Tag: photography
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Rosy Crowns
Swamp Milkweed is an herbaceous, native, water-loving perennial of the Milkweed family. In fact, it is a highly beneficial plant that has belonged to Ontario’s wetlands, shorelines, and wet meadows for thousands of years. Today’s pictures are all from the Pannes at Presqu’ile. The freshwater pannes at Presqu’ile Provincial Park are a globally significant and…
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Sunday Stills: It’s National #Beach Day— Inland Seas and the Wandering Heart
Whether it’s been playing and frolicking with family or slow, introspective walks alone, I’ve spent many an enjoyable hour on a beach — with or without my camera. I’ve found sea glass, shells — even a perfect starfish on Clearwater Beach — driftwood, glass bottles (no messages), and so much more. I enjoy my beach…
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Rust and Red
Rust and Red Old and rusty, dressed in red,A peaceful field its favourite bed.With a rumbling heart and a steady drive,Doug’s vintage Massey thirty-five. It’s worked the soil and felt the sun,A lifetime’s work that’s never done.Though years have given it a weathered grace,No newer tractor could take its place. ’Til next time, y’all…
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The Flower Hour #45: Absolutely no advice whatsoever from the Wild Sunflowers of Essex County!
Here in Essex County we have three varieties of wild sunflowers: Woodland or Rough Sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus): Sunchoke or Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus): False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides): At this time of year there are glorious, orangish-yellow pops of colour seemingly everywhere – roadsides, meadows, woodlands — you simply cannot escape their vibrant beauty (and why…
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The Faerie’s Bonnet
Columbines — both the wild and garden varieties — are herbaceous perennials of the Buttercup family. The only species native to Ontario is the Canada or Wild Columbine: This is the species I grew up knowing and loving. They grow everywhere in the wild — meadows, woodlands, stream banks, and roadsides. Its flowers are a…
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Carolinian Cutie
Gosh, did we ever have a lovely visitor this evening! We knew immediately that this wee guy was a fledgling by his teeny-tiny peeps — that were constant: Mum, Mum, Mum, I need food! His mum and dad are sure to be close-by keeping an eye on their kiddo and foraging for insects for him. …
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Forest Jewels
Violets are native, herbaceous perennials that are their own family within the plant kingdom. The most common species in Ontario is the Wooly Blue (sometimes Common blue). It prefers damp woodlands and forest floors — exactly the environment behind our home where, unsurprisingly, several species of Violet flourish. Fun Fact: Violets use their local…
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Sunday Stills: The Odonates Redux* — Gargantuan Green
A vibrant knight in sparkling vest,He chose my bricks to pause and rest.A three-inch giant, fierce and blue,A flash of wild that journeyed through. ‘Though all my photography buddies have many pictures of Green Darners, the species has been my white whale. Until this afternoon. Until five hours (5!!!) after I posted my insects for…
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Sunday Stills: The Odonates of Essex County
For Sunday Stills, Terri writes, this week I challenge you to share images of insects. Ohmigosh! I was beaming from ear to ear when I read that line. This is, at last, a prompt/challenge for which my photography catalogue is very well-equipped. Terri started us off with Hart’s “Dog and Butterfly” — I ask you,…
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Waltz of the Flowers
Cosmos are an herbaceous, annual, wildflower that is native to Mexico. ‘Though most Cosmos in Ontario are cultivars, there are increasing numbers of re-wilded Cosmos. Interestingly, the seeds are informally known as hitchhikers — they have tiny hooks that can catch on animal fur and the animals (squirrels mostly, in our area) carry them to…
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The Meadow Bell
Tall Bellflower is an herbaceous, native, biennial that is an excellent self-seeder. These gems flourish in the meadows at Point Pelee National Park. Fun Fact: One of my all-time favourite plant facts is that Tall Bellflower is a botanical misfit. The Latin “Campanula” translates to “little bell” but, if you look closely at a…
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Water’s Wizardry
Yesterday I enjoyed my first outing in 13 weeks. Thirteen weeks!!! Can you imagine? True that I was not alone, but the euphoria was every bit as wonderful as if I was. Whilst confined to quarters, I decided to embrace my new (self-assigned) role as a pseudo-sociologist; after writing about “Third Spaces” last week, I’m…
