Jackson Square, New Orleans, Louisiana

 

Downtown in the French Quarter, Jackson Square is the centerpiece of New Orleans. Here is a description from Wikipedia: Jackson Square (New Orleans):

Jackson Square is a historic park in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960, for its central role in the city's history, and as the site where in 1803 Louisiana was made United States territory pursuant to the Louisiana Purchase. In 2012 the American Planning Association designated Jackson Square as one of the Great Public Spaces in the United States.

We enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage ride around the city. 

Port of Greater Baton Rouge

 

Quoting from the Port of Greater Baton Rouge website,

We are located at the head of deepwater navigation on the Mississippi River, with a 45-foot shipping channel to the mouth of the river maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Our exceptional maritime infrastructure and connectivity provide direct access to ship, barge, truck and rail. 

This photo was taken from across the Mississippi River.  

View of Bright Angel Canyon, Grand Canyon, Arizona

 

Across the canyon looking north, you can see Bright Angel Canyon, the main route from the North Rim to the river at Phantom Ranch. If you click and enlarge the image, you can just see the trees and buildings at Phantom Ranch over the edge of the inner gorge. The North Rim is much higher than the South Rim and so most of the people who hike across the canyon start on the North Rim. 

View from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona

 

The North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in northern Arizona are very different. The South Rim lies at about 7000 feet above sea level, while the North Rim is over a 1000 feet higher in elevation. This elevation difference makes a dramatic difference in the vegetation. Because of the commercial development on the South Rim and the remoteness of the North Rim, the number of visitors to the South Rim is much greater than the North Rim. The North Rim is also cooler during the summer but is closed during the winter. You will find that a clear day such as the one above is really quite rare. 

Mistletoe in a Juniper

 

From Wikipedia: Mistletoe.

Mistletoe is the common name for obligate hemiparasitic plants in the order Santalales. They are attached to their host tree or shrub by a structure called the haustorium, through which they extract water and nutrients from the host plant.

The name mistletoe originally referred to the species Viscum album (European mistletoe, of the family Santalaceae in the order Santalales); it is the only species native to the British Isles and much of Europe. A separate species, Viscum cruciatum, occurs in Southwest Spain and Southern Portugal, as well as in Morocco in North Africa and in southern Africa. The genus Viscum is not native to North America, but Viscum album was introduced to Northern California in 1900.

European mistletoe has smooth-edged, oval, evergreen leaves borne in pairs along the woody stem, and waxy, white berries that it bears in clusters of two to six. The Eastern mistletoe of North America is similar, but has shorter, broader leaves and longer clusters of 10 or more berries.

The eastern mistletoe native to North America, Phoradendron leucarpum, belongs to a distinct genus of the family Santalaceae.

Over the centuries, the term has been broadened to include many other species of parasitic plants with similar habits, found in other parts of the world, that are classified in different genera and families such as the Misodendraceae of Chile and Argentina and the mainly southern hemisphere tropical Loranthaceae.

So, whatever this actually is, we call it mistletoe.  

Hot pools in Yellowstone National Park

 

Yellowstone National Park along with Zion National Park and many others are experiencing record breaking numbers of visitors. The huge crowds of visitors are taxing all the facilities. At Yellowstone, a short time ago, we had to wait in long lines to use the only restroom facility at a large picnic area. Driving on the main road, we passed an eight-mile long line of cars stacked up behind a slow herd of bison. Almost all the parking lots were filled and the only parking available without a long wait was along the side of the main road. Is there a solution? The parking problem could be alleviated by a shuttle system like they have at the Grand Canyon National Park.  

The Last of the Winter Snow

 

As we watched the last of the winter snow melt from the mountain tops, we moved into a very hot and dry summer. With just about 64% of the state of Utah in a exceptional drought condition and 100% of the state is some drought condition, the last of the snow became a foreshadow of what will likely be the hottest and driest year on record. 

Panorama of Porcelain Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park,

 You will have to click on this image to see the detail. Most of the geysers and hot springs in Yellowstone National Park are located in the west side of the park. Norris Geyser basin is one of the main attractions. Just north of Norris Geyser Basin is a huge area of multiple geysers and hot pool that is mostly inaccessible by walking. This is known as Porcelain Basin. You can walk down a steep trail and then take some long boardwalks along parts of the basin but most of it is off in the distance. 

Geyser Runoff

 

The area around the Geysers in Yellowstone National Park are some of the most interesting features of the park. When the hot water makes its way through the rock layers to erupt as a geyser, it picks up a variety of minerals. As the water cools, those minerals are deposited on the area surrounding the geyser. Because the temperature of the water takes time to drop to the ambient temperature, bacteria and algae begin to grow right at up the the heat threshold. I am always fascinated by the details of the world around me. 

Camping with the Bison

In the past, camping at Yellowstone National Park involved watching for bears. The campsites still have bear boxes. It has been a long time since we have had a bear in our camp at Yellowstone. Now, we have a new larger and more imposing concern. Bison in the camp. The Yellowstone safety rules suggest getting no closer that 25 yards to a bison or elk. Perhaps the bison don't know how to read the warnings. This was taken with my telephoto lens, by the way. 

Resting Easy

 

There are many scenes around me that remind me that Summer is approaching. One of them is 100 degree plus temperatures. But if you are sitting on a cool pond surrounded by lily pads and flowers, you don't have to worry about the temperature. 

Firehole River, Yellowstone National Park

 

Quoting from Wikipedia: Firehole River,

The Firehole River is located in northwestern Wyoming, and is one of the two major tributaries of the Madison River. It flows north approximately 21 miles (34 km) from its source in Madison Lake on the Continental Divide to join the Gibbon River at Madison Junction in Yellowstone National Park. It is part of the Missouri River system.

