The aspects of my side-yard that make it so appealing and safe for area birds also make it extremely challenging to photograph the visitors. We reside in an older area of town where homes are built right up to the sidewalk, with only a covered porch between pedestrians and the front door. The yard is almost entirely found in the back, except for a narrow side yard.

Our fairly tall home is bordered by a towering privacy hedge, with space between only wide enough for the dogwood tree that graces the ground.

A macro photography gallery of details of the natural world has been posted with the photographs also displayed here for your convenience.

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The use of the word “grace” has crossed my path several times in the past week or two, with various definitions in play. We tend to recall the term’s use in a few different areas, but I wonder if we miss the impact of its potential, not only in the common spiritual sense but also in our daily secular lives.

The ballerina or nimble athlete each express grace in form and movement. A sense of beauty is on display that is unexpected. Beauty doesn’t have to be confined to the visual, however, and sometimes beautiful acts show us other avenues of grace.