Saturday, June 30, 2018

Master Potter at Work


This is Pep Madrenas at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall in Washington, D.C. You can see his work at http://www.pepmadrenas.com/. He is a fabulous artist and his ceramics are stunning. We enjoyed the day visiting all of the incredible artisans This year the Festival featured Armenia and Catalonia. I will be featuring more photos from the Festival.

Friday, June 29, 2018

The Korean War Memorial, Washington, DC


One of the most emotionally touching memorials in Washington, DC, the Korean War Memorial makes me overwhelmingly sad and is only exceeded by the Vietnam War Memorial. On the day of our visit, there were large tour groups of Koreans visiting the Memorial and taking photos. I just finished reading about the intelligence operations during the Korean War and that added to the sadness about the War and the people who fought and died.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Summer at the Lincoln Memorial


Even though the temperature was overly warm and humid and the clouds were threatening rain, we braved the crowds to visit a few of the memorials on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Just a short walk away, we were almost alone. If people vote with their feet, then the Lincoln Memorial is one of the most popular spots in the entire city.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

The Tidal Basin, Washington, DC


In a recent visit to Washington, DC, I learned that the Tidal Basin was constructed from swamps along the Potomac River. Here is a short explanation from Wikipedia: Tidal Basin.
The Tidal Basin is a partially man-made reservoir between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel in Washington, D.C. It is part of West Potomac Park and is a focal point of the National Cherry Blossom Festival held each spring. The Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and the George Mason Memorial are situated adjacent to the Tidal Basin. The basin covers an area of about 107 acres (43 ha) and is 10 feet (3.0 m) deep.
When you are walking in the western part of the Mall, most of the time, you cannot see the city at all. It is an interesting experience to be in a large metropolitan city and appear to be in the forest or in a huge park. But there are still thousands of people to remind you it is all an illusion. 

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

The Washington Monument, Washington, DC



There is presently a construction project going on at Washington Monument. The elevator is being modernized to increase long-term reliability and safety. Additionally, a permanent screening facility is being built to enhance the safety and security of the monument's visitors. Quoting from the National Park Service's website on the History and Culture of the Washington Monument:
George Washington's military and political leadership were indispensable to the founding of the United States. As commander of the Continental Army, he rallied Americans from thirteen divergent states and outlasted Britain's superior military force. As the first president, Washington's superb leadership set the standard for each president that has succeeded him. The Washington Monument towers above the city that bears his name, serving as an awe-inspiring reminder of George Washington's greatness. The monument, like the man, stands in no one's shadow. 
The Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills and eventually completed by Thomas Casey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, honors and memorializes George Washington at the center of the nation's capital. The structure was completed in two phases of construction, one private (1848-1854) and one public (1876-1884). Built in the shape of an Egyptian obelisk, evoking the timelessness of ancient civilizations, the Washington Monument embodies the awe, respect, and gratitude the nation felt for its most essential Founding Father. When completed, the Washington Monument was the tallest building in the world at 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches.
As a comparison, the present (2018) tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is 2,717 feet high. This building is a thousand feet higher than the One World Trade Center in New York City. Also, the Empire State Building is now listed as the 40th tallest building.

Monday, June 25, 2018

Flame Lily Gloriosa


This is a Flame Lily Gloriosa or Gloriosa rothschildiana. We found these blooming outside of the National Museum of American History -Smithsonian Institution. It took me quite a while to identify it online. Here is a short description from DutchGardens.com:
  • This dynamic exotic vine is native to Southern Asia and Africa, where it enjoys warmth year round. It grows very well here as well where it will bloom all summer and fall providing very showy ruby and yellow flowers with wavy swept back petals.
  • It is very easy to grow in a container with a light trellis as a patio plant in a sunny to lightly shaded area.
  • In colder areas, move indoors in the fall and allow the plant to go dormant until next spring.
  • Top-size 15/20 cm bulbs.
See https://www.dutchgardens.com/2072-lily-gloriosa?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpcLZBRCnARIsAMPBgF2DxbaT7RcaeLit6A1SPIOd2syfakxYwNympsCFeWUTzPDRfyvdXc0aAtZAEALw_wcB

Sunday, June 24, 2018

The Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C.



