Junco yard

Yesterday I goofed off and went to the Toledo Museum of Art to see Winslow Homer.  Today, I had to get some much needed yard work done.  The sun was shining and there was very little wind.  I couldnt ask for a better day to rake leaves.  So I put on my iPod and headed out the door early.  I listened to Edward Abbey that I converted from cassette to digital for a friend.  Around mid-afternoon I noticed a lot of birds around the feeder.  Since I was due for a break I went inside, downed a glass of water, grabbed the camera and headed for the trees around my feeder.  It doesn’t take long for the birds to come back to the feeders with me sitting quietly among the trees.  I sat there for about 20 minutes before my sweat started to chill.  In those twenty minutes I snapped some nice photos of a pair of Downy Woodpeckers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Titmouse, and a bunch of Juncos.

Cold Mountain, Warm Thoughts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When thinking about my post today I thought about my parents down in Tennessee.  Last Spring I took this photo from the top of Mt. LeConte in the Smoky Mountains.  When I look at this photo I think of my parents log cabin in the Smokies, splitting wood, sitting on the deck, listening to the creek, bluegrass music, wild flowers and backpacking.  My dad wanted to move to the Smokies because he wanted to get away from the snow.  If I ever move there it will be for the mountains and the music.  The only musical instrument I ever wanted to play was the banjo.  Our family started vacationing in the Smokies when I was only about 9 or 10 years old.  I’ve hiked more trails in the Smokies than anywhere else.  I miss the Appalachian Trail.  I miss the views, the quiet news, the rocky pews.  I want to go where the people are few.  I want to go where the grass is blue.

Waiting for Snow

A few years ago I did a painting of thistles at Ramsdell Park.  Ramsdell Park is supposed to be a Pheasant preserve but I have to admit I’ve never seen a pheasant there.  But that’s not to say they are not there.  The meadow is THICK!  When I think of Ramsdell Park I don’t think of Pheasant really.  I think of Thistles.  Thistles are thick throughout the meadow.  In the summer it’s a great place to photograph butterflies if you can brave the mosquitos.  There are some bogs in the park where Red-winged Blackbirds rest on Cat-tails, which never looks very comfortable to me…but that’s where they sit.  My favorite time to visit Ramsdell is in the winter.  I take my cross country skis and make a few loops around the meadow.  If it gets too windy I can hide out in the woods for a while.  I’m patiently waiting for the first good snow to get out and ski some trails.  Even though I do most of my skiing at Hidden Lake Gardens now I still enjoy the rolling meadows of Ramsdell when I get a chance.

A Reason for Singing

 The Trumpeters are singing…and for good reason.  Hidden Lake Gardens received their new male swan (shown on the left).  He’s a tad spunkier than the last male swan.  He bobbed his head in agitation as I approached to take these photos.  I think it’s a little easier to identify this male.  His neck is thinner and longer than the female’s neck.  The only way I could tell the last pair apart was by their leg bands.    

K and I took the dog for a walk around Hidden Lake Gardens on Sunday.  In addition to seeing these birds, I spotted a few birds along the way that I dont normally see.  For some reason I’ve been seeing a lot of Red Bellied Woodpeckers lately.  I saw a few on Sunday and one has been hanging around my house lately.  I also spotted what I think was a Coopers Hawk.  It was perched above the road when I saw it.  Before I could get the camera up it flew about 50 yards away.  It figures when I forget the binoculars I’m bound to need them.  When we finished our walk in Hidden Lake Gardens we decided to go for lunch and then head to Ramsdell Park near Devils Lake.  The day was perfect with little to no wind and sunny skies.  Ramsdell Park can get chilly since it’s just a rolling meadow and there’s very few trees to block the wind.  The Killdeer were active in the park.  And, so were the Chickadees.  We stopped for a few minutes to watch a pair eat seeds and berries only a few feet off the trail.

Where is Heyduke when you need him?

