Wordless Wednesday

Weekly Photo Challenge: Earth

Most of my photos are of some aspect of nature. These two remain my favorites:

When I saw this week’s challenge, I also thought of a Sanskrit prayer that many children in India chant before they get up in the morning, prior to their feet touching the ground. Here is the English translation:

O! Mother Earth

who has the ocean as clothes

and mountains and forests on her body

who is the wife of Lord Vishnu.

I bow to you.

Please forgive me for touching you with my feet.

May we all develop such devotion and humility.

Written for Weekly Photo Challenge: Earth

So Beautiful

I saw some stunning shrubs when I was driving through a Seattle neighborhood two days ago. I went back to that area today so I could get a closer look.

With New Eyes

Every time I walk a block or two from my house, I see things I haven’t seen before. That could be because I haven’t noticed it in the past, or because it has reached another phase of its life cycle.

Color Your World: White

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the day when “White” would be the “Color Your World” assignment because I love the photos of white flowers I have taken in Seattle and India. Today’s the day!

From my Seattle neighborhood:

Seattle

From Amritapuri, India:

Posted for: Color Your World: White

Intricate Beauty

When I first saw these flowers in the nursery, their beauty stunned me. I discovered they were called Blue and White Columbine (Aquilegia). There were only a few blossoms on the plant when I purchased it, but within the week it was full of flowers.

Wow!

Early in February, I came across a bush a block away from my home that I found intriguing.

I returned to that bush several times over the next month and was surprised to see that it hadn’t changed.

Today, when I was walking outside, I was struck by the sight of a bush ahead of me. I wondered why I had never seen it before. Then I realized it was the same plant that I had found so intriguing. But it had REALLY changed. This is what I saw:

Wow!

And extra WOW!

As soon as I returned home, I called my local nursery to order a Ceanothus “Dark Star” shrub!

Endless Beauty

Every year, I am awestruck by the beauty that surrounds me. Some views I marvel over each year. Other sights have been in front of me for years and I have never noticed them. For me, the glory of nature feels ever-new. (Click galleries to enlarge pictures.)

A block from my house:

Looking down my block:

In my front yard:

Looking across the street:

A closer view of my neighbor’s tree:

Spring in Seattle

My Neighborhood
(Click on any gallery to enlarge photos)

My Front Yard

My Favorite Part of Spring- in My Backyard

My Early Morning Walk (February)

When I walked out my front door this morning, the first thing I saw was the garbage and left over food someone had thrown onto the street in front of my house. I picked up most of it before starting my morning walk. A few blocks from my house I saw more trash; this time it was four beer cans, a paper bag and other forms of litter. I decided to pick up at least some of it on my way back home.

I took a route that I had never taken before. I was startled when I walked by a house that had bamboo stalks bigger than any I had ever seen. In fact, they were much taller than the three story house. A fence hampered my ability to take good photographs, but these will at least give you an idea of what they looked like.

I continued walking for awhile and then headed back home. The garbage was still waiting for me.

As I got ready to pick it up, some very tiny flowers caught my eye. I decided to photograph those.

After gathering the trash, I continued on my way home. As I walked, I reflected on the litter, the bamboo and the flowers. I’ve continued to think about them throughout the day.

Several years ago, picking up litter was a major focus in my daily life but that has not been true for awhile. It is time for me to find my litter grabber and to once again support Mother Nature in that way.