My photos are often very misleading. Take this photo of the Jefferson Memorial. This was a beautiful if hot and humid day with tens of thousands of people visiting the Mall area of Washington, D.C. Everywhere we went there were crowds. Getting a photo of the monuments around the Mall without showing people was a challenge. I like photos of landscapes. If you take photos of recognizable people, you have to worry about privacy and permissions and all sorts of other concerns. So even in a crowd, I can take photos without people. Oh, by the way, I do have thousands of photos of me, my family, and lots of other people.

Resting on a Limb



We made a visit to the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington, D.C. for a huge surprise. There is a wonderful wilderness right in our Nation's capital city. It is administered by the National Park Service. Here is a short quote from their website:
Open 362 days a year, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens welcomes visitors with blanketed white snow in winter, fresh green sprouts in spring, to lush green hot summers, and painted foliage during the fall. 
Go birding on the boardwalk in the winter. Witness the sights and sounds that fill the park as everything comes to life in the spring. In late June and July, see our famous water lilies and large lotus flowers take center stage in the early morning, opening up to display their beauty for a few hours until the mid-day heat forces them to close. Visit during the fall to feel the crisp cool air and see leaves splashed with color. There are a variety of activities and experiencesfor ALL to enjoy throughout the year. 
At Kenilworth Park, Athletic Fields (Burroughs Street and Kenilworth Avenue NE) visitors play sports and paddle along the Anacostia River. Kenilworth Marsh is a natural habitat where raptors punctuate the winter sky and marsh wrens design their summer songs.
I do wonder, however, why they paint their foliage in the fall?

Washington D.C. Skyline from the Tidal Basin


This photo dramatically shows how the height limitation affects the skyline of Washington, D.C. Without the high rise buildings of almost every other major city, the view across the Tidal Basin is almost pastoral. The photo doesn't covey the fact that this was a very warm and humid summer day.

Saturday, June 23, 2018

National Capitol Columns



We have seen several collections of columns in various locations around the United States. We were interested in these at the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. After some research, they turn out to be the following:
The National Capitol Columns is a monument in Washington, D.C.'s National Arboretum. It is an arrangement of twenty-two Corinthian columns which were a part of the United States Capitol from 1828 to 1958, placed amid 20 acres (8.1 ha) of open meadow, known as the Ellipse Meadow.
We are enjoying finding out about the things we see around us.

Lilies


We are enjoying the progression of the flowers through the season changes here in Maryland. Lilies are some of the most prominent June flowers. Most of the ones we see are yellow, but these were in the National Arboretum and very lovely.

Friday, June 22, 2018

Looking up Main Street, Annapolis, Maryland


It is surprising how many cities in the United States have a main street named "Main Street." For example, Texas has 417 towns and cities with a street named "Main Street." If you would like to see a list of the most popular street names in the U.S., here is a Washington Post article with the counts.

We counted literally every road in America. Here’s what we learned.

Oh, by the way, this is Main Street in Annapolis, Maryland. Also, the most popular street name in Maryland is "Park" with 108 streets with that name. In Utah, "Main" is the most popular and in Arizona, the most popular street name is "Apache."

On the Beach



Obviously, this is not your usual photo of a beach scene. But this is a beach in the far north in Canada and we are all wearing coats. I love the colors and the contrast between the figures and the water. This is actually one of the very few beaches in Canada where there are surfers. It is called Long Beach and it is part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Interior Garden, Annapolis, Maryland


There are all sorts of alleyways and walkways in downtown Annapolis, Maryland. We check out every side opening in the buildings downtown and find some gems. This is the courtyard of the First Presbyterian Church on the Duke of Gloucester Street. We loved the hydrangeas. We are now starting to see the summer flowers.

Lighthouse on a Rock


This is the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse near Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, Canada. From the driftwood in the rocks, it appears that a storm would have waves that come right up to the lighthouse. This is probably the reason why it is built like a fortress rather than the more common tower. These rocks are very sharp and rather dangerous to walk on. We didn't see the warning sign until we had already found out how dangerous they were for ourselves.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Looking at the Statehouse: Annapolis, Maryland


After living most of my life in the Salt River Valley, Annapolis is really quite a small city. The narrow streets and crowded roads give the impression that there are a lot of people and some statistics show a population density of over 5,000 people per square mile. Overall, it has a population of just under 40,000 which makes it only about a third as large as Provo, Utah where I live now. It is about the size of Prescott, Arizona or Riverton, Utah. Of course, it is surrounded by other cities and nearby to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. I haven't lived in a city this small since I was a teenager.