We spent a long day hiking around the Upper Geyser Basin and walking along the Firehole River.  

Spring in the Pond

Over the past few weeks, we have watched the water lilies come back from their winter hibernation. As the green pads spread across this pond, we finally saw all the beautiful flowers that we associate with water lilies. We love the passing of the seasons. 

A Car Stopping Experience

 

In the past, these car stopping experiences were known as "bear jams." Now, the bears are exiled to the wilderness and travel on the roads is now stopped by herds of bison. Unfortunately, bison are just a dangerous as bears but larger and run in herds rather than as individuals. We passed an eight-mile long line of cars waiting for a herd with new baby bison to walk slowly to their next pasture. This is Yellowstone National Park on one of the busiest days in the history of the park. 

Two Week Old Bison Calf in Yellowstone National Park

 

During a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park, we were delighted to see dozens of newly-born Bison calves. The weather was perfect and we had a bonus of having a full-grown male bison stroll through our campsite. According to the National Park Service, "the bison population fluctuates from 2,300 to 5,500 animals in two subpopulations, defined by where they gather for breeding. The northern herd breeds in the Lamar Valley and on the high plateaus around it. The central herd breeds in Hayden Valley." See https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/bisonfaq.htm

Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

 

Quoting from the Temple Facts about the Baton Rouge Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple was the first temple built in Louisiana.

The establishment of the Church in Louisiana began in January 1841 when the Prophet Joseph Smith received a letter from two Louisiana Saints saying a small branch of the Church existed in New Orleans and asking for an elder to be sent. By 1955, the state's first stake had been established in the same city.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple was presided by Elder Monte J. Brough, president of the North America Southeast Area, on May 8, 1999. It was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Suva Fiji Temple.

During the construction of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple, the construction missionaries held weekly open houses to provide members and visitors with updates on the construction progress. Many were gifted with a small piece of marble from the temple.

Young women in the temple district polished and hung the crystals for the Celestial Room chandelier of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple with the help of their mothers. When they discovered it hadn't turned out quite right, they repeated the entire process to correct their error.

Over 18,500 guests attended the weeklong open house for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple including government officials, religious and community leaders, media representatives, 125 neighbors, and friends of other faiths who patronized the local family history centers.

The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple was dedicated in four sessions by President Gordon B. Hinckley. Over 4,600 members attended the sacred services. The temple was frequently referred to as a "house of refuge."

Five years after the dedication of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple, the region was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, resulting in a death toll of 1,836. Miraculously, all Church members survived, though some lost everything they had. The stake center next to the temple was used as a safe place for displaced victims. In the weeks following the storm, the temple operated with very few workers and patrons. By 2006, so many patrons were arriving, they had to be put on standby.

The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple closed on January 28, 2018, for an extensive renovation that enclosed the portico, reshaped the steeple, reclad the exterior in limestone, and replaced the windows with beautiful art glass featuring a shell and magnolia flower motif. The interior of the temple was refinished and refurnished with French-inspired accents and murals in the first endowment room. The landscaping was redesigned to better accommodate patron gatherings and to feature more gardens.

The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple was the first temple built in Louisiana.

The establishment of the Church in Louisiana began in January 1841 when the Prophet Joseph Smith received a letter from two Louisiana Saints saying a small branch of the Church existed in New Orleans and asking for an elder to be sent. By 1955, the state's first stake had been established in the same city.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple was presided by Elder Monte J. Brough, president of the North America Southeast Area, on May 8, 1999. It was held on the same day as the groundbreaking ceremony for the Suva Fiji Temple.

During the construction of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple, the construction missionaries held weekly open houses to provide members and visitors with updates on the construction progress. Many were gifted with a small piece of marble from the temple.

Young women in the temple district polished and hung the crystals for the Celestial Room chandelier of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple with the help of their mothers. When they discovered it hadn't turned out quite right, they repeated the entire process to correct their error.

Over 18,500 guests attended the weeklong open house for the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple including government officials, religious and community leaders, media representatives, 125 neighbors, and friends of other faiths who patronized the local family history centers.

The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple was dedicated in four sessions by President Gordon B. Hinckley. Over 4,600 members attended the sacred services. The temple was frequently referred to as a "house of refuge."

Five years after the dedication of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple, the region was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, resulting in a death toll of 1,836. Miraculously, all Church members survived, though some lost everything they had. The stake center next to the temple was used as a safe place for displaced victims. In the weeks following the storm, the temple operated with very few workers and patrons. By 2006, so many patrons were arriving, they had to be put on standby.

The Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple closed on January 28, 2018, for an extensive renovation that enclosed the portico, reshaped the steeple, reclad the exterior in limestone, and replaced the windows with beautiful art glass featuring a shell and magnolia flower motif. The interior of the temple was refinished and refurnished with French-inspired accents and murals in the first endowment room. The landscaping was redesigned to better accommodate patron gatherings and to feature more gardens.

Double Ruffled Peony

 

From the Wikipedia: Peony

The peony or paeony is a flowering plant in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the family Paeoniaceae. Peonies are native to Asia, Europe and Western North America. Scientists differ on the number of species that can be distinguished, ranging from 25 to 40, although the current consensus is 33 known species. The relationships between the species need to be further clarified.

Most are herbaceous perennial plants 0.25–1 metre (1–3 ft) tall, but some are woody shrubs 0.25–3.5 metres (1–11 ft) tall. They have compound, deeply lobed leaves and large, often fragrant flowers, in colors ranging from purple and pink to red, white or yellow, in late spring and early summer. The flowers have a short blooming season, usually only 7–10 days.

My wife's family has been growing this variety of peony for generations. Members of the family have transplanted from the original stock.