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Abellio ScotRail Class 385, 385011 passing through Slateford working 1Y75 0859 Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Central, taken 12th March 2020
As part of Gloucester Cathedral's ten-year Project Pilgrim, the space outside the Cathedral has been transformed from an ugly car park to this landscaped open area.
As Metra 164 moves around, a outbound train departs OTC and a inbound Milwaukee district train passed under. Chicago, IL
Designed by engineering prodigy Mikhail Shastin and his design bureu the Avtomat Shastin model 1991 was the most advanced rifle Russia has ever produced.
Design
- Utilises a balancing system which virtually eliminated felt recoil and muzzle rise.
- Composite grip hand guard and folding stock which is more durable than wooden furniture of past rifles.
- Modern rear mounted aperture sight which are faster to train than a traditional open rifle sight.
- 30 round magazine with windows allowing the soldier to see how much ammunition is left in the magazine.
- Muzzle brake to further reduce recoil.
- Semi, full auto and three round burst capability.
- Can fire both 5.45x39mm and the larger 7.62x39mm rounds.
Performance
- fire rate of 1000 rounds per minute (3 round burst) 600 rpm (Full auto)
- Field tests revealed the weapon to be exeptionaly accurate in all fire modes and performance is consistent in adverse conditions.
Calibre
- 5.45x39mm
- 7.62x39mm
#152: As of 9/20/18, under Flickr's popularity rankings of my 1200+ pics, this is listed as #152 in "interestingness."
I've been engaging in some short, private crossdressing opportunities at home recently, after acquiring and trying out some new clothes, shoes, and accessories. This is the 254th pic posted from this recent CD activity, and taken just last month.
As usual, I really enjoy color-coordinating attractive/sexy/cute outfits, and this one features a low-neckline Project Runway rose gold satin cami (from JC Penney); a Dolce Gabo "rose creme" lace jacket w/ velvet tie belt, & a Halogen "pink foil" pleated maxi skirt (both from Nordstrom Rack); rose gold Chinese Laundry ultra-high-heel pumps (from Macy's); gold metallic fishnet stockings; plus a Liz Claiborne mini-satchel handbag (from JC Penney), earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings, all also in rose gold.
More about this and other new 2017 pics was written up recently in a descriptive Update provided in my profile or "About" page here on Flickr. It details some choices made for these 2017 pics.
Let me know your thoughts... :-)
As Portas de Ródão são uma formação geológica situada perto de Vila Velha de Ródão, resultante da intersecção do duro relevo quartzítico da Serra das Talhadas com o curso do rio Tejo. Neste local há um estreitamento do vale, que aqui corre entre duas paredes escarpadas, que atingem cerca de 170 m de altura, fazendo lembrar duas "portas", uma a norte no distrito de Castelo Branco, Beira Baixa, e outra a sul no concelho de Nisa, distrito de Portalegre, Alto Alentejo.
O encaixe do Tejo começou por erosão remontante, há cerca de 2,6 milhões de anos, aproveitando acidentes tectónicos associados à falha do Pônsul, e decorreu em várias etapas, reflectidas em terraços fluviais e plataformas embutidas por erosão, mais visíveis na margem direita a montante das Portas.
O grande lago e as grandes profundidades imediatamente a jusante das Portas testemunham a imponência da queda de água que aqui terá existido antes de se atingir a actual fase de equilíbrio.
No topo da "porta" norte, que é facilmente acessível por estrada, situa-se o pequeno castelo do Rei Wamba. Deste local vislumbra-se um vasto panorama sobre o vale do Tejo a jusante das Portas, com o Conhal do Arneiro, na margem esquerda, e o povoado paleolítico de Vila Ruivas, na margem direita.
As Portas de Ródão são igualmente um local privilegiado de observação da avifauna, servindo de habitat à maior colónia de grifos de Portugal, assim como à cegonha-preta ou ao milhafre-real.
É um dos geossítios do Geoparque Naturtejo da Meseta Meridional. pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monumento_Natural_das_Portas_de_Ró...
The steenbok is a common small antelope of southern and eastern Africa. It is sometimes known as the steinbuck or steinbok.
Scientific name: Raphicerus campestris
1
Sin que naide o soubera
houbo un intre puro
no que nada houbo.
Agora,
na palma da auga,
dá sombra o froito do instantiño aquel.
2
Este é o punto mesmo.
Eiquí
-entre a corda rota
e inmóvil das horas-
párase
cristaíña
a roda da noite.
Eiquí
-a lúa entre salas desertas
de madureza-
comeza
silenciosa
a roda da alba.
3
¿Non coñeces o mar?
-Non
¿Nin o vento do mar?
-Non
¿Quen eres, pois?
-Unha sombra noviña
recén nacida e núa,
terra adrento.
4
Non sei se a fiestra hoxe
-congoxas de craro-escuro
con afán de cristalidá-
é o serán: nin se son do serán ou da fiestra
estas cantigas silandeiras
de soedá.
-Unha ausencia do vento
pervagando por elas
deixa ronseis tremosos
como a palma da auga.
Álvaro Cunqueiro, Mar ao Norde, 1932.
MÚSICA: Charles Trenet - La Mer
as i living on the edge,
with all the fear climbing out of me,
have you ever try to understand?