Monday, June 18, 2018

Rugged Canadian Coast


Sandy beaches seem to be the norm for promoting the ocean but I like rocks because they have character. Of course, you can't take a leisurely stroll into the sunset with a coastline like this, but the waves and form of the rocks is a lot more attractive than sand.

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Sunrise in the Desert



In the summer, we get up really early to take walks in the desert. Even though the temperature is still warm by most standards, without the direct sunlight it is bearable. This was a walk around the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, just north of Mesa where we were living at the time. Our view now, in Annapolis, Maryland, is a parking lot which is not very inspirational.

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Looking Back to the Desert



I have spent some years of my life living in the Eastern part of the United States. These include years in Massachusetts and some extended stays in Maryland and Pennsylvania. I think I have visited all of the states of United States except I am not sure about North Dakota and Minnesota. I definitely am WalkingArizona. I love the mountains and deserts of Arizona and Utah.

Washington, D.C. Metro


While living here in Annapolis, Maryland, we have become very familiar with riding the Washington, D.C. Metro. Trains are wonderful ways to save driving on the freeways and parking if you want to go where the train goes. Otherwise, you are forced to drive. We have found that visiting almost all of the main touristy areas of Washington is best accomplished using a combination of the Metro and busses.

Friday, June 15, 2018

Improved Whirl Washboard



This old manual washboard turns out to be a very elusive product. Even though it has the name "Whirl," it does not seem to have anything to do with the Whirlpool Company. I have yet to find the origin of this particular model of washboard.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Annapolis Harbor


The harbor in downtown Annapolis is the focus of the city. One of the things that impresses me is the fact that the city has maintained its identity and avoided some types of development. One of the restrictions that is obvious from this view is the limitation on highrise buildings. Many of the downtown buildings are hundreds of years old and there are strict rules about renovations. All of this gives this downtown area a distinct historical feeling.

Veratrum californicum or False Hellebore


Beautiful flowers, poisonous plant. This is Veratrum californicum or False Hellebore. Here are some details from Wikipedia: Veratrum californicum.
Veratrum californicum (California corn lily, white or California false hellebore) is a poisonous plant native to mountain meadows at 3500 to 11,000 ft elevation in southwestern North America, the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains, and as far north as Alaska and as far south as Durango. It grows 1 to 2 meters tall, with an erect, unbranched, heavily leafy stem resembling a cornstalk. It prefers quite moist soil, and can cover large areas in dense stands near streams or in wet meadows. Many inch-wide flowers cluster along the often-branched top of the stout stem; they have 6 white tepals, a green center, 6 stamens, and a 3-branched pistil (see image below). The buds are tight green spheres. The heavily veined, bright green leaves can be more than a foot long.
Veratrum californicum displays mast seeding; populations bloom and seed little in most years, but in occasional years bloom and seed heavily in synchrony.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Sago Palm


This is a remarkable example of a sago palm or Cycas revoluta from Japan. From Wikipeda: Cycas revoluta:
Cycas revoluta (Sotetsu [Japanese ソテツ], sago palm, king sago, sago cycad, Japanese sago palm), is a species of gymnosperm in the family Cycadaceae, native to southern Japan including the Ryukyu Islands. It is one of several species used for the production of sago, as well as an ornamental plant.
Here is an explanation of the food called sago.
Sago /ˈseɪɡoʊ/ is a starch extracted from the spongy centre, or pith, of various tropical palm stems, especially that of Metroxylon sagu. It is a major staple food for the lowland peoples of New Guinea and the Moluccas, where it is called saksak, rabia and sagu. The largest supply of sago comes from Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia. Large quantities of sago are sent to Europe and North America for cooking purposes. It is traditionally cooked and eaten in various forms, such as rolled into balls, mixed with boiling water to form a glue-like paste (papeda), or as a pancake. Sago is often produced commercially in the form of "pearls" (small rounded starch aggregates, partly gelatinized by heating). Sago pearls can be boiled with water or milk and sugar to make a sweet sago pudding. Sago pearls are similar in appearance as the pearled starches of other origin, e.g. cassava starch (tapioca) and potato starch, and they may be used interchangeably in some dishes.

