nature photography

All Bark and No Bite

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All Bark and No Bite w

Sometimes I forget I have a blog.  Life takes over, and before I know it, weeks (sometimes, months) have gone by without an entry.

No matter how hectic things get, however, I never stop taking pictures.  My camera never gets put away.

In the backyard of the home I grew up in, there is a massive apple tree.  In spring, its blossoms are resplendent.  In late summer, its apples cover the ground below it.  Its gnarled branches have held my children while they galloped on an old tire horse, and shaded their play summer after summer.

Its age shows in its bark, but so does its strength.

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Mindfulness Challenge Week 18: Nature

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forsythia w

Forsythia and Other Garden Discoveries

Until very recently, I had no idea what grew in my garden.

We moved here in the fall, when I was starting a new teaching position and spent all my spare time unpacking and planning.  There was no time to explore the yard, and soon the plants were buried in snow.

Spring came late this year.  Now, though, I can enjoy the bursts of colour coming up.  Crimson tulips, pink rhododendron, and bright yellow forsythia.  Soon, I will have blossoms on the apple tree and hydrangea.  I’m almost certain one plant is an astilbe; another I think is a dahlia.

Nature provides much beauty, but in spring it’s the flowers I enjoy the most.

 

#createmindfulness2017

Snow in New Brunswick

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It’s been some time since I’ve posted.  I seem to have gotten out of the habit of updating my blog sometime around the craziness before Christmas.

Since I took a few pictures while I was in NB over the holidays, I thought I’d go back a bit and share some of them with you.  These were taken in my parents’ backyard; it snowed nearly every day I was there.

 

A (Chilly) Walk in the Woods

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black squirrel

It turned out to be a chilly walk in the woods, but one we enjoyed nonetheless.

With my children, parents, sister, and nephews, we braved the crisp fall air (and snow!) for a walk at Lemoine Point in Kingston, ON.

When my camera wasn’t tucked inside my jacket to protect it from the unexpected snowflakes, I managed a few shots – including this one of a fluffy black squirrel pausing for a snack.

 

Winged Inspiration

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I’d been meaning to try some bird photography for quite some time.  Yesterday, I finally dug out my zoom lens, set up my tripod, and filled the feeder.

I was hooked!

Nearly four hours later, I only stopped because the light was fading and it was time to settle in for the evening.  I was able to capture a number of shots; here is one (more can be found on my site):

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Looking Closer

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last-season

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Sometimes I don’t see a picture right away, but when I look closer, the possibilities appear.

That’s what happened here.

This tiny shrub has not yet begun to bud with new growth.  It is dry and still looks as though there is little hope for its survival.  It is not known yet whether it will flourish into another season.

And yet, there is beauty here.  These tiny papery blossoms, left over from last season, are still pretty.

In the Mess of Weeds

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mini-daisies I can always find something to photograph in the mess of weeds at the side of my yard.

On first glance, most people would want to mow it over.  But it is my favourite spot in my yard to take my camera.  The lines and textures of the random plants growing there make for endless photo possibilities.

Some see weeds; I see art.