Does the pain weight out the pride?
And you look for a place to hide?
i'm in ruins.
we all are in ruins.
--------
As you can see, Zeus isn't very happy, but we had fun dressing him up.
This is a very close crop of the original.
VIEW ON BLACK------> View On Black
================================================================
Abellio ScotRail Class 156, 156509 about to pass through Uddingston working 1Y84 Glasgow Central to Edinburgh Waverley, taken 11th March 2019
As we were watching the Silverback this cheeky Infant Gorilla pinched some berries (looked very much like Raspberries) from a vine and swung off in to the thickest , darkest part of a bush to eat them. This look seemed to say did anyone see that? In Gorilla society the dominant Male Silver back has the first pick of the food available so perhaps this cheeky youngster was skipping the queue but not wanting to be caught doing it.
As someone who enjoys the challenge of making pictures in the tiniest amount of light possible, even I have to admit this is pushing it. But I've found a way to embrace the grain, despite the fact that the sun had pretty much completely set by the time this picture was taken (after 5:00pm on Christmas Day). I think I should start trying to take pictures in daylight, you know, like normal photographers do. I've heard good things about sunlight and lens flares, and apparently there is a thing known as the Golden Hour that I have yet to experience.
This time I used a real tripod, but I still forced Robert to trudge out into the woods with me to pull the trigger because I forgot to bring my remote along. The tyranny continues. :)
This isn't half bad on black. Press "L" on your keyboard or click the photo to view large.
Planned for cancellation from today, Transdev's X41 Red Express service has been saved with days to spare, following a 4700-strong petition and intervention from local politicians. It will now operate under a revised timetable, including more non-stop running sections.
Pride of the North-liveried Lancashire United 2754 (PJ05 ZWA) is seen operating the service last June, making an energetic right turn into Princess Street in central Manchester.
12/06/2019. Posted 26/01/2020.
As more and more of the 14 plates get repainted into the new livery, I'll get pictures further round the route, and then of course not forgetting the 26s either....!!
622 is the third bus to be repainted, seen climbing Derby Road towards Canning Circus with a 35 to Bulwell via QMC, Bilborough and Strelley.
Golden-winged Warbler
Habitat
Habitat - Open Woodlands-Golden-winged Warblers breed in tangled, shrubby habitats such as regenerating clearcuts, wet thickets, tamarack bogs, and aspen or willow stands. They tend to occur in wetland habitats more often than the closely related (and competitive) Blue-winged Warbler. Recent radio-tracking studies have discovered that Golden-winged Warblers move into mature forests immediately after fledging. This means that mosaics of shrubby, open areas (for nesting) and mature forest habitats (which offer cover for fledglings from like predators like hawks) are important landscape features. Historically periodic natural disturbances would create this patchy habitat—wildfires or flooding from beaver dams created a patchwork of shrubby openings amid a largely forested landscape. The early 20th century was good to Golden-winged Warblers, as settlers cleared forest openings for settlement and farming. But as the century progressed, many of those cleared areas grew back into forests, and humans prevented natural disturbances from opening up new pockets of nesting areas. Since the 1960s, Golden-winged Warbler habitat has decreased by an estimated 22 percent in the Great Lakes region and 43 percent in the northern Appalachians. On their wintering grounds, Golden-winged Warblers live in semiopen woodlands, as well as bird-friendly coffee farms under a forest canopy.
Food
Food InsectsFood items include caterpillars, moths and other insects, and spiders. Leafroller caterpillars appear to be an important food source. Golden-winged Warblers feed among the foliage by probing with their sharp bills into rolled-up leaves to find hidden prey. They only rarely catch insects on the wing.
Back to top
Nesting
NEST PLACEMENT
Nest- Ground-Females probably select the nest site, which is typically on the ground in a grassy opening or along the shaded edge of a field near a forest border. The nest is typically well concealed by overhead grasses and leafy material.
NEST DESCRIPTION
The female builds the nest, usually on the ground, over the course of 1–3 days. She often places the nest at the base of a plant such as goldenrod or blackberry, using the a tall, thick plant stem as a support (adults often land on this when arriving at the nest). She makes a base from up to 30 leaves and then adds grapevine or arrowwood bark and other long strips of plant material. Finished nests measure about 3.5 to 6 inches across and 1 to 2.5 inches deep. Females are very sensitive to disturbance and may abandon nests even after the first eggs have been laid.
NESTING FACTS
Clutch Size:3-6 eggs
Number of Broods:1 brood
Egg Length:0.6-0.8 in (1.4-1.9 cm)
Egg Width:0.4-0.6 in (1.1-1.4 cm)
Incubation Period:10-12 days
Nestling Period:8-9 days
Egg Description:Pale pink or pale cream, with fine streaks or small blotches
Condition at Hatching:Helpless and mostly naked; juvenile flight feathers begin to emerge on sixth day.
Behavior
Behavior- Foliage- Gleaner-Golden-winged Warblers often forage among brushy and shrubby areas, where they hop along branches, carefully inspecting the leaves for prey, and sometimes dangling off the edges of branches like a chickadee. Male golden-wings are extremely bold and vocal during the 3 to 4 weeks at the start of their breeding season, prone to prolonged and exuberant bouts of singing. They also engage in a variety of postures and behavior in order to demarcate their territory, including chasing and flying past rival males, spreading their tails in face-offs, and sometimes actually physically fighting. Males also chase after females during courtship, raise their crowns and flick their tails when approaching a potential mate, and perform flight displays with slow, deep wingbeats. But after territories are established and mates are selected, they become very secretive during nesting and raising young. Golden-wing males are mostly monogamous, though there are a few reports of them having multiple mates.
