Garden Fireworks
Took this in my mother's garden.
Great Blue Heron
The white form of the Great Blue Heron, known as the "great white heron," is found nearly exclusively in shallow marine waters along the coast of very southern Florida, the Yucatan Peninsula, and in the Caribbean. They hunt both day and night and can live over 20 years.
Outstanding sunrise
What a beautiful beginning
Squall
This one sent a strong message to the boaters that day.
It’s real
I am fortunate to be able to get so many beautiful sunrise photos. And if the water is smooth......ah....reflection bonus.
Taliesin Estate Spring Green Wisconsin
Taliesin, the home, studio and country estate of Frank Lloyd Wright, is located in the hilly Driftless Region of southwestern Wisconsin near Spring Green. It is the name of Wright’s house as well as the 800-acre estate that includes buildings from all decades of Wright’s career. Taliesin has a commanding presence in Jones Valley, the watershed where Wright’s Lloyd Jones ancestors settled after immigrating from Wales in the 1860s. (Taliesin website)
I was walking between his home (off to the far right) and the barn and came across this beautiful tree surrounded by grasses, wildflowers and a narrow field of corn under overcast skies and had to take a quick photo.
Sunset Spectacular
Key West rarely disappoints.
Aspen Grove
Beautiful bright hike amongst white bark trees.
Pretty Bird
Bird of Paradise on a walk in Pacific Grove CA
Gunlock State Park
For much of the year, Gunlock experiences relatively low traffic. Gunlock Reservoir is a small, quiet body of water where you can fish for bass and catfish. Others enjoy participating in water sports like wakeboarding and waterskiing.
During certain times of the year, the reservoir gets full enough that the Gunlock waterfalls begin to flow into the Santa Clara River. This typically happens in early spring, as snow starts to melt. When the falls are active, the area gets much busier than usual but It’s worth it, however, to get a glimpse of the water jetting over Southern Utah’s signature red rocks. Utah Travel Site
Bobcat
Weighing 15-33 lbs, the bobcat is a nocturnal, generally solitary cat equally at home in forests and deserts; it is less inclined to climb trees or swim. It feeds on rodents, rabbits, hares, and some birds. Wikipedia
I found him in front of the house and was surprised how close he let me get. The reason was he had a rabbit trapped below him that was hiding behind a cactus, neither wanting to move. Eventually the cat stood up and slowly walked away from both of us.
Winter In Gunlock Utah
Posing Pelican
This immature brown pelican seemed to be asking to have his picture taken. After almost 20 years in Florida I've seen my share of pelicans but this one in particular was really striking a perfect pose.
Horse Ranch
Located in a very deep valley alongside a river with Zion National Park as background.
Key West sunset
Barbados lily
Wisconsin
PCH
The Pacific Coast Highway is about 1600 miles of photo opportunities. It follows the coast from Seattle to San Diego. This photo was taken along the 600 mile section in California near Big Sur.
Orchid
Orchids are one of the two largest families of flowering plants. There are over 28,000 currently accepted species of orchids and horticulturists have produced more than 100,000 hybrids. The number of orchid species is nearly equal to the number of bony fishes, more than twice the number of bird species, and about four times the number of mammal species. (Wikipedia)
US 1 at sunset
Bridge connecting two Florida keys.
As seen on tv
I'm not a golfer but I've heard this is one of the iconic cypress trees seen along the ocean on a particular hole at Pebble Beach CA.
Dahlia
Wisconsin
Gunlock Reservoir Overflow
Fed by a record snowpack in the surrounding mountains, the waterfalls at the Gunlock Reservoir near St. George UT is flowing again and unleashing a torrent of water and visitors.
It’s the third time in the past five years the water from the reservoir has cascaded over the dam and spilled onto the cliffside rocks, creating the rare waterfalls that lure visitors from all over Utah and southern Nevada. Text credit: The Salt Lake Tribune
Breakfast
Found this nest in a cactus about knee height. Though low, the cactus thorns offered protection from predators such as the roadrunner.
Moms Garden
I'm not sure what type of plant it is but I like the way the yellow flower contrasts everything else.
Melting Sun
Purple Coneflower
With Wisconsin visitor
Blue Morning
Little contrast but superb reflection
Almost
A full double over the Red Mountains in Ivins Utah
Desert Color
Ivins Utah is on the outskirts of St George bordered by red sandstone mountains, a Paiute reservation and large tracts of BLM land. The elevation is is about 3500', almost anything can be grown with supplementary water, snow come 2x/year but rarely lasts past 10am. Air is dry, rarely gets below freezing, it gets hot in July and August without the extremes of nearby Arizona and Nevada. The soil is orange due to the sandstone mountains behind me. Spring color begins in February as the temperatures climb with the falling rain.
The day begins
Wisconsin morning color
Purple Coneflower
with big bee
PG
Pacific Grove CA is called PG for those lucky enough to live there. This mornings color was nicely muted by a little fog.
