painted lady is commonly found across all of North America, but only less so in the southeastern-most part of the continent such as Florida and South Georgia. This one was found and photographed feeding on the nectar of the locally native Siam weed in rural Willacy County, Texas - a dozen or so miles from the Mexican border.
    Painted Lady - 5
  • One of the most beautiful and well-known butterflies found around the world, the painted lady is commonly found across all of North America, but only less so in the southeastern-most part of the continent such as Florida and South Georgia. This one was found and photographed feeding on the nectar of local wild dandelions just outside of Aspen, Colorado on a beautiful Rocky Mountain summer day.
    Painted Lady - 3
  • Lady lupine is one of the most beautiful of the wildflowers of the American Southeast, and is found in areas that are very dry with very sandy soils. Ranging from North Carolina to Louisiana and south toward Central Florida, this attractive member of the pea family can often be found on roadsides, like this one outside of Tallahassee, Florida.
    Lady Lupine Close-Up
  • Lady lupine is one of the most beautiful of the wildflowers of the American Southeast, and is found in areas that are very dry with very sandy soils. Ranging from North Carolina to Louisiana and south toward Central Florida, this attractive member of the pea family can often be found on roadsides, like this one outside of Tallahassee, Florida.
    Lady Lupine
  • Lady lupine is one of the most beautiful of the wildflowers of the American Southeast, and is found in areas that are very dry with very sandy soils. Ranging from North Carolina to Louisiana and south toward Central Florida, this attractive member of the pea family can often be found on roadsides, like this one outside of Tallahassee, Florida.
    Lady Lupine
  • An exquisitely rare find for even such a rare and beautiful native orchid in its natural environment! This unusual crimson-lipped form (forma welchii) of the mountain lady's-slipper was found alongside a small colony of the typical white-lipped individuals in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State.
    Mountain Lady's-Slipper (Cypripedium..hii)
  • An exquisitely rare and beautiful native orchid in its natural environment! This mountain lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) was part of a  small colony of individuals in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State.
    MountainLadysSlipper -1.jpg
  • An exquisitely rare and beautiful native orchid in its natural environment! This mountain lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) was part of a  small colony of individuals in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State.
    MountainLadysSlipper -7.jpg
  • An exquisitely beautiful pair of the rare and beautiful mountain lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) in its natural environment! This native orchid  was part of a  small colony of individuals in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State.
    MountainLadysSlipper -4.jpg
  • An exquisitely beautiful pair of the rare and beautiful mountain lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) in its natural environment! This native orchid  was part of a  small colony of individuals in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State.
    MountainLadysSlipper -3.jpg
  • An exquisitely rare and beautiful native orchid in its natural environment! This mountain lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) was part of a  small colony of individuals in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State.
    MountainLadysSlipper -6.jpg
  • An exquisitely rare and beautiful native orchid in its natural environment! This mountain lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) was part of a  small colony of individuals in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State.
    MountainLadysSlipper -5.jpg
  • An exquisitely rare and beautiful native orchid in its natural environment! This mountain lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) was part of a  small colony of individuals in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State.
    MountainLadysSlipper -9.jpg
  • An exquisitely beautiful pair of the rare and beautiful mountain lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) in its natural environment! This native orchid  was part of a  small colony of individuals in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State.
    MountainLadysSlipper -10
  • An exquisitely beautiful pair of the rare and beautiful mountain lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) in its natural environment! This native orchid  was part of a  small colony of individuals in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State.
    MountainLadysSlipper -8
  • An exquisitely rare and beautiful native orchid in its natural environment! This mountain lady's-slipper (Cypripedium montanum) was part of a  small colony of individuals in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the eastern side of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State.
    MountainLadysSlipper -2.jpg
  • This nice specimen of Spiranthes praecox - the giant ladies' tresses orchid was found growing near the Ochlockonee River close to Sopchoppy, Florida. Found throughout most of the American southeast and west to Texas and Oklahoma, this terrestrial orchid is found most often in late spring and early summer in a variety of habitats. I've found them in acidic bogs on occasion, but usually I find them growing in pine forests.
    Giant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes pr..cox)
  • Hooded ladies'-tresses beautifully backlit on a sunny day on Mount Rainier.
    Hooded Ladies'-Tresses (Spiranthes r..ana)
  • Giant ladies'-tresses found growing in a dried-up bog in the Apalachicola National Forest. Tubular flowers are a key to identifying this species from all the other similar ladies-tresses orchids.
    Giant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes pr..cox)
  • These tiny-flowered members of the Spiranthes orchids are found in summer growing in dry sandy areas. These were photographed near Lake Talquin in Gadsden County.
    Little Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes t.. - 3
  • These tiny-flowered members of the Spiranthes orchids are found in summer growing in dry sandy areas. These were photographed near Lake Talquin in Gadsden County.