Conservation
Conservation Red Watch ListGolden-winged Warblers have declined sharply and now have one of the smallest populations of any bird not on the endangered species list. The North American Breeding Bird Survey estimates a decline of almost 2.5% per year between 1966 and 2014—amounting to an overall decline of 68%. Partners in Flight estimates the global breeding population at 410,000, with 84% spending some part of the year in the U.S., 2% in Mexico, and 16% breeding in Canada. They rate a 15 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score and are on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List, which lists bird species that are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered without conservation action. They are also listed as a Tri-National Concern species. In 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took the species under consideration for listing as an endangered species. As numbers have fallen, the species’ range has also shifted northwest. The breeding range is now largely split into two distinct regions, with 95% of the population in the Upper Great Lakes (mostly Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Manitoba) and the other 5% in the Appalachians from New York to Georgia. Minnesota now has the highest remaining density of Golden-winged Warblers, with about half the global population. The Appalachian mountains population has nearly been extirpated (down 98 percent). Causes of the bird’s decline include habitat loss and hybridization and competition with the closely related Blue-winged Warbler (in which the Golden-winged tends to lose out). Wetland habitats seem to be a stronghold for Golden-winged Warblers, but invasive Phragmites is making the birds’ preferred tussock-sedge nesting sites harder to find. Clearcutting, burning, and grazing can improve habitat for Golden-winged Warblers, although new evidence points to the importance of keeping mature forest nearby. Loss of open forests on the wintering grounds is also a problem, and bird-friendly or shade-grown coffee and cacao plantations can help retain habitat for the species. The Golden-winged Warbler Working Group, a consortium including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and 38 other universities, agencies, and conservation groups, has released a conservation plan to improve the species’ prospects by 2050.
As promised more from Butterfly World in New Brunswick. Thanks to everyone who commented on the the first shot I uploaded. Not something I get to photograph very often, so it was fun and challenging.
As the sun is setting and the golden rays fall upon us, the wind is blowing and the tree branches are dancing in the sunlight.
For more please subscribe, follow and share. Very much appreciated!
iGallery - Prints - Gifts and More - boinsogna.com/featured/tree-branches-dancing-in-the-sunli...
Photo © James Bo Insogna.
As they walk through out the night they know that they have each other.Ready to face anything that come there way.The loving bond they have will protect them. There is something about young love.It can be surround it by fog of darkness but as long as there is light that shine and light the way.There will always be hope .If you stay true to those you love and honesty .There should be nothing that you and the one you love can not handle.
Ficus macrophylla, commonly known as the Moreton Bay fig, is a large evergreen banyan tree of the Moraceae family that is a native of most of the eastern coast of Australia, from the Atherton Tableland (17° S) in the north to the Illawarra (34° S) in New South Wales, and Lord Howe Island. Its common name is derived from Moreton Bay in Queensland, Australia. It is best known for its beautiful buttress roots.
As Ficus macrophylla is a strangler fig, seed germination usually takes place in the canopy of a host tree and the seedling lives as an epiphyte until its roots establish contact with the ground. It then enlarges and strangles its host, eventually becoming a freestanding tree by itself. Individuals may reach 60 m (200 ft) in height. Like all figs, it has an obligate mutualism with fig wasps; figs are only pollinated by fig wasps, and fig wasps can only reproduce in fig flowers.
Ficus macrophylla is widely used as a feature tree in public parks and gardens in warmer climates such as California, Portugal, Italy (Sicily, Sardinia and Liguria), northern New Zealand (Auckland), and Australia. Old specimens can reach tremendous size. Its aggressive root system allows its use in only the largest private gardens.
