• flowers,  Metro Parks,  Plants

    Music from Within

     

    Iris
    Iris

     

    I sure don’t sing very well. Practice would probably help but I doubt I could make a living at it. I would most likely loose a few friends if I sang too often. I also do not listen to much music since the radio in my car and my home stereo went “kaput.” I have an iphone but have not music on it. The music I enjoy at this place and time in life is sounds of nature: wind as it blows through trees, birds sining their morning song, water flowing in a stream, leaves crunching under foot, rain falling and even the quiet of snowfall.

    But there is another enjoyable music in my life. I find at times while riding in my car or on a walk, that a song will rise up inside me and my spirit will quietly sing. There are those songs from the past, stored in my memory, that rise up and every once in a while a newly created song will flow forth. So when my spirit wants to sing, I do. It’s music from within, not from my ipod.


  • Metro Parks,  People/Portraits

    Mother and Daughter

     

    At Frog Pond
    At Frog Pond

    I needed some space and quiet today so I headed for Inniswood Gardens. It wasn’t the quiet I wanted as they were busy working on some of the park.  A Bobcat was whirling around and a saw was whirring through timber. Not to be turned down I ventured deeper into the wooded area on the path to find the quiet. Ahhh! On the way back to the car I discovered this mother and daughter at the Frog Pond. They are looking a two turtles sun bathing on a log just below them. You can see the larger of the two turtles just to the left of the yellow flower and its reflection. I like how the young girl is telling her mom something and using her arms to add emphasis to her story. Yes, I know it’s pretty harsh light but I like the image.

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  Metro Parks,  Plants

    Yea for Spring

     

    Spring is Near
    Spring is Near

     The first day of spring in the U.S. is considered to be around March 20 or 21, depending on what day the vernal equinox occurs. This is when the sun sits directly above the equator on its apparent trip northward. I took this image on March 20 while on a walk at Inniswood Gardens. I like how it shows the tree blossoms and the green grass as well as the barren trees and the lonely bench. A big Yea for Spring!

  • Avian,  Metro Parks

    The Turkey Stare

     

    The Turkey Stare
    The Turkey Stare

    Wild turkeys inside the city is one of the pluses the Metro Parks provide in the Columbus area. I have seen several of them while walking the trails in one of my favorite parks in the system called Blendon Woods Park. I’m not sure my intentions for being in the park that day but came across 23 of them and took a few images. The wild turkeys of North America have a long, dark, fan-shaped tail and glossy bronze wings. The male is substantially larger than the female, and his feathers have areas of red, purple, green, copper, bronze, and gold iridescence. Female feathers are duller overall, in shades of brown and gray. It is an interesting bird and leery of people as evidenced in this stare.

  • Avian,  Metro Parks

    Feeding Time

     

    Feeding Time
    Feeding Time

    I was surprised at the changes I saw in Blendon Woods after returning from 5 days of traveling. Most of the ice was gone on the lake and very few geese and ducks were around.  I watched as the ducks were feeding on the bottom. It’s comical to see them stick their tail feathers up in the air and paddle their feed to keep their head down. Yes, spring is getting closer.