    Little Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes t.. - 2
  • These tiny-flowered members of the Spiranthes orchids are found in summer growing in dry sandy areas. These were photographed near Lake Talquin in Gadsden County.
    Little Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes t.. - 4
  • The largest giant ladies'-tresses orchid I've encountered in the wild. This one was photographed on a hot early May,  late afternoon day near Sopchoppy Florida.
    Giant Ladies'-tresses
  • An adult male anhinga in breeding plumage drying his wings in the Florida Everglades near Homestead. Because anhingas don't have the oil glands found in other aquatic birds like ducks, gulls, swans, etc, when they come out of the water, they will need to dry their wings in order to fly. The advantage of not having this seeming important oil so essential to buoyancy is that when underwater, the anhinga becomes an extremely fast and agile swimmer and a very efficient fish hunter. Throughout the Gulf Coast, this is a very typical sight: an anhinga perched above water,  wings spread drying in the wind and heat.
    Male Anhinga
  • Close-up of an adult female anhinga in the Florida Everglades, near Homestead. There is very clear sexual dimorphisnm in the anhinga: males have a mostly uniform black head and next (besides breeding plumage) while the female had a very pale brown to beige neck and head.
    Female Anhinga
  • Also known as the snakebird, the anhinga is a common fish-eating bird found along the coasts and interior of Florida and as far south as the Southern Amazon in Brazil. This female is in full breeding plumage on a warm spring day in Fort Myers, Florida. Note that beautiful blue eye-ring!
    Female Anhinga
  • Also known as the snakebird, the anhinga is a common fish-eating bird found along the coasts and interior of Florida and as far south as the Southern Amazon in Brazil. This female is in full breeding plumage on a warm spring day in Fort Myers, Florida. Note that beautiful blue eye-ring!
    Female Anhinga
  • Related to pelican and cormorants, this male anhinga is in full breeding plumage in the Florida Everglades. Common along the wetlands of the Gulf Coast on the United States, this fish-specialist is widely scattered across Central America and can be found throughout the whole of the Amazon River Basin in South America.
    Male Anhinga
  • Also known as the snakebird, the anhinga is a common and very effective fish-hunter found along the coasts and interior of Florida and as far south as the Southern Amazon in Brazil. This male was spotted perched in a bald cypress tree in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida.
    Male Anhinga
  • Probably the tallest of all of the wildflowers in the Pacific Northwest, the imported foxglove is also poisonous/toxic to humans and some animals. It is currently being used to create medications for heart problems.
    Foxglove
  • Related to pelicans and cormorants, this male anhinga is in full breeding plumage in a freshwater lake in Fort Myers, Florida. Common along the wetlands of the Gulf Coast on the United States, this fish-specialist is widely scattered across Central America and can be found throughout the whole of the Amazon River Basin in South America.
    Male Anhinga
  • Related to pelicans and cormorants, this male anhinga is in full breeding plumage in a freshwater lake in Fort Myers, Florida. Common along the wetlands of the Gulf Coast on the United States, this fish-specialist is widely scattered across Central America and can be found throughout the whole of the Amazon River Basin in South America.
    Male Anhinga
  • Also known as the snakebird, the anhinga is a common fish-eating bird found along the coasts and interior of Florida and as far south as the Southern Amazon in Brazil. This female is in full breeding plumage on a warm spring day in the Florida Everglades.
    Female Anhinga
  • Also known as the snakebird, the anhinga is a common fish-eating bird found along the coasts and interior of Florida. This female was perched at the base of an old bald cypress in the heart of the Sweetwater Strand of the Florida Everglades.
    Female Anhinga
  • Because anhingas don't have the oil glands found in other aquatic birds like ducks, gulls, swans, etc, when they come out of the water, they will need to dry their wings in order to fly. The advantage of not having this seemingly important oil so essential to buoyancy is that when underwater, the anhinga becomes an extremely fast and agile swimmer and a very efficient fish hunter. Throughout the Gulf Coast, this is a very typical sight: an anhinga perched above water,  wings spread drying in the wind and heat. This one was photographed in the middle of Fort Myers, Florida.
    Anhinga
  • Because anhingas don't have the oil glands found in other aquatic birds like ducks, gulls, swans, etc, when they come out of the water, they will need to dry their wings in order to fly. The advantage of not having this seeming important oil so essential to buoyancy is that when underwater, the anhinga becomes an extremely fast and agile swimmer and a very efficient fish hunter. Throughout the Gulf Coast, this is a very typical sight: an anhinga perched above water,  wings spread drying in the wind and heat. This one was photographed in the middle of Fort Myers, Florida.
    Anhinga
  • Related to pelican and cormorants, this adult male anhinga in non-breeding plumage perches above a lake in Fort Myers, Florida. Common along the wetlands of the Gulf Coast on the United States, this fish-specialist is widely scattered across Central America and can be found throughout the whole of the Amazon River Basin in South America.