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Pitcher Plant


Carnivorous plants are fascinating. This is a Pitcher Plant or Nepenthes Miranda. Here is a short explanation of this plant from the Wikipedia article on Nepenthes.
Nepenthes (/nɪˈpɛnθiːz/), also known as tropical pitcher plants, is a genus of carnivorous plants in the monotypic family Nepenthaceae. The genus comprises roughly 150 species and numerous natural and many cultivated hybrids. They are mostly liana-forming plants of the Old World tropics, ranging from South China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines; westward to Madagascar (two species) and the Seychelles(one); southward to Australia (three) and New Caledonia (one); and northward to India (one) and Sri Lanka(one). The greatest diversity occurs on Borneo, Sumatra, and the Philippines, with many endemic species. Many are plants of hot, humid, lowland areas, but the majority are tropical montane plants, receiving warm days but cool to cold, humid nights year round. A few are considered tropical alpine, with cool days and nights near freezing. The name "monkey cups" refers to the fact that monkeys have been observed drinking rainwater from these plants.

1930s MacCormick-Deering Farmall (F-20) Tractor


This is a 1930s McCormick-Deering Farmall (F-20) tractor. The name McCormick-Deering was a precursor to the company being called International Harvester. It was built between 1932 and 1939 as a row-crop tractor. It was built in Rock Island, Illinois factory and there were 154,398 such models built. For complete information see. Farmall F-20 on TractorData.com.

Monday, June 11, 2018

International Harvester Farmall Series H Tractor


This is an International Harvester Farmall Series H Tractor. Here is a short explanation of the manufacture of this series of tractors from Wikipedia: International Harvester.
For model year 1939, industrial designer Raymond Loewy was hired to design a new line of tractors. The sleek look, combined with other new features, created what is known as the Farmall "letter series" (A, B, BN, C, H, and M) and the McCormick-Deering "standard series" (W-4, W-6, and W-9). Model year 1941 had the introduction of the model MD, the first rowcrop diesel-powered tractor; over a decade later, IH's largest competitor, John Deere, introduced a diesel option on their rowcrop tractors. The letter series tractors were updated to the "super" series in 1953 (with the exception of the A, which had become a "super" in 1947, and the B and BN, which were discontinued in 1948) and received several improvements. Many of these tractors (especially the largest: the H, M, and W models) are still in operation on farms today. Especially desirable are the diesel-powered MD, WD-6, and WD-9. These tractors carried forward the unique gasoline start diesel concept of the WD-40.
The Farmall H series was produced from 1939 to 1953. Here is a quote from the Wikipedia article "Farmall H."
The Farmall H, produced by International Harvester under the Farmall brand from 1939 to 1953, is a two-plow row crop tractor. It was the most widely-produced of International Harvester's "letter series", with approximately 390,000 produced over the 14-year run. The H is equipped with a 4-cylinder engine with a 152-cubic-inch (2,490-cubic-centimetre) displacement and a 6-volt, positive ground electrical system with generator, (when so ordered or retrofitted). The transmission contains six total gears: five forward and one reverse. It was the smaller of the two prominent row crop tractors produced by IH from the late 1930s to the early 1950s, along with the Farmall M and its variants, yet could still use the same implements.
This particular tractor is obviously no longer in service. 

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Frantic


We took some of our grandchildren for a ride on an old, local carousel or merry-go-round.  The horses looked like they had been through a lot of rides. This one looked particularly frantic. I guess I would rather watch from the shade of a nearby tree than spin around with this fellow. Most of the children loved their ride.

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Dulles Airport, Dulles, Virginia from the Air and Space Museum


This is a photo of the Dulles Airport, Dulles, Virginia from the Air and Space Museum. It was taken from the observation tower and the reflection is in the glass window of the tower. I thought it gave a futuristic view of the airport as it might appear sometime in the future when the area is covered with a gigantic dome. 

