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Category Archives: Nature
Friendly Garden Spider
One cool autumn night, a friendly garden spider dropped by to say hello…. I know that Yellow Garden Spiders (Argiope aurantia) eat pesky insects like mosquitoes and flies, so I am grateful to have a few of them ‘hanging-around’ in … Continue reading
Posted in Autumn, Entomology, Nature, photography
Tagged Arachnid, Garden Spider, Spiders
13 Comments
Thoughts of a Natural Born Tree-Hugger
Posted in Memories, Nature, photography, Trees
Tagged Allerton Garden, language, Moreton Bay Fig tree, River Birch, Water
20 Comments
Covid-19 Life in a Darkening World
Birds fly high above the darkening world below— It’s time to come home! sunlight quickly vanishes from the horizon. ~ms ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pandemic! All around the world, people are being ordered to stay home to avoid contact with a … Continue reading
Posted in Chincoteague Island, COVID-19, Nature, Virginia
Tagged Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Coronavirus, fear, Lighthouse, Pandemic, Separation
56 Comments
On the Path of Wind and Water
Sailing on water created by winds of thought, my soul travels on. Many years ago, in the late 1970s, a 29 foot sailboat carried me around the Hawaiian Islands on a path of wind and water. Although the old photos … Continue reading
Butterfly Love on a Leaf
Intriguing orange butterfly love on a leaf— October surprise! From a distance, I first thought I was looking at one large orange butterfly on a wax myrtle tree branch. But when I came closer with the camera zoom lens, I … Continue reading
Hot Texas Summer Sun
Rocks glowing beneath fire-breathing dragon hot Texas summer sun. The temperature for this area is predicted to reach 105 degrees (Fahrenheit) today, and I can already hear the hot sun hissing on the horizon. Luckily, last winter, we had Emilio Ramirez … Continue reading
Posted in Haiku, Nature, photography, Poetry, Summer
Tagged agave, cactus, desert, Grasshopper, heat, Texas, yucca
23 Comments
One Pink Wildflower
Surrounded by jealous weeds, a pink wildflower danced in the warm sunlight for one glorious day before vanishing from sight. Unfortunately— in the darkness of the night, ‘something’ ate this flower and the buds below, leaving nothing behind but a … Continue reading
Autumn Pampas Grass Magic
Summer green has been replaced with Autumn’s sunlit leaves sparkling gold and red colors evoking visions of magic everywhere. Like the changing leaves at the end of October, Halloween celebrations give us the opportunity to boldly imagine and create new … Continue reading
Grasshopper Camouflage
Standing motionless surrounded by old brown grass baking in the sun, how did you notice me and my perfect grasshopper summer camouflage? ~ms I saw the grasshopper from a distance, in spite of its clever camouflage, because its long legs … Continue reading
Virginia to Texas through Hail and High Water
Illuminated by lightning striking darkness followed by thunder, Gulf Coast toad shivers drips falling on the threshold of an unknown door. When wild winds blow and rain falls sideways, normal vanishes and new directions appear. ~ms Considering everything that I … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Photo Essay, Poetry, Storms
Tagged Alabama, Floods, Georgia, Hail, Misssissippi, Monroe Louisiana, Samaritan's Purse, Texas, Toads
25 Comments
Winter’s Shroud Descending
Birds quickly flew away through barren earthbound trees, in hopes of escaping the coming winter storm. One crow remained behind like a cold grim reaper staring down from above at foolish souls below. And then the snow appeared carried on … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Photo Essay, photography, Poetry, Snow, Storms, Winter
Tagged Crows, Death, east coast
22 Comments
Seasons at Celebrate Virginia – Beautiful Apartments
Years ago, it was hard to find an apartment with a washer and dryer, much less a dishwasher. Constantly collecting quarters and wasting hours at the laundromat was no fun. Thank goodness thing have changed! Now the newer apartments include … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Photo Essay, photography
Tagged apartments, butterfly, flowers, Fredericksburg, landscaping, pools
38 Comments
Thought Dreams Nature
Thought dreams nature into beautiful images of its reflection. With mindful meditation on nature through art my spirit recalls the mystical beginning and ending of all. ~ms
Posted in Art, Nature, photography, Poetry, spirituality
Tagged Adobe Photoshop, Dreams, imagination
27 Comments
Leaf Litter Lament
A decaying leaf, image of mortality faded and riddled with holes, hanging in a tree with mouth wide open singing a bitter chant– The Leaf Litter Lament: Ungrateful humans! Why do you complain as you rake, blow, and mow, mulch, … Continue reading
Sunset Stories in Silhouettes
When day meets night on the edge of time, sunset stories speak in dark silhouettes. Standing in shadows cast by the fading sun, the man with his hand suspended in air appeared to be telling the age-old story of the … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Photo Essay, photography, Poetry
Tagged Chincoteaque Island, silhouettes, summer, sunset
52 Comments
Dueling Storm Clouds
Loud thunder rumbles within dark storm clouds dueling over the last piece of summer blue sky. ~ms When I looked out of my kitchen window and saw two dark clouds arguing with each other, I immediately grabbed my camera and … Continue reading
Posted in clouds, Nature, photography, Poetry, Summer, Thunderstorms
Tagged Lightning, Thunder
41 Comments
Railroad Switchman Struck by Lightning (1937)
An old 1937 newspaper clipping and some faded photographs are definitive proof that Carl E. Spaid, a 45-year-old railroad switchman, was struck by lightning while working on the Burlington Route. As far as I know, a direct hit from a … Continue reading
Posted in History, Nature, Photo Essay, photography, Science, Trains
Tagged Burlington Route, Electricity, Storms
63 Comments
Rappahannock River Rising
Because of 3 days of torrential spring rain in Fredericksburg, Virginia and surrounding areas, the Rappahannock River began to rise and spill over its banks. Undoubtedly, those who own houses and businesses nearest to the river were watching anxiously as … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Photo Essay, photography, River
Tagged Flood, Fredericksburg Virginia, Rappahannock River, Water
15 Comments
Cherry Trees Announcing Spring
A gift from Japan— cherry trees announcing spring blooms pink in D.C. ~ ms In 1912, the cherry trees that are now growing around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., were given to the United States as a … Continue reading
Posted in Haiku, Japan, Nature, Photo Essay, photography
Tagged Cherry Blossom Festival, flowers, Spring, trees, Washington D.C.
38 Comments
Carp and Stone
The Carp Stone (rigyoseki) at Kinkaku-ji appears to be swimming upstream against a pounding waterfall. I am told that this stone image symbolizes strength, courage, and the will to persevere even when struggling against adverse conditions. Creating circular ripples in … Continue reading
Posted in LIfe, Nature, Philosophy, photography
Tagged fish, Japan, Kinkaku-ji, Travel, Water
36 Comments
Tired of Winter
Roads quickly vanished and all cars went nowhere on this stormy day. Searching for solace underneath an umbrella, four chairs leaned forward trying to escape blowing snow and freezing ice— Tired of winter! We were scheduled to fly out of … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Photo Essay, photography, Poetry, Snow, Spring
47 Comments
Before I Forget 