Thursday, December 26, 2013

December moments

After a morning snowstorm...

View from Mountain View

Playing around...

In a garden store

December? Bah, humbug! Let me go back to sleep....

Happy holidays to all -- and to all a good night.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Snow and Skies

Winter brought snow and frigid temperatures this week...

but it also brought amazing skies





Sunday, December 08, 2013

Take Five....

Starring Schlumbergera Zygocactus...

Otherwise known as Christmas Cactus





In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.
~Aaron Rose


Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Total frivolity

One fish...


Two fish, red fish, blue fish,


A duck in time saves nine


And I'll leaf you with that....

(with apologies to Dr. Seuss)

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Mulling over Milkweed

Milkweed pods, exploding on a sunny Fall day. Here are a few fun facts about milkweed plants from Wikipedia:

"The milkweed filaments from the follicles are hollow and coated with wax, and have good insulation qualities. During World War II, over 5,500 short tons of milkweed floss were collected in the United States as a substitute for kapok. As of 2007, milkweed is grown commercially as a hypoallergenic filling for pillows."


"Being the sole food source of monarch butterfly larvae, the plant is often used in butterfly gardens."  

"Milkweed also contains cardiac glycoside poisons. As a result, many natives of South America and Africa used arrows poisoned with these glycosides for fighting and hunting."

These facts made me wonder if growing milkweed could be a lucrative business, and yes it is, according to Farm Show magazine
As you mull over the exciting prospects of becoming a milkweed farmer, have a good week....

Friday, November 08, 2013

The season of Fall

Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.
 ~Jim Bishop


Autumn is the hush before winter.
 ~French Proverb




Winter is dead; spring is crazy; summer is cheerful and autumn is wise!
~Mehmet Murat ildan


Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Finding art

It can be presented to you when you least expect it -- Aesthetic plants, bugs sitting in symmetry.

I give you this until I have time to create one of my multi-photo posts (working waaaay too much lately). See you soon -- and may you find art when you most need it.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Impressions



Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.
~The Dalai Lama




Our moments of inspiration are not lost though we have no particular poem to show for them; for those experiences have left an indelible impression, and we are ever and anon reminded of them.
~Henry David Thoreau


Friday, October 11, 2013

Four views







These always bloom in early fall, their crepe-paper petals littering the lawns and paths.

Wishing you beauty -- and not too much litter on your lawn.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Morning after a storm

The wind savaged a few trees.



Others, with deeper roots, were harried, but left intact.

The storm cleared and freshened the air. And the sun rose, glowing, a beautiful light.


Thursday, September 19, 2013

The many lives of plants







This must be Thursday. I never could get the hang of Thursdays.
~ Douglas Adams

Happy Friday, everyone.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Local wildlife







 

You can't just let nature run wild.
~ Walt Disney

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Rollin' on the river

Boise is an outdoor-activities sort of town, especially during the summer.  

Floating down the Boise River is one of the most popular activities.

These two seem to be serious boaters. They've probably gone down wild rivers in Idaho's back country.

And then there's the drifters, moseying along, taking in the scenery, catching a little sunburn.

River time creates its own rhythm.

In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time.
~ Leonardo Da Vinci