 

I might not have gone to Hidden Lake Gardens today had I not signed up for the Pruning class given by Karen Gentry, the Education Program Coordinator.  It was a good class.  I learned a lot.  I feel that if you have a large yard or a wooded lot like I do, then it’s a good idea to learn a little bit about how to take care of it.  After the class I took a short stroll through the Conservatory to check out the Orchids which smell great.  I had the wrong lense on my camera so the photos didnt turn out so well.  So I took a quick stroll through the Conifer Collection.  It was very overcast today and lighting was poor.  But the subtle colors of fall were all around.  One of my favorite subjects to photograph are pine needles.  Another favorite subject of mine are leaves.  When they are together it’s a bonus.  I stayed longer than any sane person might stay.  I felt a little weird huddling under the canopy of pine trees to escape the snow and rain but I did anyway.  It felt a lot like childhood.  I spent many days under the canopy of trees growing up along Beaver Creek outside of Adrian.  Unfortunately those trees have been excavated and plowed under by the infamous Baker boys.  Where is Heyduke when you need him?  There are a couple of bulldozers waiting for you along Beaver Creek.  I’m no Heyduke.  I’m writing my charity checks to The Nature Conservancy Organization this year.

I want to save this….

In memory of a Trumpeter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This past week the male Trumpeter Swan at Hidden Lake Gardens was killed by what is believed to be a pack of Coyotes.  I was saddened by the news.  Over the past year and a half I’ve spent a lot time hanging out at the Gardens.  I’ve gotten to know the people, the trails, the trees and the birds…including the new Trumpeter Swans.  After I heard the news I rummaged through my photo collection and found this photo of the Male.  I know it’s the male because I took a series of shots and I can clearly see the silver leg band.  Otherwise there is not much that distinguishes the sexes.  The two Trumpeter Swans replaced the Mute Swans because the Trumpeters are native to this area.  Anyway, to learn more about swans go to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website or do what i do…go to Hidden Lake Gardens and see them in real life.

Everything and Nothing

I felt the need for a walk today so I headed to HLG.  The weather was a little chilly and breezy and it looked like it might rain.  I didn’t care.  I went anyway.  I guess if you have the gear you may as well use it.  I hiked the long trail today.  I hadn’t hiked the long trail since last Spring before the mosquitos took over the place like a gang of thugs.  Anyway, It was nice to get back on the trail.  It wont be long before the snow flies and I can ski the trail again.  I wasn’t quite sure where to hike today.  I chose the long trail because my nature meter was on low.  I did a lot this week while K was in California.  I drank a lot.  I went to the Toledo Museum of Art.  I went to the Toledo Zoo.  I went to a friends house for dinner.  I hung my show at Pentamere Winery.  I went underwear shopping..ha!  After it was all said and done it feels like I did everything…and nothing.  I thought about that when I took pictures today.  I saw the same sights in the woods as always….everything and nothing.  So I looked closer.  I went off trail.  I laid on the ground.  I allowed myself to dream.  But it was too cold to lay still.  My sweat chilled fast.  I stepped into the conservatory after my hike.  I hung out in the tropical room to warm up.  The warm humid air felt good.  I looked closely at a few plants.  I like the translucency of plants against the sky.  When I looked at this leaf against the sky I thought it looked like an O’Keefe painting.  So I snapped a few pics for future reference.  I found about 5 or 6 different plant textures today that I had never seen before.  Maybe it was the fact that I wasn’t in a hurry.  Nobody waited for me at home.  There were no errands to run, no projects that needed to be finished, no dinner plans, no sporting events, no meetings….nothing and suddenly I could see everything.

Pentamere Winery Exhibition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What?  An exhibition of prints and painting by Gregorio Perez

Where?  Penatmere Winery in Tecumseh, MI

When?  November (or Noviembre)  Reception to be held Sunday, November 9th, 1-3 PM

Why?  Because I woke up this morning.