Brenda Greaves Photography

Brenda Greaves Photography This page is a way for me to share my photography, travel and musings. It focuses on life in Iowa, wildlife, flowers, and nature.
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My goal is not to earn money, but to educate and enlighten about the beautiful world we live in.

Garden Song Red Wing Blackbird Male Polk County Iowa USA June 2026Inch by inch, row by row, gonna make this garden grow....
06/12/2026

Garden Song
Red Wing Blackbird Male
Polk County Iowa USA
June 2026

Inch by inch, row by row, gonna make this garden grow.
All it takes is a rake and a hoe and a piece of fertile ground.
Inch by inch, row by row, Someone bless the seeds I sow.
Someone warm them from below, ’til the rain comes tumbling down.
~ David Mallet

This blackbird was enjoying the sunshine and singing in Mother Nature’s garden. The summer wildflowers in Iowa are beginning to pop now and in several weeks there will be colors dotted around the countryside.

Sunshine of My Life Yellow WarblerPolk County Iowa USA June 2026You are the sunshine of my lifeThat's why I'll always be...
06/11/2026

Sunshine of My Life
Yellow Warbler
Polk County Iowa USA
June 2026

You are the sunshine of my life
That's why I'll always be around
You are the apple of my eye
Forever you'll stay in my heart
~ Stevie Wonder

It’s pouring rain in Central Iowa right now with severe storm warnings, flood watches, and tornado watches. But in spite of the rain, the little yellow warbler brings his own sunshine to the day!

Among the Wildflowers 🥀Purple Coneflowers Polk County Iowa USA June 2026You belong among the wildflowersYou belong in a ...
06/09/2026

Among the Wildflowers 🥀
Purple Coneflowers
Polk County Iowa USA
June 2026

You belong among the wildflowers
You belong in a boat out at sea
Sail away, kill off the hours
You belong somewhere you feel free

Run away, find you a lover
Go away somewhere all bright and new
I've seen no other
Who compares with you
~ Tom Petty
Summer wildflowers are beginning their bloom. A picture just doesn’t do justice to a patch of these prairie beauties.

Hey! Baby American Bison and calfJasper County Iowa USA May 2026Hey, heybabyI want to know if you'll be my girlHey, hey ...
06/03/2026

Hey! Baby
American Bison and calf
Jasper County Iowa USA
May 2026

Hey, heybaby
I want to know if you'll be my girl
Hey, hey baby
I want to know if you'll be my girl

When I saw you walking down the street
I said that's a kind of girl I'd like to meet
She's so pretty, Lord, she's fine
I'm gonna make her mine, all mine
~ Bruce Channel

Try a Little Kindness Western KingbirdPolk County Iowa USA June 2026If you see your brother standing by the roadWith a h...
06/02/2026

Try a Little Kindness
Western Kingbird
Polk County Iowa USA
June 2026

If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and say, "You're going the wrong way"

You've got to try a little kindness
Yes, show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets
~ Glen Campbell

A new life bird for me!! At first I thought I had spotted a great crested flycatcher, but I knew its head was a bit different. I couldn’t believe my luck to find it was a Western Kingbird. They are visitors to Iowa but usually are found in the western part of the state near the Missouri River. It’s more rare to find them nesting in Central Iowa. This was one of a pair. They were both out catching bugs and flying back to their tree where I imagine they were nesting. I’m glad this pair found a happy nesting site and a bit of kindness here in Polk County.

Spiderwort Polk County Iowa USA June 2026 I have been AWOL the past few weeks. Between, our internet being knocked out ...
06/01/2026

Spiderwort
Polk County Iowa USA
June 2026

I have been AWOL the past few weeks. Between, our internet being knocked out by an electrical storm for several days; planting spring and Summer flowers and shrubs; and then prepping and hosting our granddaughter’s engagement party in our backyard I’ve had less time and energy to get out to photograph and edit the birds and wildlife. 💜💜💜

Spiderworts are one of the prettiest spring wildfires here in Iowa. I captured this blossom shortly after a gentle rain.

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Ring of Fire Rose Breasted Grosbeak Polk County Iowa USA June 2026Love is a burning flameAnd it makes the fiery rainBoun...
06/01/2026

Ring of Fire
Rose Breasted Grosbeak
Polk County Iowa USA
June 2026

Love is a burning flame
And it makes the fiery rain
Bound by one desire
I fell into a ring of fire

I fell into a burnin' ring of fire
I fell down down down
And the flames went higher
And it burns burns burns
That ring of fire
That ring of fire
~ Johnny Cash

Controlled burns in the nearby parks make for a bit more dramatic perch for this handsome grosbeak. He was out protecting his territory and scavenging for seeds when I snapped this photo.

King of the Road Eastern KingbirdPolk County Iowa USA May 2026Trailer's for sale or rentRooms to let, 50 centsNo phone, ...
05/27/2026

King of the Road
Eastern Kingbird
Polk County Iowa USA
May 2026

Trailer's for sale or rent
Rooms to let, 50 cents
No phone, no pool, no pets
I ain't got no ci******es

Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room
I'm a man of means by no means
King of the road
~ Roger Miller

The Eastern Kingbird is one of the most distinguished looking birds on the grasslands. I often wonder what is that little bird in his tuxedo doing out in the grassy ditches and fields. Just a bit of extra class dotting the Iowa countryside.

Barefootin Raccoon Polk County Iowa USA May 2026Everybody get on your feetYou make me nervous when you in your seatTake ...
05/26/2026

Barefootin
Raccoon
Polk County Iowa USA
May 2026

Everybody get on your feet
You make me nervous when you in your seat
Take off your shoes and pat your feet
We're doin' a dance that can't be beat

We're barefootin', we're barefootin'
We're barefootin', we're barefootin'
~ Robert Parker

What a surprise to find this mama raccoon high in a tree. I didn’t realize until I was editing other pictures of her that she had at least 2 little ones in the hollow. She kept her leg and foot stretched out to get comfy. She even peeked from behind it as if she thought she was hidden. 🦝

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Red Red Tanager Scarlet TanagerPolk County Iowa USA May 2026Red, red wineGo to my headMake me forget that IStill need he...
05/26/2026

Red Red Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Polk County Iowa USA
May 2026

Red, red wine
Go to my head
Make me forget that I
Still need her so

Red, red wine
It's up to you
All I can do, I've done
Mem'ries won't go
Mem'ries won't go
~ UB40

This red fellow did a whole photo shoot with me one day last week. He posed in different angles and came down from the treetops for several closeups!

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Ankeny, IA
50021

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