Fire & Steam
Falls cool air and warmer lake water combine for an interesting dawn in Wisconsin.
Sunset Key West
Through a "fisheye" lens.
Joshua Tree
Taken in Nevada at Gold Butte National Monument. This tree is about 10' tall and gets large white flowers when in bloom.
Keys Sunset
Sunset sail in Key West.
Cardinal Flower
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Sunrise
Pretty Morning
Wisconsin Sunrise
Sunrise Surprise
Sitting on the dock focusing, one eye closed, on the sunrise and distant clouds, this rower appears in my viewfinder. He was so silent I never heard him coming.
Gambel’s quail
Gambel's quail primarily move about by walking and can move surprisingly fast through brush and undergrowth. They are rarely seen in flight. Any flight is usually short and explosive, with many rapid wingbeats, followed by a slow glide to the ground. In the spring, Gambel's quail pair off for mating and become very aggressive toward other pairs. The female typically lays 10–12 eggs concealed in vegetation, often at the base of a rock or tree. The chicks leave the nest with their parents within hours of hatching. Wikipedia
Labor Day 1935
The death of Flagler’s railroad happened on Labor Day in 1935. It began when the barometer started dropping. Nobody knew that the most powerful hurricane to ever hit the United States was on its way.
In the 200-mph winds the railroad cars were blown off the track. Only the locomotive, which weighed 320,000 pounds, stood up to the storm. More than 400 bodies were recovered. Most had drowned though others were killed by flying debris.The Flagler railroad was lost too.
When I drive across the New Seven Mile Bridge now I crane my neck to look at the Old Seven Mile Bridge and I see ghosts.
Jeff Klinkenberg - Historian
Hear it?
Some photos just naturally come with a soundtrack.
Dense Blazing Star
Wisconsin
Big Sky Country
The clouds were so nice I had to pull over between Lees Ferry AZ and the Grand Canyon North Rim.
Zion National Park
Cedar Breaks
The far peak is 11,300 feet. It's accessible by preferably 4WD vehicle a few months a year.
Key West sunset
Took my camera down to the water last night and as the sun was melting into the horizon these two boats nicely lined up for me.
Gunlock Reservoir
Gunlock Reservoir is located in the scenic red rock country of southwestern Utah. It is a pretty little reservoir popular for boating and other water sports. It offers good fishing at times, particularly for largemouth bass and channel catfish.
A very serious bird
Not sure what kind of hawk this is but they are pretty common in SW Utah.
South Dakota
Rising star
Wisconsin sunrise over Pewaukee Lake.
Doubler
Water drops on the lens glass but a very pretty sight.
Black-eyed Susan
Wisconsin
Top of the world
Brian Head peak Utah at almost 12,000 feet. On the dark side I've seen snow drifts in July. There was a small old stone shelter up here until last month when severe winds destroyed it.
Claret Cup Cactus
Grows quite easily is SW Utah
Hard to beat
Wind, surf, sunrise, beautiful clouds and a partial double rainbow all in one Key West morning.
Bumble Bee Buzz
This Day Lily with bee photo was taken at the Boerner Botanical gardens in Milwaukee. The Bumble bee lives in underground colonies with anywhere from 50 to 500 individuals. The buzzing sound you hear when they are on flowers is them vibrating by shivering their flight muscles at particular frequencies to help dislodge pollen from the anthers of flowers.
Dahlia
Wisconsin
Lunchtime
Florida Keys
Leopard Lily
Full Sun
I was in a field with thousands of sunflowers. I found it interesting the number of insects that were in and around them making the field buzz.
Sunrise Key West
Old dock pilings on the Atlantic ocean side.
Mirrored Color
Smooth Wisconsin lake, total silence and a colorful dawn.
Standing in one place, shoot right then left
On this rare snow covered morning I quickly set up my camera on the edge of a wash. I turned right and shot up the wash towards the Red Mountain that borders Snow Canyon State Park then turned the camera left and took another down the wash towards the Beaver Dam mountains. I spent the previous 2-3 hours in the park taking other photos of snow covered red sandstone, sand dunes and black lava. I had to move fast because in Ivins Utah snow like this only falls every couple of years and is gone in as many hours.
Lily
Wisconsin Orange Lily
Wisconsin Sunrise
Taken over Pewaukee Lake towards Lake Michigan which is about 50 miles away.
Pine Valley State Park
Located is SW Utah at an altitude that allows for snow all winter but only 30 minutes away is St George Utah that rarely ever gets snow.
Aspen Forest
Northern Utah in the Park City area.
Fireball Rising
Almost impossible to photograph the sun without clouds. Even with their help I have to lower the amount of light coming into the camera. This reduces the light everywhere except the the sun, and its reflection. The fisherman floated by at just the right moment to make for a much more interesting photo.
A Key West Sunset
Including Fred (really) trying to get his picture taken.
