Re-blooming (Honest!!)

FINALLY.  I am submitting my photographic proof that my re-blooming lilac truly is re-blooming!  You can see there are buds past their prime, a few in their prime, and several waiting to bloom.  Hopefully in a few more years, more than one branch will re-bloom at any given time . . .  it's still a   young'un . . . only planted about 3 years ago.

I've been thinking about perennials lately, and have come to a couple of conclusions about myself.  It's already well established that I'm lazy efficient, but there are plenty of other reasons that I enjoy perennials much more than annuals.

I swear this picture should have been part of my Crafty Nature post - all I see when I look at this is a cartoon drawing of a purple female camel w/ thick eyelashes!  See it??

Sorry, that was a complete non-sequitur, but I had to include it!

Why do I like perennials so much better than annuals (aside from the obvious efficiency perspective)?  I like watching them grow year after year, not just for a short season.  They're almost family after a while, with some sentimental attachment to them.  We're in it for the long haul together.

They are survivors.  They do not easily fall victim to the weather, and while at times beat down by  sun, wind, rain, frost and/or ice, they often come back of their own accord when things return to "normal."  Other times they may need some TLC and extra efforts, but they live and thrive.

If planted appropriately, they require little maintenance.  Planting flowers that need huge amounts of sun where you only have shade doesn't work, and to have even minimal success turns those plants high maintenance.  I'm not a fan of high maintenance under any circumstance (and you can leave the drama out, too!).  Nice, dependable plants that do their job in the ecosystem.

The potential for them to live on long after I'm gone exists.  They do not count on me to provide their nourishment; they seek it out for themselves as nature provides.  When the time is right, they no longer grow or bloom for a while, but reduce their needs to the minimum of existence.  They rest and prepare.

Sometimes the startling truth is they are just as beautiful, or more beautiful, when the bloom is gone.  That flash of color was pretty and beautiful, but look what's left behind that lasts even longer!  Open your eyes to different.

And while this sunflower is NOT a perennial, it's growing because the seed fell from the bird feeder.  I did not plant it; I have not watered it.  And yet it grows.  I doubt the squirrels will allow it to get much further along in blooming, but I have to respect it's tenacity and durability.

There are so many lessons we can learn from watching nature.  I've decided to be a perennial sunflower, figuratively speaking, of course.  I am a survivor (but can always be more tenacious), relatively low maintenance, and I try to continue to learn and grow in experience and knowledge.

I also know that when the body is no longer able to function, I will bloom in a new garden with annuals and perennials of every type, and each of us will be perfectly happy in the presence of the Son.

W W W Wegerzyn (I may have to rename it Againerzyn)

Really wanted to go out to Germantown MetroPark today, but when I got there, it was deserted.  So I decided to head over to Wegerzyn, again.  It was HOT, and I'm glad I made it a short trip!  I went to a different section, so hopefully I'm not duplicating shots.

No real commentary to the pics today; too hot to think about what my brain might have been stuck on for today's pics.  Just enjoy the nature shots in the comfort of your air conditioned domicile.

Fun Campus Pics

Well, I am totally and completely blown away at the number of people who read my late Sunday evening post.  I'm glad, because it was much harder to write than I anticipated.  Actually, the writing was pretty easy - the editing of it was the tough part.  What to leave in, what to take out . . . agonizing decisions!

I'm not into agony, so I'm gonna have a little fun with today's post!  I'm using more pics from my trip to C2A2/Con-U today; some are nature shots, some artsy fartsy shots, and some because the subject made me laugh.

Spotted this sunny little flower on my Friday evening trek . . . I like how it seems to be floating in mid-air.

Apparently honeysuckle is invading everywhere!

I've only seen a few goldfinches in my backyard, so it was nice to have a chance to catch one with the camera.

I watched this bee on the thistle for a couple of minutes.  He must have been shy 'cause he wouldn't let me get different angles of him . . .

Loved the detail in the shadow on this one.

From this angle, it looks like the chapel spire is growing out of the trees; I don't remember seeing pics from this angle before . . . remember being the key word.

There were 3 pieces of wood like this grouped together.  They reminded me of the sun-bleached skulls/antlers depicted from the western deserts.

Pine cones already?  It isn't even technically summer and they're out!

The way these bins were lined up so precisely made me think of soldiers in formation (or robots in formation); I also like the way their shadows cross the painted lines on the asphalt.

Is it just me, or does it seem that this pine cone is floating?

 I liked the way this turned out; it's where the water from a fountain is hitting the water . . .

Does anyone else see a person's face on the left??  I didn't when I took the pic; I took it because of the curves and angles and the green against the blue . . .

I don't believe the intent of the artist was to frame the fire hydrant with the sculpture, but when I saw this, I HAD to get a shot of it.