Smithsonian Castle, Washington, DC



The Smithsonian Castle is iconic. It appears on the Smithsonian logo. Here is a short description of the building from the Smithsonian website.
Completed in 1855, the Castle is our signature building and home to the Smithsonian Visitor Center. As such, it makes a great starting point for your journey—here you can get a grasp of the scope and scale of the Smithsonian, see collections highlights from each of our museums, tour the Castle’s 19th-century architecture, see what’s going on today at all the museums, and consult with our in-house experts about what to see and do.
On a recent visit, we found that the Visitors Center is high tech with animated displays and explanations of the museums and other exhibits. 

Friday, June 8, 2018

Face the Orchid



These lovely orchids have little sad-looking faces. When you see faces in nature or otherwise where they do not really exist, it is called pareidolia and is mostly seen in people with some kind of neurosis. So if you don't see the faces, you are probably normal.

Sitting in the Water


This is an American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus or Rana catesbeiana). The lighting makes the frog's color hard to see. Here is a description of this frog from Wikipedia
The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus or Rana catesbeiana), often simply known as the bullfrog in Canada and the United States, is an amphibious frog, a member of the family Ranidae, or “true frogs”. This frog has an olive green back and sides blotched with brownish markings and a whitish belly spotted with yellow or grey. The upper lip is often bright green and males have yellow throats. It inhabits large, permanent water bodies, such as swamps, ponds, and lakes, where it is usually found along the water's edge. The male bullfrog defends a territory during the breeding season. His call is reminiscent of the roar of a bull, which gives the frog its common name. This frog is native to southern and eastern parts of the United States and Canada, but has been widely introduced across other parts of North, Central and South America, Western Europe, and parts of Asia, and in some areas is regarded as an invasive species. 
The bullfrog is harvested for use as food in North America and in several countries into which it has been introduced. It is also cultured in controlled environments, though this is a difficult and not always successful undertaking. Some international trade in frog legs occurs for human consumption. Bullfrogs are used in biology classes in schools for dissection and are sometimes kept as pets.
As you can tell from this article if you dissected a frog in high school biology, it was probably one of this frog's relatives. I found this frog sitting in a pool at the National Botanical Garden in Washington, D.C.

Unidentified Flower maybe Combretum constrictum



Whenever I take a photo of a plant, I try to identify it. In this case, I was taking photos in the National Botanical Garden and in this case, I take a photo of the plant label if I can find one. About fifty years ago, I took a photo of this same flower in the Republic of Panama in the jungle. Unfortunately, there was no label on this plant so I used Google Images to match an image and finally a possible identification as Combretum constrictum.

Arrow Points from the Verde Valley



Strict federal and state laws prohibit the collection of historical artifacts. But these laws have not always existed and it was not uncommon to see collections of arrow points displayed in homes and places of business in Arizona when I was much younger. Even though I looked, I never found any arrow points or heads. I thought I found a partial one but was never sure. This collection was in the Tuzigoot National Monument Museum in Clarkdale, Arizona.

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Grand Canyon in the Clouds and Fog


Any time of the year is a good time to visit the Grand Canyon. You just have to be prepared for what you see when you get there. My first real trip to the South Rim was a hot day in the bright sun of the summer and I wasn't impressed. I had grown up with canyons and magnificent views and it was just another canyon, a bit larger perhaps, but still just another canyon. When I finally went back for another look, the weather had changed and so did my appreciation for the magnificence of the canyon and since then I have been back on every possible opportunity.

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

René François Ghislain Magritte: The Blank Signature

This painting is called The Blank Signature which is a poor translation of the French "La Carte Blanche" the name of the painting in French. The artist is René François Ghislain Magritte. Here is a short introduction to Magritte from the Wikipedia.
René François Ghislain Magritte (French: [ʁəne fʁɑ̃swa ɡilɛ̃ maɡʁit]; 21 November 1898 – 15 August 1967) was a Belgian surrealist artist. He became well known for creating a number of witty and thought-provoking images. Often depicting ordinary objects in an unusual context, his work is known for challenging observers' preconditioned perceptions of reality. His imagery has influenced pop, minimalist and conceptual art.
 Some of my photographs are also optical illusions.  For example, The Endless Escalator published on March 28, 2018.