    Male Anhinga
  • Rocks, cypress stumps and other watery perches are the perfect place for anhingas to keep an eye out for fish, and to stay relatively safe from hungry alligators, crocodiles, wildcats and larger birds of prey. This adult female was photographed from the shore of a lake in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Female Anhinga
  • Because the anhinga lacks the oils for buoyancy in its feathers like other birds, and it has a heavier skeleton than other diving birds, the swimming anhinga is completely submerged except for its head and long flexible neck, earning it the common nickname, "snakebird." This one was spotted in a bream-rich lake in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Anhinga
  • Headshot of the anhinga, also known as the snakebird. The anhinga is a common and very effective fish-hunter found along the coasts and interior of Florida. This male is was spotted perched in a cocoplum in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Southwest Florida.
    Anhinga Close-up
  • Also known as the snakebird, the anhinga is a common fish-eating bird found along the coasts and interior of Florida and as far south as the Southern Amazon in Brazil. This female is in full breeding plumage on a warm spring day in Fort Myers, Florida. Note that beautiful blue eye-ring!
    Female Anhinga
  • Also known as the snakebird, the anhinga is a common fish-eating bird found along the coasts and interior of Florida and as far south as the Southern Amazon in Brazil. This female is in full breeding plumage on a warm spring day in Fort Myers, Florida. Note that beautiful blue eye-ring!
    Female Anhinga
  • Also known as the snakebird, the anhinga is a common fish-eating bird found along the coasts and interior of Florida and as far south as the Southern Amazon in Brazil. This female is in full breeding plumage on a warm spring day in Fort Myers, Florida. Note that beautiful blue eye-ring!
    Female Anhinga
  • Related to pelican and cormorants, this male anhinga is in breeding full plumage in the Florida Everglades. Common along the wetlands of the Gulf Coast on the United States, this fish-specialist is widely scattered across Central America and can be found throughout the whole of the Amazon River Basin in South America.
    Male Anhinga
  • Related to pelican and cormorants, this male anhinga is in breeding full plumage in the Florida Everglades. Common along the wetlands of the Gulf Coast on the United States, this fish-specialist is widely scattered across Central America and can be found throughout the whole of the Amazon River Basin in South America.
    Male Anhinga
  • Because anhingas don't have the oil glands found in other aquatic birds like ducks, gulls, swans, etc, when they come out of the water, they will need to dry their wings in order to fly. The advantage of not having this seemingly important oil so essential to buoyancy is that when underwater, the anhinga becomes an extremely fast and agile swimmer and a very efficient fish hunter. Throughout the Gulf Coast, this is a very typical sight: an anhinga perched above water,  wings spread drying in the wind and heat. This adult male was photographed in the Six-mile Cypress Slough in Fort Myers, Florida.
    Male Anhinga
  • Close-up of the tubular flowers of the foxglove. Pollinated by bees, the busy worker bees travel from flower to flower and climb up into these tubes for the pollen, while at the same time fertilizing the next generation of foxgloves.
    Foxglove
  • This beautiful and impressively large (up to 4'-6' tall) naturalized European plant has taken hold in the Pacific Northwest and is now considered naturalized. This one was photographed<br />
 in Steven's Pass in Washington's Cascade Mountains.
    Foxglove
  • Southern oval ladies'-tresses, also known as October ladies' tresses blooming in an isolated forest in North Florida. This particular orchid is quite hard to find, and has a cool feature - instead of the usual corkscrew spiraling of flowers, the flowers bloom in three straight rows. Very cool-looking from above - almost triangular!
    Southern Oval Ladies'-Tresses (Spira..lis)
  • Also known as pinkladies, pink evening primrose and Mexican evening primrose, this wonderfully beautiful native to the Central United States and Northeastern Mexico is spreading across all of the lower half of the continental United States from coast to coast, mostly due to its use in gardens and hardy nature. These were photographed just a few feet from the beach in North Florida's St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf of Mexico.
    Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera sp..osa)
  • Also known as pinkladies, pink evening primrose and Mexican evening primrose, this wonderfully beautiful native to the Central United States and Northeastern Mexico is spreading across all of the lower half of the continental United States from coast to coast, mostly due to its use in gardens and hardy nature. These were photographed just a few feet from the beach in North Florida's St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf of Mexico.
    Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera sp..osa)
  • Also known as pinkladies, pink evening primrose and Mexican evening primrose, this wonderfully beautiful native to the Central United States and Northeastern Mexico is spreading across all of the lower half of the continental United States from coast to coast, mostly due to its use in gardens and hardy nature. These were photographed just a few feet from the beach in North Florida's St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf of Mexico.
    Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera sp..osa)
  • Unusual "double-stalked" woodland ladies'-tresses found in full flower in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson County, Florida.