I liked the reflection of the spire . . .

And one of the lilies blooming around the chapel.

Today, it's about enjoying what we see, and being thankful for the different types of beauty to be found when we look for it.

Ducks and Serendipity . . .

I was going through some of my older pics today, and ran across some that were taken as a result of serendipity.  Yup, using that word again!  LOVE it.  The following nature shots were all taken at a park where my niece had a soccer tournament (in Middletown, OH).  I hadn't even seen this area the first two or three times because it was lower than the parking lot.  We all ate lunch up by the parking lot, then I wandered down to see what all else was in this park (it was a nice alternative to sweaty teenage girls who had a BAD case of the giggles).

I liked the way this tree branch had rotted out - I couldn't quite get the right angle to see from the main opening through the smaller opening on the right out onto the water . . . believe me, I tried!

I was absolutely thrilled when I saw how nicely the reflection turned out.  I'd tried it a couple of times before this shot, and none of them were decent.

I like watching the ducks, and I liked catching the ripples they created.

I couldn't decide if the one duck was being picked upon or not.  I finally decided (for my own peace of mind) that they were involved in some sort of duck synchronized swimming performance.

As  you can see, the "beach" area was not quite litter free, but it did provide nice contrast for me to see this beauty.

This duck was just kind of scary; I loved the colors, but he was kind of mean to the other ducks.  I kept a very wide path between us!

This one cracked me up.  It seems to be trying to claim to be shy . . .

I think the only way I would have liked this photo better was if I'd caught it from the front, not a profile view.  I wasn't sure as I was clicking away what I would end up with.  I was VERY happy.

Nobody in the family was surprised when I posted the soccer photos on the team photo site and these (and several more) photos of the flora and fauna were included.  The girls didn't know I was going to include them and thought I was nuts.  They may be right, I may be crazy . . . but I'm entertaining, and they loved the soccer photos, so they put up with me.

It's kind of funny that so many of the photos I've taken and loved the most are those that were not planned.  Not just these, but most of the nature shots are ones I've just happened upon.  There are a few where I waited and waited and waited for a bird to show up, but those are very atypical.  Even my favorite pictures of people are the candid pictures - not the least bit posed.  I prefer everything be open and honest, without artifice.  Who needs artificial when the natural is beautiful in its own right?

Captured in Time

Way back twenty-some days ago when I started blogging, I featured a picture taken when friends were having a pole barn raising for their alpaca farm.  I'd forgotten how many pictures I took to chronicle the event for them (I ended up keeping about 400 of the shots I took). 

It was a fun day, and a wonderful opportunity for me to do a little experimenting.  I'm in no way, shape, or form a morning person, but since they were beginning the day early to get as much work in as possible, I grumbled my way to their house until I saw what I've come to think of as the canvas before me.  I was quickly excited by all of the possibilities for many different kinds of pictures (artistic, geometric, action, setting, etc.).  It lasted pretty much all day.

The fog was pretty heavy when I arrived . . . it took several
hours to clear up and start warming up.

I liked the lines created by the braces, as well as the pointy pieces
(no, I do not think that is the technical term!).

Posts in place in their holes, getting things ready to start the real work.

Sharp.  Amazing tool.  I best keep my distance.

This is to hopefully prevent one of my pet peeves.  Concrete  was
used in the post holes, NOT cement.  Cement is an ingredient
in concrete.   That's a lot of concrete, too.

I liked the almost silhouette look.

Then, I turned around for some reason,
and saw this.  I must have taken about
10 shots, but this is the best.  I loved the way
the beams of light broke through the fog
and trees. 

It's kind of silly how excited I was to capture the "action" of the
wood falling here.  I'm still very glad I caught it!

There were plenty of angles and geometric shapes to catch.

But I couldn't forget the setting around us!

Every time I found myself starting to think I was getting the "same old pictures," I would turn slightly or catch a movement, and I'd notice a more intriguing angle, or a beam of light that I'd swear wasn't there before.  Or, I'd yawn (I told you, I'm not a morning person!), and then I'd notice more of the nature around the work being done . . . a few minutes photographing it, and my eyes were ready to "see more creatively."

This was a long day for everyone, but it was also fun, and it helped to stretch my creativity.  There were several "God moments" throughout the day that had me unable to do more than soak in the wonder of His creation (man, nature, animals).  It was a challenge to chronicle the day in a way that showed the totality of the experience.  Not only was this the physical construction of a pole barn, but it was also the expression of friendship and love by all who participated.

A photograph captures a moment in time.  I go for the pictures that capture the mood of that moment in time as well.  Sometimes that happens in a single picture; those are the pictures I cherish.  That's why the following picture is my favorite shot of the entire day (and why I'm sharing it again).