Charles Moore described Ficus columnaris in 1870 from material collected from Lord Howe Island, choosing the species name from the Latin columnaris for the column-like roots. English botanist E. J. H. Corner reduced this to synonymy with F. macrophylla in 1965, before P.S. Green noted it was distinct enough in its morphology for subspecies status in 1986. Australian botanist Dale J. Dixon reviewed material and felt the differences too minor to warrant subspecific status,[2] and recognised two forms: Ficus macrophylla f. macrophylla, a free-standing tree which is endemic to mainland Australia and Ficus macrophylla f. columnaris, a hemiepiphyte without a distinct main trunk, which is endemic to Lord Howe Island.[5] The generally used common name is Moreton Bay fig,[4] after Moreton Bay in southern Queensland, although it is found elsewhere. The term has also been mistakenly generalised to other fig species in Australia. An alternate name, black fig, is derived from the dark colour of the ageing bark.[6]
With over 750 species, Ficus is one of the largest angiosperm genera.[7] Based on morphology, Corner divided the genus into four subgenera;[5] later expanded to six.[8] In this classification, the Moreton Bay fig was placed in subseries Malvanthereae, series Malvanthereae, section Malvanthera of the subgenus Urostigma.[9] In his reclassification of the Australian Malvanthera, Dixon altered the delimitations of the series within the section, but left this species in series Malvanthereae.[5]
In 2005, Cornelis Berg completed Corner's treatment of the Moraceae for the Flora Malesiana; the completion of that work had been delayed since 1972 as a result of disagreements between Corner and C. J. J. G. van Steenis, editor of the Flora Malesiana.[10] Berg combined sections Stilpnophyllum and Malvanthera into an expanded section Stilpnophyllum. This left the Moreton Bay fig in subsection Malvanthera, section Stilpnophyllum.[9]
Based on DNA sequences from the nuclear ribosomal internal and external transcribed spacers, Nina Rønsted and colleagues rejected previous subdivisions of the Malvanthera. Instead, they divided section Malvanthera into three subsections—Malvantherae, Platypodeae and Hesperidiiformes. In this system, the Moreton Bay fig is in the new subsection Malvantherae, along with F. pleurocarpa. The Malvantherae appear to be an early offshoot and basal to the group. Both forms are native to Australia, with form columnaris of macrophylla having colonised Lord Howe Island. Ronsted and colleagues suggest this last form might be the most ancient of the three taxa.[9] The section Malvanthera itself is thought to have evolved 41 million years ago and radiated from 35 million years ago.[8]
The Moreton Bay fig is an evergreen tree that can reach heights of 60 m (200 ft).[1] The trunk can be massive, with thick, prominent buttressing, and reach a diameter of 2.4 m (8 ft).[4] The rough bark is grey-brown,[11] and marked with various blemishes.[12] It is monoecious: each tree bears functional male and female flowers.[5] As implied by its specific epithet, it has large, elliptic, leathery, dark green leaves, 15–30 cm (6–12 in) long, and they are arranged alternately on the stems. The leaves and branches bleed a milky sap if cut or broken. The figs are 2–2.5 cm (0.75–1 in) in diameter, turning from green to purple with lighter spots as they ripen;[1] ripe fruit may be found year round,[12] although more abundant from February to May.[4] Although edible, they are unpalatable and dry.[4]
The characteristic "melting" appearance of the Moreton Bay fig is due to its habit of dropping aerial roots from its branches, which upon reaching the ground, thicken into supplementary trunks which help to support the weight of its crown.
It is a rainforest plant and in this environment more often grows in the form of an epiphytic strangler vine than that of a tree. When its seeds land in the branch of a host tree it sends aerial, 'strangler' roots down the host trunk, eventually killing the host and standing alone.[4]
Pleistodontes frogatti, the fig wasp that pollinates the Moreton Bay fig
Figs have an obligate mutualism with fig wasps, (Agaonidae); figs are only pollinated by fig wasps, and fig wasps can only reproduce in fig flowers. Generally, each fig species depends on a single species of wasp for pollination. The wasps are similarly dependent on their fig species in order to reproduce. The mainland and Lord Howe populations of the Moreton Bay fig are both pollinated by the fig wasp Pleistodontes froggatti.
As is the case with all figs, the fruit is actually an inverted inflorescence known as a syconium, with tiny flowers arising from the inner surface.[12] Ficus macrophylla is monoecious—both male and female flowers are found on the same plant, and in fact in the same fruit although they mature at different times. Female wasps enter the syconium and lay eggs in the female flowers as they mature. These eggs later hatch and the progeny mate. The females of the new generation collect pollen from the male flowers, which have matured by this point, and leave to visit other syconia and repeat the process. A field study in Brisbane found that a F. macrophylla trees often bore both male and female syconia at the same time—which could be beneficial for reproduction in isolated populations such as those on islands. The same study found that male phase syconia development persisted through the winter, showing that its wasp pollinator tolerated cooler weather than those of more tropical fig species. F. macrophylla itself can endure cooler climates than other fig species
Emergent Moreton Bay fig in situ, estimated 50 metres tall, Davis Scrub Nature Reserve, Australia.
