Category: art

Good Morning

On By Picture This by FrankIn art, beauty, birds, conservation, ecology, inspiration, nature, photographyLeave a comment
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Clouds – Orlando Wetlands Park – May 205
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Free Coffee – Orlando Wetlands Park – May 2015

“Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity, and I may say innocence, with Nature herself.” – Henry David Thoreau

Summer patterns have arrived and we are blessed in the mornings with clouds in the east. Due I believe to the proximity of the Gulf Stream. I kept this picture despite the artifact from the lens. Kind of looks like a camp fire.

As for the second picture there were spoonbills, glossy and white ibis, great egrets and more – all deciding on a fly around at the same time. wonder why?

Quote found at https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/morning

Carolina Wild Petunia

On By Picture This by FrankIn art, beauty, conservation, ecology, flowers, inspiration, nature, photography4 Comments
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Petal and Pollen – Orlando Wetlands Park – May 2015

This flower is a native that makes a great landscape substitute for the invasive Mexican petunia.

This coming weekend I am going to concentrate on the flowers – I’ve decided to “focus” on that for a while. Although I will have great difficulty heading out to the berm with my macro lens – instead of telephoto.

Couple o Birds

On By Picture This by FrankIn art, beauty, bird, birds, conservation, ecology, nature, photographyLeave a comment
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Eastern Bluebird – Sullivan County TN – May 2015
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European Starling – Seven Islands State Bird Park – May 2015

The bluebird is either a juvenile or female – the males are completely blue.

The European Starling was first brought to the US in the early 19th century by Shakespeare enthusiasts. Now among the most numerous song birds in the country. Wonderful coloring.

We will be leaving Tennessee after this. Next couple of posts will be from the Okefenokee Swamp on the Georgia – Florida border.

The Martha

On By Picture This by FrankIn architecture, art, beauty, ETSU, music, nature, photography, VirginiaLeave a comment
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The Martha – Abingdon, VA – May 2015
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ETSU String Band – The Martha – May 2015

“I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be in” – Martha Washington

It was certainly easy to be happy sitting on the lawn of the Martha hotel and listening to bluegrass music. ETSU is East Tennessee State University, they have a fabulous ethno musicology program – among other great studies.

Quote found at http://www.great-quotes.com/quotes/author/Martha/Washington

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Doors – The Martha – May 2015

Cliff Swallows

On By Picture This by FrankIn art, beauty, birds, conservation, ecology, nature, photography, TennesseeLeave a comment
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Cliff Swallow Houses – Domtar Park – May 2015
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Cliff Swallow – Domtar Park – May 2015

“The perch swallows the grub-worm, the pickerel swallows the perch, and the fisherman swallows the pickerel, and so all the chinks in the scale of being are filled” – Henry David Thoreau

This was my first encounter with cliff swallows, they build their nests from mud under bridges. Probably used to build them on cliffs but…. This park was in Kingsport, TN.

Can’t say enough about Thoreau, he saw the connections in nature at a time when most folks were just killing stuff.

Quote found at http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/swallows/

Vineyard

On By Picture This by FrankIn art, beauty, nature, photography, Virginia, wine2 Comments
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Abingdon Vineyard – Abingdon, VA – May 2015
Abingdon-Vineyard
Abingdon Vineyard – Abingdon, VA – May 2015

“High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water.”- Mark Twain

The setting for this winery was idyllic. It was somewhat off the beaten path and they had space for picnics. Oh and the wine was quite good.

Quote found at https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/wine?page=1

Blue Birds

On By Picture This by FrankIn art, beauty, birds, conservation, ecology, history, Philadelphia, Tennessee3 Comments
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Juvenile Eastern Bluebird – Sullivan County – May 2015
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Elusive Adult – Seven Islands State Birding Park – May 2015

Successful birding trip to Tennessee. ID’ed many new species. Lots of history from the late 1700s and early 1800s as this area opened up to exploration by westerners. Saw some working coal mines, which are odd, because there are 50 or so cars in a parking lot and one small building underneath a coal elevator. At first I was curious where the people were – it was far too remote for a park and ride.

Finally music wise I got to go to the Ralph Stanley museum in Clintwood, Va, something I’ve wanted to do for years.