Ryder's House by Edward Hopper


There are certain artists, such as Edward Hopper and Maynard Dixon, who paint the way I take photographs. This painting in the Smithsonian American Art Museum was painted by Edward Hoppen in 1933. It is called "Ryder's House." If you were to go back through my photos on this website, you would see many photos that have similar themes, composition, and light as this photo. For example, my photo of the Government House in Annapolis, Maryland on May 14, 2018. The subject matter of my photos may not be on the East Coast, but my selection of views reflects the same type of emphasis on form and color. It is not that I am copying anyone, but I I do feel that my photos are in a particular genus of American art.

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Calder and the National Gallery


Alexander Calder is almost as iconic as the National Gallery of Art itself. He is credited as the "inventor" of the mobile and the National Gallery has 40 of his sculptures and paintings. In this photo, the Calder Mobile blends into the architecture of the East Building itself. It is a remarkable building but the art is definitely an acquired taste.

The Last of the Dogwoods




We have had a lovely Spring here in Maryland with a lot of rain. We spent one of the last days in May at the National Arboretum and found these late-blooming Dogwood trees. It was just starting to rain and we fled the rain and the mosquitoes. We would have liked to stay a little longer but Nature is sometimes insistent.

Monday, June 4, 2018

DC Cactus Blossom with a bonus Praying Mantis


This is a surprise photo. Sometimes I take a photo for one reason and find that the photo includes a surprise. This one has a Praying Mantis. See if you can find it. We were very surprised to see a prickly pear cactus blooming in the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. We realize that Opuntia can grow just about anywhere, but it is still a treat to see a flower we so much associate with our home in Mesa, Arizona for so many years.

Sunday, June 3, 2018

393 Year Old Tree Survived Atomic Blast



This lovely Bonsai tree was potted back in 1625, just 5 years after the Pilgrims came to America. It has been pruned and kept alive all that time. It is a Japanese White Pine, Pinus parviflora 'Miyajima'. I cannot imagine what it would take for all those generations of gardeners to keep this plant alive and well. It also survived the Atomic Bomb attack in 1945 in Hiroshima. Here is the explanation from an article on PBS, 3 August 2013 entitled, "Centuries-old bonsai that survived atomic bomb gets honored 70 years later."
The Washington Post reported that the tree was originally donated to the Arboretum by a bonsai master named Masaru Yamaki. It was part of a gift of 53 trees given to the Arboretum’s National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in honor of the U.S. bicentennial. No mention was made of the tree’s history, and it wasn’t until the brothers showed up that the tree’s incredible story was even known. The tree’s history will be honored on Thursday, the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. 
The tree was originally located in a walled nursery belonging to Yamaki that was less than two miles from Hiroshima. This distance, however, was just far enough away to shield it from the blast. Jack Sustic, curator of the Bonsai and Penjing Museum, told the Post that the tree must have been against a wall where it was shielded from the blast. Photographs taken at the Yamaki Nursery just after the bombing show the pine standing in its pot, unharmed.

National Bonsai and Penjing Museum


One of our most remarkable discoveries in Washington, D.C. is the National Arboretum which includes the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. We love arboretums and gardens. We have visited them all over the United States and into Canada. But this is one of the most spectacular gardens and collections of trees and plants we have ever seen. This is the entrance to one of the sections of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.

Friday, June 1, 2018

Miniature Arches



The same forces of water, ice, wind, and rain form these miniature arches that form the large ones in Utah and Arizona. The dark bands are called desert varnish and are caused by water carrying the oxides of manganese or iron. You would have to be walking in a slot canyon or other waterway to see these wonderful formations.

Sandstone Moonrise


The moon is just beginning to shine as the last rays of the sun lift off of the sandstone cliffs. This was my last photo of the day.

Peek-a-boo Arch on the Burr Trail, Utah


The Burr Trail is one of the most spectacular drives in Utah. This is the Peek-a-boo Arch located at the top of the Burr Trail Switchbacks. This remote area has some of the most beautiful rock formations in the world.