The Moreton Bay fig is a native of most of the eastern coast, from the Atherton Tableland (17° S) in north Queensland, to the Shoalhaven River (34° S) on New South Wales south coast.[12] It is found in subtropical, warm temperate and dry rainforest,[15] where, as an emergent tree, its crown may tower above the canopy,[12] particularly along watercourses on alluvial soils.[16] It often grows with trees such as white booyong (Argyrodendron trifoliolatum), Flindersia species, giant stinging tree (Dendrocnide excelsa), lacebark (Brachychiton discolor), red cedar (Toona ciliata), hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), green-leaved fig (Ficus watkinsiana) and Cryptocarya obovata.[15] The soils it grows on are high in nutrients, and include Bumbo Latite and Budgong Sandstone.[16] As rainforests were cleared, isolated specimens were left standing in fields as remnant trees,[17] valued for their shade and shelter for livestock.[18] One such tree was a landmark for and gave its name to the Wollongong suburb of Figtree in New South Wales.[17]
The huge numbers of fruit produced by the Moreton Bay fig make it a key source of food in the rainforest.[18] It is an important food to the fruit-eating pigeons such as the wompoo fruit-dove (Ptilinopus magnificus), and topknot pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus), and a sometime food of the rose-crowned fruit-dove (Ptilinopus regina).[19] Other bird species include the yellow-eyed cuckoo-shrike (Coracina lineata), pied currawong (Strepera graculina), Australasian figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti), green catbird (Ailuroedus crassirostris), Regent bowerbird (Sericulus chrysocephalus), satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), and Lewin's honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii).[4] Fruit bats such as the grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) also feed on the fruit.[20] In addition to the pollinating wasp, Pleistodontes froggatti, syconia of the Moreton Bay fig are host to several species of non-pollinating chalcidoid wasps including Sycoscapter australis (Pteromalidae), Eukobelea hallami (Sycophaginae) and Meselatus sp. (Epichrysomallinae).[21]
The thrips species Gynaikothrips australis feeds on the underside of new leaves of F. macrophylla, as well as F. rubiginosa and F. obliqua. As plant cells die, nearby cells are induced into forming meristem tissue and a gall results, and the leaves become distorted and curl over. The thrips begin feeding when the tree has flushes of new growth, and the life cycle is around six weeks. At other times, thrips reside on old leaves without feeding. The species pupates sheltered in the bark. The thrips remain in the galls at night and wander about in the daytime and return in the evening, possibly to different galls about the tree.[22]
Stressed trees can also be attacked by psyllids to the point of defoliation. Grubs hatch from eggs laid on the edges of leaves and burrow into the leaf to suck nutrients, the tree's own latex shielding the insect.[16] Caterpillars of the moth species Eustixis caminaea can strip trees of their leaves.[16] The tree is also a host for the longhorn beetle species Agrianome spinicollis.[16]
A young Moreton Bay fig starts life as an epiphyte in an Auckland, New Zealand park
Ficus macrophylla is commonly cultivated in Hawaii and in northern New Zealand. In both places, it has now naturalised, having acquired its pollinating wasp (Pleistodontes froggatti). In Hawaii the wasp was deliberately introduced in 1921, and in New Zealand it was first recorded in 1993, having apparently arrived by long-distance dispersal from Australia. The arrival of the wasp led to prolific production of fruits containing many small seeds adapted for dispersal by birds. The Moreton Bay fig has been found growing on both native and introduced trees in New Zealand and in Hawaii. The size and vigour of this fig in New Zealand, and its lack of natural enemies, as well as its immunity to possum browsing, indicate that it may be able to invade forest and other native plant communities.
The Moreton Bay fig has been widely used in public parks in frost-free areas, and was popular with early settlers of Australia.[11] Around the beginning of the 20th century, the director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Joseph Maiden, advocated the planting of street trees, generally uniform rows of the one species. He recommended Moreton Bay figs be spaced at 30 m (100 ft) intervals—far enough to avoid crowding as the trees matured but close enough so that their branches would eventually interlock.[24] Specimens can reach massive proportions, and have thrived in drier climates; impressive specimen trees have been grown in the Waring Gardens in Deniliquin, and in Hay.[25] They can withstand light frosts and can cope with salt-laden spray in coastal situations, and their fruit is beneficial for urban wildlife. However their huge size precludes use in gardens, and their roots are highly invasive and can damage piping and disrupt footpaths and roadways. The vast quantities of crushed fruit can be messy on the ground.[18]
Although their root buttressing is a potential feature, the Moreton Bay fig is poorly suited to bonsai as their large leaves do not reduce much in size and they have long internodal growth.[26] It is can be used as an indoor plant in medium to brightly lit indoor spaces.[27]
The soft light timber has a wavy texture and is used for cases.[4] Aborigines traditionally used the fibres for fishing nets.[4]
§Notable specimens[edit]
Large specimens of Moreton Bay fig trees are found in many parks and properties throughout eastern and north-eastern Australia. The Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney botanical gardens contain numerous specimens planted in the middle of the nineteenth century. These trees are, on average, 30 to 35 metres tall and 40 metres wide. Currently the tallest Moreton Bay fig is found on a cattle farm near Egg Rock in the Numinbah valley of Queensland and measured 49 metres (161 ft) in 2006. At Mount Keira, near Wollongong there is a Moreton Bay fig measured at 58 metres (190 ft) tall.[28] There are many large specimens in New Zealand. A Moreton Bay fig at Pahi on the Kaipara Harbour, Northland, was measured in 1984 as 26.5 metres (87 ft) high and 48.5 metres (159 ft) wide.[29]
Trunk of F. macrophylla at Orto botanico di Palermo, showing buttressed roots
Several large specimens grow in California, United States. The tallest Ficus macrophylla in North America is adjacent to San Diego's Natural History Museum and was planted in 1914. By 1996 it stood 23.7 metres (78 ft) high and 37.4 metres (123 ft) across.[30] The widest Moreton Bay fig in North America is Santa Barbara's Moreton Bay Fig Tree. It was planted in 1876, reportedly by a little girl who was given a seedling by an Australian sailor.[31] It measured 53.6 metres (176 ft) across in 1997. It is still a popular Santa Barbara tourist attraction.[32] Santa Monica resident and US Senator John P. Jones planted a Moreton Bay fig in a corner of his estate in 1889, which became the patio of the Miramar Hotel in 1921.[33] Another large Los Angeles Moreton Bay fig, known as the Aoyama Tree, stands between the Japanese American National Museum and the Temporary Contemporary downtown. It was planted by Buddhist Japanese Americans in the early 20th century.[34]
There is a notable specimen sprawling on steps at the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra, Portugal.[35] Impressive specimens also grow in several parks in Liguria (Bordighera and Sanremo) and in the Orto Botanico in Palermo, Italy, and in some squares in the oldest part of the city.
