A spring flower seen while walking through my neighborhood this weekend. I’m not sure of the species. If you know, please share the name with me.
Archive for the ‘Nature Notes’ Category
In the Center of It All
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged flowers, Photography, spring, stamen on April 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Simple Pleasures: Birdsong
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Music, Nature Notes, tagged birdsong, music, nature, Photography on April 11, 2011| 1 Comment »
This morning I lay in bed a long time listening to birdsong. It drifted in through multiple windows, from the trees and bushes surrounding the house, rich layers of sound that were deeply relaxing. At least, relaxing for me. I know the birds were hard at work “speaking” to each other. With spring finally sprung, I’ve seen many birds this past week, including cardinals, blue jays, robins, blackbirds, sparrows as well as the ever present pigeons. The intensely bright hues of the cardinals and blue jays startled me until I realized they were males trying to catch some attention. I don’t know which ones sing which songs but together they create quite the symphony. Care to hear or see for yourself? Below are a few links you might enjoy.
World’s Largest Archive of Animal Sounds
Returning to the Blue Hills
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged Blue Hills Reservation, landscape, Milton, nature, Parks, Photography, travel, water on April 10, 2011| 1 Comment »
In Fall 2009, Steve and I visited the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park covering 7,000 acres south of Boston. There we climbed an observation tower where I was able to snap these landscape shots, including one of Boston from afar. With the weather warming up, we ventured back there recently. Here are a few images from the day. No tower shots … yet. 😉
Look Up!
Posted in Branches, Nature Notes, On the Road, Publication Updates, tagged creativity, Inspiration, light, nature, Photography, spring on April 7, 2011| Leave a Comment »
A new article appearing on Creativity Portal. Check it out. It’s a quick read. The focus? Simply look up. Enjoy!
The Waxwing
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged birds, Cambridge, Cedar Waxwing, Fresh Pond Reservation, nature, Photography on April 3, 2011| 2 Comments »
An unexpected Sunday sighting by Fresh Pond Reservation in Cambridge, MA, a Cedar Waxwing bird. When he wasn’t giving me attitude, he was feeding.
Beautiful Poetry and Song
Posted in Books I Love, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged birdsong, poetry, Shadow of Sirius, W. S. Merwin on April 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »
There is no more selfish act, no more powerful gift I give to myself, then when I find a quiet corner to read a book of poetry. Through the author’s words — and the images evoked by those words — my experiences of this life are deepened. I especially felt that way today as I found a moment to read W. S. Merwin’s The Shadow of Sirius. You see, for days now, each morning as night gives way to morning, I have lain awake in bed listening to birdsong. I have struggled with how to capture the experience on paper. And then I read Merwin’s poem The Laughing Thrush, and I thought, “Well, one day the words may come about my bird and his song. But for now let me enjoy another’s.”
The Laughing Thrush
by W. S. Merwin
O nameless joy of the morning
tumbling upward note by note out of the night
and the hush of the dark valley
and out of whatever has not been there
song unquestioning and unbounded
yes this is the place and the one time
in the whole of before and after
with all of memory waking into it
and the lost visages that hover
around the edge of sleep
constant and clear
and the words that lately have fallen silent
to surface along the phrases of some future
if there is a future
here is where they all sing the first daylight
whether or not there is anyone listening
* from The Shadow of Sirius
Green, Please!
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged flowers, leaves, Photography, seasons on March 30, 2011| 2 Comments »
Well, I’ve just learned we have more snow coming up here in New England. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a lovely flake as much as anybody, but I am ready for some green and warmth. To help tide me over until the seasons really do change, I’ve pulled the following photos from my archives. These were taken during a walk in a Cambridge park.
I whine but of course I know spring is here. During a recent walk in my neighborhood, just a few days ago, I saw plenty of things sprouting on trees and springing from the earth. Fragile but tough, I expect they’ll survive the snow.
City by the Sea
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged Boston, harbor, nostalgia, Photography, sailing, seaside on March 30, 2011| Leave a Comment »
With spring’s onset, I look forward to hikes in the woods and by the river, gardening and other earthy pursuits. Steve yearns to return to the water. I don’t share his passion for riding the waves but he sometimes lures me out there with the promise of unique photo opportunities. This photo was taken from Boston Harbor a few years ago. I’ll be curious to see what’s captured from the water this year!
What is art?
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged art, Boston, Cambridge, graffiti, Photography, the Evolving Critic on March 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »
If you’re familiar with Boston, then you know there’s a bridge called the BU bridge. It spans the Charles River. On one side is Boston and the other Cambridge. One summer I crossed that bridge on foot, and then instead of continuing into a city center, I made my way down an embankment to see what lay at the base of the bridge. Well, I found all sorts of unexpected things including an immense flock of white geese and a Whitman-esque artist garbed in a straw hat and with a pipe in his mouth sitting in the dirt sketching them. Out of respect to the artist and a bit of fear of the geese, I steered clear of them and searched other areas near literal railroad tracks. There I found two items I will never forget: a beautiful golden chair chained to a tree, and a samurai warrior emblazoned on stone.
Given the transient nature of graffiti, I doubt the image is still there, but I remember standing admiring the skill of the man or woman who had created such a powerful image. And then I wondered if it was the same person who used the golden chair as a throne. Anyway … To be honest I’d forgotten about this adventure until a recent conversation with the author behind the blog, The Evolving Critic. He’s written a fascinating post about his adventures in Boston capturing the words and images to be found on the walls of the city. As he notes, whether or not its art is up for debate, but it is certainly a debate worth having. Read more here.
The Beauty in Decay: Dead Leaves Around the House
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged colors, decay, Inspiration, leaves, Photography on March 24, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Words + Images 