Off Center

There must be a million ways to photograph the endless varieties of flowers. I've only dabbled with a few. This one caught me off guard, being off center. I don't remember taking it that way but two years have passed. I do remember being drawn in by its light peach tones. In the end, taking the color away better revealed it's shadows, light and that papery transparent bottom petal. Mother nature's details kill me.

Spring Buds

Spring is budding and blooming everywhere in the Northwest. So fun to round corners and run into unexpected color. We will be heading to Idaho next week. I've never been before and am wondering...what are the colors of spring like there? Can't wait to see. 

Rust Lovers Unite

I am a hopeless lover of rust, peeling paint, making something from nothing, creative thinking, funky stuff and fearless construction. There is also a huge place in my heart for stubborn determination. Conversely I love architecture styles spanning a thousand plus years; cliff dwellings to ornate churches, cottages to castles, simplicity to opulence. Each carries the reflection of imagination(s) at work and dreams made real. Even this weathered, riveted metal box that housed a business has someone passionate in its past. I'd like to meet the maker.

Wrappings

I've taken a bit of liberty with a gift I wrapped many moons ago. Fiddling with filters in Photoshop. Having fun on this Sunday. Hope you are too!

There is a Farm...

And on that farm grows the most beautiful range of dahlias. Year before last I spent a few hours there with friends and it felt as if we dropped into a color and texture filled heaven. I had no idea there were so many dahlia varieties. My favorites were of a more simple form than those above, one row of flattened or spiky petals around. Fortunately my camera liked them all, so many kinds were captured. I'm hoping to get back to the farm, when summer begins it's turn toward fall and the dahlias are showing off once more. Until then, here is the link that will take you to the array of offerings available at Connell's Dahlias in Tacoma. Have a wonderful Saturday!

PBS Tonight

Tuning into PBS at 9:00 PM (in 5 minutes) which reminded me of one of my favorite reflective water shots, taken at the Wharf in Monterey CA. Early morning shot, reflecting one of the stilted buildings. Water has so many faces.

PBS Special - April 21st, 9 PM - Poisoned Waters

Poisoned Waters, the PBS special scheduled for April 21st at 9 PM, is a program I would encourage everyone around the country to watch. The waters you see above are part of the vast Puget Sound, which is one of the water bodies discussed. In this case, you are looking at the water from the Silverdale shoreline. Portions of the Sound (not Silverdale) are already dead (no plant or aquatic life, no oxygen), others are in peril. Waters, here and in other areas around the country, are so beautiful they capture our hearts, often making it far too easy to avoid the realities that lie beneath the surface. Watch Poisoned Waters. It speaks volumes about the good work and successes, along with making clear the work which still needs doing. We can all be a part of the change, but first...know the facts in order to know where your efforts can have the greatest positive impact. 

PBS - Frontline

"More than three decades after the Clean Water Act, two iconic waterways - the great coastal estuaries Puget Sound and the Chesapeake Bay - are in perilous condition. With polluted runoff still flowing in from industry, agriculture and massive suburban development, scientists fear contamination to the food chain and drinking water for millions of people. A growing list of endangered species is also threatened in both estuaries. As a new President, Congress, and States set new agendas and spending priorities, FRONTLINE correspondent Hedrick Smith examines the rising hazards to human health and the ecosystem, and why it's so hard to keep our waters clean." 

Once you've seen the program, you may be interested in knowing more about Nisqually River Council and the Nisqually Land Trust, as they are discussed in the piece. Those links can be found in the side bar of this blog.