Two South African specimens, in the Arderne Gardens in Claremont and the Pretoria Zoo respectively, have the widest and second widest canopies of any single-stemmed trees in the country. The Pretoria specimen is 27 metres (89 ft) tall, with a canopy width of 43.1 metres (141 ft).[36]
As the sun sets this old gal's seen better days; with bramble in her plumage and about to lose a feather, it must have been a long one!
As I die
Stare as eyes uphold me
And wait to see right through
And curse me - The love has crippled you
Shadows haunt the night
Burning my disguise
Reaping through the truth
Life becomes untrue
Sin the last diversion
My fate will be untouched
Dismissed now, the anger of a fool
Shadows haunt the night
Forgive me as I die
Taking a chance
And take what you gain
My soul is has no price
Total release is out of harms way
Until I can decide
You punish me, can't you see, I'm not real
Tears are flowing free, passing by, as I die
As I was waiting in my car for somebody, Max was looking out the window and I thought it would make for an interested photograph.
©All photographs on this site are copyright: ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams) 2011 – 2021 & GETTY IMAGES ®
No license is given nor granted in respect of the use of any copyrighted material on this site other than with the express written agreement of ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams). No image may be used as source material for paintings, drawings, sculptures, or any other art form without permission and/or compensation to ©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams)
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AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT CORVUS CORONE
LEGEND AND MYTHOLOGY
Crows appear in the Bible where Noah uses one to search for dry land and to check on the recession of the flood. Crows supposedly saved the prophet, Elijah, from famine and are an Inuit deity. Legend has it that England and its monarchy will end when there are no more crows in the Tower of London. And some believe that the crows went to the Tower attracted by the regular corpses following executions with written accounts of their presence at the executions of Anne Boleyn and Jane Gray.
In Welsh mythology, unfortunately Crows are seen as symbolic of evilness and black magic thanks to many references to witches transforming into crows or ravens and escaping. Indian legend tells of Kakabhusandi, a crow who sits on the branches of a wish-fulfilling tree called Kalpataru and a crow in Ramayana where Lord Rama blessed the crow with the power to foresee future events and communicate with the souls.
In Native American first nation legend the crow is sometimes considered to be something of a trickster, though they are also viewed positively by some tribes as messengers between this world and the next where they carry messages from the living to those deceased, and even carry healing medicines between both worlds. There is a belief that crows can foresee the future. The Klamath tribe in Oregon believe that when we die, we fly up to heaven as a crow. The Crow can also signify wisdom to some tribes who believe crows had the power to talk and were therefore considered to be one of the wisest of birds. Tribes with Crow Clans include the Chippewa (whose Crow Clan and its totem are called Aandeg), the Hopi (whose Crow Clan is called Angwusngyam or Ungwish-wungwa), the Menominee, the Caddo, the Tlingit, and the Pueblo tribes of New Mexico.
The crow features in the Nanissáanah (Ghost dance), popularized by Jerome Crow Dog, a Brulé Lakota sub-chief and warrior born at Horse Stealing Creek in Montana Territory in 1833, the crow symbolizing wisdom and the past, when the crow had became a guide and acted as a pathfinder during hunting. The Ghost dance movement was originally created in 1870 by Wodziwob, or Gray Hair, a prophet and medicine man of the Paiute tribe in an area that became known as Nevada. Ghost dancers wore crow and eagle feathers in their clothes and hair, and the fact that the Crow could talk placed it as one of the sages of the animal kingdom. The five day dances seeking trance,prophecy and exhortations would eventually play a major part in the pathway towards the white man's broken treaties, the infamous battle at Wounded knee and the surrender of Matȟó Wanáȟtaka (Kicking Bear), after officials began to fear the ghost dancers and rituals which seemed to occur prior to battle.
Historically the Vikings are the group who made so many references to the crow, and Ragnarr Loðbrók and his sons used this species in his banner as well as appearances in many flags and coats of arms. Also, it had some kind of association with Odin, one of their main deities. Norse legend tells us that Odin is accompanied by two crows. Hugin, who symbolizes thought, and Munin, who represents a memory. These two crows were sent out each dawn to fly the entire world, returning at breakfast where they informed the Lord of the Nordic gods of everything that went on in their kingdoms. Odin was also referred to as Rafnagud (raven-god). The raven appears in almost every skaldic poem describing warfare.Coins dating back to 940's minted by Olaf Cuaran depict the Viking war standard, the Raven and Viking war banners (Gonfalon) depicted the bird also.
In Scandinavian legends, crows are a representative of the Goddess of Death, known as Valkyrie (from old Norse 'Valkyrja'), one of the group of maidens who served the Norse deity Odin, visiting battlefields and sending him the souls of the slain worthy of a place in Valhalla. Odin ( also called Wodan, Woden, or Wotan), preferred that heroes be killed in battle and that the most valiant of souls be taken to Valhöll, the hall of slain warriors. It is the crow that provides the Valkyries with important information on who should go. In Hindu ceremonies that are associated to ancestors, the crow has an important place in Vedic rituals. They are seen as messengers of death in Indian culture too.
