in the garden

I created this image back in 2010 at Old Westbury Gardens. When I was looking through one of my older books I found it again. It has a very narrow focal point and everything else is out of focus. I love that what is out of focus draws you further and further into the garden. It has a painterly quality don't you think?

.

friends

Talk to me, I'm a ring billed gull and I was wondering who you are. I notice you can't fly and I was wondering if you might like an extra feather that might help you along.

 I'm here to help, what can I do to make it better?

See how easy it is, go ahead give it a try….

moonstruck

Early evening in Florida. 

Just thought my northern friends would appreciate a feeling of warmth. 

lovers

I think I see some dead stuff

Let's just stay home and have leftovers 

I'll keep a wing on the kids, while you go out and get some more dead stuff.

Tully's not happy

This is the view out our bedroom window early this morning.

And this is the view from the porch over looking the nook.

Tully would have none of it. She watched me with my tripod as she gingerly walked along the driest area under the overhang.

Only after a path was shoveled did she venture out to start her day properly.

What we won't do for her…. 

A flurry

I startled them on my walk and they flew out of the nook in a flurry. My hands were so cold and my camera set to a slow shutter speed but the results are still beautiful.

frozen

I had a long cold walk on the beach hunting for images. This was my first one and I should call it past and present.  You can just barely see the remains of autumn underneath the

thin ice while a few hopeful leaves have pushed through the cold.The retreating waves have left their mark on this winter painting.

And this was my final image as I left the beach and passed through the sleeping garden. 

yellow headed blackbird

Life should be a balancing act.

 Forever changing your center will keep you on your toes.

the center of things

I love the way these tulips support each other.

They lean into the group keeping them tight until the centers just have to pop open and express themselves. 

Bobcat

Look who's in our backyard! While sitting at my computer in the studio I looked up and there was a pair of young bobcats sitting right next to each other looking out to the woods. By the time I ran into the house and got my equipment they had left. But you know how patient I am. I just knew one would return and I was rewarded with this adorable one. He watched me the whole time I opened the door and set up my tripod. Don't worry Tully had been carefully sequestered in the house.

a lovely lady

She finally arrived having been unable to resist his featherly show.

She wasn't quite ready to be received as 

she needed to do a bit of grooming first.

Now she's good to go.

I love her buff colored neck and head.

Bring it on ladies

This male anhinga was in quite a state of fluff. 

Feathers every which way.

One wing up and another wing down

up down up down

tail feathers thrust up towards the sky.

He was truly spectacular.

 I was impressed, and I wasn't the only one….

Big Cats

This is Charlie, he is a cheetah who lives at Panther Ridge in Wellington Florida. 

And this is Brandy a beautiful cougar. They are among a group of well loved animals who are taken care of in their retirement years. 

Go to

www.pantherridgecc.org

to learn more about them.

my backyard

Thorns on the pompom bush, no wait they're moving very slowly. Seems we have a small community of very strange looking bugs that are huddled together while reproducing on the branch. Looks like a sailboat race, but instead it's a race for survival.

Happy New Year

Let there be

Love in your life

 a willingness to try new things

and most importantly

a great deal of

Joy