The flower you see here is native to North America and can be found in every state of the continental United States. It is a member of the sunflower family. This is the bloom of a black-eyed Susan.

I found this wildflower growing on the bank of a small pond with very clear, dark water. Woods surrounded the pond on three sides. Bright sunshine allowed me to set my camera to a very fast shutter speed. I was able to capture this image with a clean black background in this way.

The insect on the flower petals is a native meadow katydid. It looks and acts a lot like a grasshopper.

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I would like to invite readers to check out the Facebook page: Missouri Bicentennial Paint For a Cause.