In Germanic legend, Crows are seen as psychonomes, meaning the act of guiding spirits to their final destination, and that the feathers of a crow could cure a victim who had been cursed. And yet, a lone black crow could symbolize impending death, whilst a group symbolizes a lucky omen! Vikings also saw good omens in the crow and would leave offerings of meat as a token.
The crow also has sacred and prophetic meaning within the Celtic civilization, where it stood for flesh ripped off due to combat and Morrighan, the warrior goddess, often appears in Celtic mythology as a raven or crow, or else is found to be in the company of the birds. Crow is sacred to Lugdnum, the Celtic god of creation who gave his name to the city of Lug
In Greek mythology according to Appolodorus, Apollo is supposedly responsible for the black feathers of the crow, turning them forever black from their pristine white original plumage as a punishment after they brought news that Κορωνις (Coronis) a princess of the Thessalian kingdom of Phlegyantis, Apollo's pregnant lover had left him to marry a mortal, Ischys. In one legend, Apollo burned the crows feathers and then burned Coronis to death, in another Coronis herself was turned into a black crow, and another that she was slain by the arrows of Αρτεμις (Artemis - twin to Apollo). Koronis was later set amongst the stars as the constellation Corvus ("the Crow"). Her name means "Curved One" from the Greek word korônis or "Crow" from the word korônê.A similar Muslim legend allegedly tells of Muhammad, founder of Islam and the last prophet sent by God to Earth, who's secret location was given away by a white crow to his seekers, as he hid in caves. The crow shouted 'Ghar Ghar' (Cave, cave) and thus as punishment, Muhammad turned the crow black and cursed it for eternity to utter only one phrase, 'Ghar, ghar). Native Indian legend where the once rainbow coloured crows became forever black after shedding their colourful plumage over the other animals of the world.
In China the Crow is represented in art as a three legged bird on a solar disk, being a creature that helps the sun in its journey. In Japan there are myths of Crow Tengu who were priests who became vain, and turned into this spirit to serve as messengers until they learn the lesson of humility as well as a great Crow who takes part in Shinto creation stories.
In animal spirit guides there are general perceptions of what sightings of numbers of crows actually mean:
1 Crow Meaning: To carry a message from your near one who died recently.
2 Crows Meaning: Two crows sitting near your home signifies some good news is on your way.
3 Crows Meaning: An upcoming wedding in your family.
4 Crows Meaning: Symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
5 Crows Meaning: Diseases or pain.
6 Crows Meaning: A theft in your house!
7 Crows Meaning: Denotes travel or moving from your house.
8 Crows Meaning: Sorrowful events
Crows are generally seen as the symbolism when alive for doom bringing, misfortune and bad omens, and yet a dead crow symbolises potentially bringing good news and positive change to those who see it. This wonderful bird certainly gets a mixed bag of contradictory mythology and legend over the centuries and in modern days is often seen as a bit of a nuisance, attacking and killing the babies of other birds such as Starlings, Pigeons and House Sparrows as well as plucking the eyes out of lambs in the field, being loud and noisy and violently attacking poor victims in a 'crow court'....
There is even a classic horror film called 'THE CROW' released in 1994 by Miramax Films, directed by Alex Proyas and starring Brandon Lee in his final film appearance as Eric Draven, who is revived by a Crow tapping on his gravestone a year after he and his fiancée are murdered in Detroit by a street gang. The crow becomes his guide as he sets out to avenge the murders. The only son of martial arts expert Bruce Lee, Brandon lee suffered fatal injuries on the set of the film when the crew failed to remove the primer from a cartridge that hit Lee in the abdomen with the same force as a normal bullet. Lee died that day, March 31st 1993 aged 28.
The symbolism of the Crow resurrecting the dead star and accompanying him on his quest for revenge was powerful, and in some part based on the history of the carrion crow itself and the original film grossed more than $94 Million dollars with three subsequent sequels following.
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK
So let's move away from legend, mythology and stories passed down from our parents and grandparents and look at these amazing birds in isolation.
Carrion crow are passerines in the family Corvidae a group of Oscine passerine birds including Crows, Ravens, Rooks, Jackdaws, Jays, Magpies, Treepies, Choughs and Nutcrackers. Technically they are classed as Corvids, and the largest of passerine birds. Carrion crows are medium to large in size with rictal bristles and a single moult per year (most passerines moult twice). Carrion crow was one of the many species originally described by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (Carl Von Linne after his ennoblement) in his 1758 and 1759 editions of 'SYSTEMA NATURAE', and it still bears its original name of Corvus corone, derived from the Latin of Corvus, meaning Raven and the Greek κορώνη (korōnē), meaning crow.
Carrion crow are of the Animalia kingdom Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae Genus: Corvus and Species: Corvus corone
Corvus corone can reach 45-47cm in length with a 93-104cm wingspan and weigh between 370-650g. They are protected under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in the United Kingdom with a Green UK conservation status which means they are of least concern with more than 1,000,000 territories. Breeding occurs in April with fledging of the chicks taking around twenty nine days following an incubation period of around twenty days with 3 to 4 eggs being the average norm. They are abundant in the UK apart from Northwest Scotland and Ireland where the Hooded crow (Corvus cornix) was considered the same species until 2002. They have a lifespan of around four years, whilst Crow species can live to the age of Twenty years old, and the oldest known American crow in the wild was almost Thirty years old. The oldest documented captive crow died at age Fifty nine. They are smaller and have a shorter lifespan than the Raven, which again is used as a symbol in history to live life to the full and not waste a moment!
