As the sun descends, it create a warm glow and shadow box theater in a rooftop garden.
Flora or Fauna?
in Nature
Nature
The Original Toothpick
in Nature
Acacia trees, originally from East Africa, do well here in the high desert of San Miguel and its environs. Every part of the tree can be used. It's gum is used by both wild animals and candy manufacturers, it can be used for firewood and charcoal, and its thorns are nature's original toothpick. These live next to the green fields of Rancho La Trinidad.
Oasis
Just outside of town, down a dusty road lined with trees hiding layers of gray grit, is an oasis of green - Rancho La Trinidad. Here rows of organically grown chard, lettuce, fennel, brocoli bask in rich soil and late afternoon watering. What a relief to smell the aromoa of green things growing and air with moisture, if only for a few moments.
In addition to all those familiar greens, there is a sun shaded hoop house where nopal paddles are lined up in tidy rows like good little soldiers, busily growing juicy babies for Saturday's market.
Desert Rain
in Nature
On the long ride from Mexico City to San Miguel, the fast moving rain clouds in the distance, a wonderful show.
Snow Day
in Nature
The Waterworks
in Nature
The Waterworks, Belfast, Maine
A If could manage a brush I would paint this New England pallette, but my Nikon and graphics tablet will have to do....
Iphone Camera to the Rescue....
in Nature
When the lady in the verizon store promised not to laugh when she saw my antique CINGULAR phone, I finally agreed to catch up with my children and bought an iphone. And I have to confess, I love it.
When my Nikon fogged up as soon as I took it out of the bag in the San Francisco Flower Conservatory, my iphone was happy to save the day.
New England Skyline
in Nature
Back home in Dartmouth and the morning sky sends a painterly welcome.
Autumnal Pallet
Mixing spices for the Turkey rub -
smoked paprika, ginger, cloves,
cinnamon, garlic and sugar.
The colors of autumn's last blaze of light....
Another Day and Night in Maine
in Nature
Picture Post Card New England
Moody Grapes
in Nature
Running Brook Vineyard, Dartmouth, MA
Impressionist Moment
in Nature
Walking along the trail at Stepping Stones Waterfall in Rhode Island, we met some other hikers who said,
"You have to go down to the bridge. It is like being in an oil painting."
He wasn't wrong.
Hudson River School Style
in Nature
Apponagansett Marsh in Early Fall
A Game of "Chicken" with a heron....
in Nature
This afternoon, north of Tacoma, out in the tidal flats of Commencement Bay, this Great Blue Heron and I played a game of "chicken." As I carefully stepped across bright green, very slippery seaweed and broken mussel shells, the heron preened and groomed himself. When I got within 25 feet, he stopped abruptly and went stock still, not moving a feather. My shutter turned to quiet mode, I snapped away while he remained in his pose.
I wondered if he didn't feel threatened because of the little stream between us, or if he was just confident knowing he could fly away. Or was it like a dog who hides his head under the couch, thinking that if he can't see you, you can't see him. I'll never know the answer to these questions, but for twenty minutes he didn't move and I practiced the patient zen of a photographer, just waiting for the "taking flight shot with Olympic Range in the background."
Then some other beachwalkers came along the bird's side of the stream and the game was over. Off he went. And no I didn't get that flight shot, but someday......