    Woodland Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ica)
  • In this particular very isolated location in North Florida, I found about fifty-five of these rare orchids.
    Southern Oval Ladies'-Tresses (Spira..lis)
  • Close-up of the delicate flowers and gentle twist up the flower spike.
    Southern Oval Ladies'-Tresses (Spira..lis)
  • Close-up with detail view of the self-pollinating flowers.
    Northern Oval Ladies'-Tresses (Spira..ata)
  • The swelling green seedpods and the never-to-open flowers of the northern oval ladies'-tresses. This is because this orchid (var. erostellata) is self-pollinating and does not require an insect pollinator.
    Northern Oval Ladies'-Tresses (Spira..ata)
  • Close-up of the very rare speckled ladies'-tresses in full flower in the CREW Marsh Hiking Trails in Collier County, Florida.
    Speckled Ladies'-tresses (Cyclopogon..des)
  • Long-lipped ladies'-tresses orchid found in the Picayune State Forest in South Florida.  An easy identification tip is if you find it and it is winter, the sepals are spread out wide, and you are in a dry pine forest, you are probably looking at the long lipped ladies'-tresses! This one was found between two palmettos at night.
    Long-Lipped Ladies'-tresses (Spirant..ris)
  • Lace-lipped ladies'-tresses flowering near the edge of a lake in Punta Gorda in Charlotte County, Florida.
    Lace-lipped Ladies'-tresses (Spirant..ata)
  • One of the most common on all springtime terrestial orchids in Florida - the grass leaved ladies'-tresses can be found on roadsides, lawns, ditches - both in shade and open places.
    Grass-leaved Ladies'-tresses (Spiran..lis)
  • Fragrant ladies'-tresses deep in a slough in the Big Cypress National Preserve. It's tough travel through these flooded forests, but many kinds of orchids can be found here together.
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • The wonderfully scented Spiranthes odorata growing in shadows of Goethe State Forest in Levy County, Florida.
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • Unusual "double-stalked" fragrant ladies'-tresses found growing in Goethe State Forest.
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • Fragrant ladies'-tresses growing in a prairie on the edge of the Fakahatchee Strand. A simple key to identifying this orchid from other ladies'-tresses - just put your nose to it and you will know instantly if it is fragrant or not. Just watch out for the expertly camoflaged crab spiders that are sometimes found among the flowers!
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • Fragrant ladies'-tresses deep in a slough in the Big Cypress National Preserve. I have seen literally hundreds of these in dense areas of thes swamps. Be prepared to walk in ankle-deep flooded forest in November and December!
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • Costa Rican ladies'-tresses hidden deep in the Florida Everglades. These tiny orchids are nearly impossible to find among the hardwoods.
    Costa Rican Ladies'-tresses (Beloglo..sis)
  • Close-up of these tiny tropical orchid's flowers.
    Costa Rican Ladies'-tresses (Beloglo..sis)
  • The flowers of the copper ladies'-tresses have the most unusual metallic sheen, something I've never seen in my life. These tiny flowers are about 4-5 millimeters wide, and macro photography was needed here with a ring flash.
    Copper Ladies'-Tresses (Mesadenus lu..nus)
  • This incredibly small orchid is next to impossible to find. In fact, it's one I thought I might never find, but I stumbled into while looking for caves in the Withlacoocheee State Forest in Central Florida near the river of the same name.
    Copper Ladies'-Tresses (Mesadenus lu..nus)
  • These thin orchids were about three inches high, and in a colony of about eight plants - all in flower.
    Copper Ladies'-Tresses (Mesadenus lu..nus)
  • These beautiful tiny flowers of the grass-leaved ladies'-tresses form a perfect spiral in this native terrestrial orchid, found growing along the highway in rural coastal North Florida.
    Grass-leaved Ladies'-tresses (Spiran..lis)
  • These tiny-flowered members of the Spiranthes orchids are found in summer growing in dry sandy areas. These were photographed near Lake Talquin in Gadsden County.
    Little Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes t.. - 1
  • Close-up of the very rare speckled ladies'-tresses in full flower in Collier County, Florida. The fuzzy flowers reflect light giving them a "shimmery" look.
    Speckled Ladies'-tresses (Cyclopogon..des)
  • Close-up of these beautiful delicate flowers in Jefferson County, near the Gulf Coast.
    Grass-leaved Ladies'-tresses (Spiran..lis)
  • Close-up of the delicate fragrant ladies'-tresses found growing in Goethe State Forest, Florida.
    Fragrant Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes..ata)
  • This particular beauty stands out to me for its simple symmetry. Most Spiranthes orchids have flowers that spiral around the stalk (or spike) but this one carries its flowers in three almost vertical columns, with a slight spiral.
    Southern Oval Ladies'-Tresses (Spira..lis)