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Ethereal Dancers of Sanctuary Pond
Water Willow (Decodon verticillatus), also known as Swamp Loosestrife — not to be confused with Purple Loosestrife — is a native Ontario shrubby perennial that plays a healthy role in our wetland ecosystems. This beauty is growing on the edge of Sanctuary Pond at Point Pelee National Park in Ontario. Ethereal Dancers of Sanctuary Pond…
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Sage is the Bee
Sage is the Bee A chubby bee hums in the sun,To find the sweetest purple prize.She lands upon a velvet leaf,And hugs the sage in glad surprise. She tickles every fragrant bloom,While dancing “The Bumblebee Jive”Then whispers to her purple friend,Before she flies home to her hive. ‘Til next time, y’all…
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Happiest Faces
Primroses (or Primulas, in the English vernacular) are an herbaceous, non-native, cultivar, perennial. They’re a hugely popular species of low-growing plants, because of their resiliency and their wide variety of vibrantly colourful blossoms. Their scientific name (Primula) comes from the Latin primus, meaning “first,” because they are among the very first flowers to bloom in…
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The Flower Hour #44 M, N, O — Quaint Quadrilles
Wild and Free Soft grass bends beneath our feet.Milkweed smells so cool and sweet.Thistles form like little drums.Bees fly past with gentle hums. Trees stretch high to catch the sun.Silver brooks gurgle and run.Asters wear their sapphire ring.Bumblebees begin to sing. Petals brush our wandering knees.Oxeyes flutter in the breeze.We are wild and we are…
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Green Lace
Green Lace Goldenrod tips begin to curve,Holding their pollen in reserve.Wispy tendrils reach for the skiesTo wait for bees and butterflies. Not yet a bright and yellow flame,But they’re whispering autumn’s name.The little buds are packed in tight,Preparing for their golden light. Bees and wasps and hornets will meet,To taste its pollen gold and sweet.But…
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Classic and Moody
My three favourite photographers — Dad, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Ansel Adams — all worked with black and white film and all three achieved spectacular results and created impressive bodies of fine art photography. True that, when these gents began shooting, colour film was either a thing of the future or a very unreliable medium. Even…
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Sunday Stills: Hope
Hope is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soul,And sings the tune without the words,And never stops at all,* “Hope”, written by the divine, American poet Emily Dickinson circa 1861, uses the metaphor of a bird to represent hope, which persists in the human soul and provides comfort during difficult times without requiring anything…
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Lens-Artists Challenge #409 – My Wannabe Best Ever Images
I scoured my MacBook for five perfect views,By Lens-Artists standards, there’s not much to choose!A laneway a skyline and a barn of stone,An eagle, a crown where a butterfly’s flown. My photography skill is a work in progress so, being perfectly honest with myself, “best-ever” is, as yet, a goal not an actuality. But I…
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Fireweed’s Finale
Fireweed is an herbaceous, native perennial, sometimes regionally known as Rosebay Willowherb. Why Fireweed? This species is a forest fire endurance specialist. Its tough roots survive despite high underground temperatures. They sprout very quickly after a fire which helps prevent soil loss. A single plant can produce up to 80,000 tiny seeds (which they produce…
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The Bee And Her Blossom
Pink Turtlehead is an herbaceous, native perennial, and we have a bumper crop in our pollinator garden this summer. It is a valuable, late-summer and early-fall food source for Bumble Bees, which are (near as I can tell) the only species strong enough to pry open the tight, snapdragon-like blossoms. I was lucky enough to…
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Fandango’s Story Starter #259: The Bridge, the Rope, and the Running Bare Feet
The Bridge, the Rope, and the Running Bare Feet The bench by the river was her sanctuary, offering a perfect, quiet view of the old rope bridge, which had seen better days — much better days. From her usual spot in the cool, quiet shade of the park, she watched the little bridge sway over…
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White Wistfulness
This morning a white rose — aptly named “Honor” — blooms in our small courtyard garden, planted to honour my beloved dad and his grand rose garden (150+ species) at the wee house on Joy Drive. It is a sweet, sentimental flash of white petals that brings back happy memories. White Wistfulness A little splash…