White Pocket
White Pocket is a National Monument in Utah and also an appropriate name for this photo. Like many National Monuments out her, there are no amenities such as water, toilets or camping sites and the roads require a capable vehicle.
Dahlia
Most likely....
Eurasian Crane
Taken at the International Crane Foundation that works worldwide to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds, and flyways on which they depend. From our nearly 300-acre headquarters in Baraboo, Wisconsin, our reach extends across the globe. We have offices and staff in China, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and South Africa, as well as Texas, and work through local organizations, governments, universities, businesses and others in these regions. Our more than 125 staff and associates work with a network of hundreds of specialists in over 50 countries on five continents. ICF Website
HEIGHT: 4 ft WEIGHT: 12 lbs WINGSPAN: 7 ft POPULATION: 700,000
Beautiful Lines
More of natures perfect design work
Tropical golden hour
An hour after sunrise and sunset are called the golden hours during which time the light really nice for taking certain types of photos. I took this while walking a beach in Key West.
On Patrol
Florida Keys brown pelicans
Calf Creek Canyon
Beautiful waterfall up ahead but I loved this part of the trail
Orange Daylily
Wisconsin
Red Mountain
This is in Ivins Utah which is about 100 miles from Las Vegas. The Navajo sandstone give it the red colors. There is a housing development at the base of the mountain and a beautiful outdoor amphitheater on the other side.
Black-eyed Susan
Wisconsin
Lily Art
Boerner Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee has a large variety of whatever is in bloom when you visit.
Hibiscus
I usually just walk by flowers quickly glancing at them but when I spend a moment looking at a photo I realize how amazing they really are.
White Hibiscus – WI
Took this photo in my mother's garden in Wisconsin
Foggy fishing
Wisconsin sunrise through a heavy layer of fog.
Temple of Sun and Moon
This is one of the many sites along the 73 mile Cathedral Valley loop which is located partially in Capital Reef National Park. You may be able to make out the people in the shadowy right corner for some scale. The nearest town is Hanksville Utah.
Great White
Egret passing by off Big Pine Key FL
Yellow daylily
Wisconsin
Joshua tree
For scale this branch and flower is about 30" wide, the tree had 11 flowers and was 20' tall making it between 500 and maybe 1,000 years old. I took the photo last week in the Joshua Tree Byway area which borders Nevada, Utah & Arizona.
About the tree: First, they are not a tree but a Yucca plant that happens to resemble the size and growth pattern of a tree. They grow a fairly limited range within the Mojave Desert of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. They only grow between elevations of 2,000 and 6,000 feet. They tend to grow from 15 to 40 feet tall, usually only adding 2 to 3 inches each year. It will take around half a century for a Joshua Tree to reach full size. Wikipedia
Sundown Key West
Looking south towards Cuba the sun is setting to my right. The sunset was nothing photo worthy but it nicely lit
up this southernly direction.
Horseshoe geranium
Wisconsin
Canna Indian Shot
Taken at Boerner Botanical Gardens in Milwaukee. Leica 24-90 76mm f5.6 1/25
Navajo slot canyon
Slot canyons are formed by the erosion of Navajo Sandstone due to flash flooding and other sub-aerial processes. Rainwater, especially during monsoon season, runs into the extensive basin above the slot canyon sections, picking up speed and sand as it rushes into the narrow passageways. Over time the passageways eroded away, deepening the corridors and smoothing hard edges to form characteristic "flowing" shapes. Wikipedia
This particular one is in Page AZ called Cardiac Canyon which reaches a depth of 100-160 feet. They allow only 4 visitors a day led by 2 Navajo guides. We had to make reservations almost a year in advance.
Simple Wildflower
Rose Shrub
California Coast
Good Morning
Your Morning Rooster Facts:
They make sure their hens eat before they do.
A rooster protects his flock and will warn other birds if he senses danger.
Hens and roosters look identical as chicks.
If there is no rooster in a flock, a hen will step up to take charge.
A hen may choose to mate with a rooster if she finds his comb attractive.
There are an estimated 23 billion rosters and chickens and they live in all parts of the world.
They were brought here by the settlers in the 1820s and still run wild all over Key West.
It's said if you see someone taking a photo of one they can only be a tourist, or me.
Purple dawn
Sunrise in Wisconsin
Brian Head
Utah’s Brian Head Peak stands at a whopping 11,306 feet. From this observation point at the end of Break Head Peak Road, it is possible to gaze out into three different states at once: Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. The view is truly unbeatable, but the drive up can be tricky for inexperienced drivers. It’s important to have tires with good traction as the road winds around the mountain and becomes very steep in certain sections.
Osprey
The osprey is a large raptor, reaching more than 2’ in in length and almost 6’ across the wings. It tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location near a body of water providing an adequate food supply as the osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish. The osprey is unusual in that it is a sole living species that occurs nearly worldwide. Wikipedia
I took this photo in the Florida Everglades National Park.
Everglades National Park
Egret blending in and slowly making its way through the tall grass looking for a meal.