They are often mistaken for the Rook (Corvus frugilegus), a similar bird, though in the UK, the Rook is actually technically smaller than the Carrion crow averaging 44-46cm in length, 81-99cm wingspan and weighing up to 340g. Rooks have white beaks compared to the black beaks of Carrion crow, a more steeply raked ratio from head to beak, and longer straighter beaks as well as a different plumage pattern. There are documented cases in the UK of singular and grouped Rooks attacking and killing Carrion crows in their territory. Rooks nest in colonies unlike Carrion crows. Carrion crows have only a few natural enemies including powerful raptors such as the northern goshawk, the peregrine falcon, the Eurasian eagle-owl and the golden eagle which will all readily hunt them.
Regarded as one of the most intelligent birds, indeed creatures on the planet, studies suggest that Corvids cognitive abilities can rival that of primates such as chimpanzees and gorillas and even provide clues to understanding human intelligence. Crows have relatively large brains for their body size, compared to other animals. Their encephalization quotient (EQ) a ratio of brain to body size, adjusted for size because there isn’t a linear relationship is 4.1. That is remarkably close to chimps at 4.2 whilst humans are 8.1. Corvids also have a very high neuronal density, the number of neurons per gram of brain, factoring in the number of cortical neurons, neuron packing density, interneuronal distance and axonal conduction velocity shows that Corvids score high on this measure as well, with humans scoring the highest.
A corvid's pallium is packed with more neurons than a great ape's. Corvids have demonstrated the ability to use a combination of mental tools such as imagination, and anticipation of future events. They can craft tools from twigs and branches to hook grubs from deep recesses, they can solve puzzles and intricate methods of gaining access to food set by humans., and have even bent pieces of wire into hooks to obtain food. They have been proven to have a higher cognitive ability level than seven year old humans. Communications wise, their repertoire of wraw-wraw's is not fully understood, but the intensity, rhythm, and duration of caws seems to form the basis of a possible language. They also remember the faces of humans who have hindered or hurt them and pass that information on to their offspring.
Aesop's fable of 'The Crow and the Pitcher, tells of a thirsty crow which drops stones into a water pitcher to raise the water level and enable it to take a drink. Scientists have conducted tests to see whether crows really are this intelligent. They placed floating treats in a deep tube and observed the crows indeed dropping dense objects carefully selected into the water until the treat floated within reach. They had the intelligence to pick up, weigh and discount objects that would float in the water, they also did not select ones that were too large for the container.
Pet crows develop a unique call for their owners, in effect actually naming them. They also know to sunbathe for a dose of vitamin D, regularly settling on wooden garden fences, opening their mouths and wings and raising their heads to the sun. In groups they warn of danger and communicate vocally. They store a cache of food for later if in abundance and are clever enough to move it if they feel it has been discovered. They leave markers for their cache. They have even learned to place walnuts and similar hard food items under car tyres at traffic lights as a means of cracking them!
Crows regularly gather around a dead fellow corvid, almost like a funeral, and it is thought they somehow learn from each death. They can even remember human faces for decades.Crows group together to attack larger predators and even steal their food, and they have different dialects in different areas, with the ability to mimic the dialect of the alpha males when they enter their territory!
They have a twenty year life span, the oldest on record reaching the age of Fifty nine. Crows can leave gifts for those who feed them such as buttons or bright shiny objects as a thank you, and they even kiss and make up after an argument, having mated for life.
In mythology they are associated with good and bad luck, being the bringers of omens and even witchcraft and are generally reviled for their attacks on baby birds and small mammals. They have an attack method of to stunning smaller birds before consuming them, tearing violently at smaller, less aggressive birds, which is simply down to the fact that they are so highly intelligent, and also the top of the food chain. Their diet includes over a thousand different items: Dead animals (as their name suggests), invertebrates, grain, as well as stealing eggs and chicks from other birds' nests, worms, insects, fruit, seeds, kitchen scraps. They are highly adaptable when food sources grow scarce. I absolutely love them, they are magnificent, bold, beautiful and incredibly interesting to watch and though at times it is hard to witness attacks made by them, I cannot help but adore them for so many other and more important reasons.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE PAIR IN MY GARDEN
Crows have been in the area for a while, but rarely had strayed into my garden, leaving the Magpies to own the territory. Things changed towards the end of May when a beautiful female Carrion crow appeared and began to take some of the food that I put down for the other birds. Within a few days she began to appear regularly, on occasions stocking up on food, whilst other times placing pieces in the birdbath to soften them. She would stand on the birdbath and eat and drink and come back over the course of the day to eat the softened food.
Shortly afterwards she brought along her mate, a tall and handsome fella, much larger than her who was also very vocal if he felt she was getting a little too close to me. By now I had moved from a seated position from the patio as an observer, to laying on a mat just five feet from the birdbath with my Nikon so that I could photograph the pair as they landed, scavenged and fed. She was now confident enough to let me be very close, and she even tolerated and recognized the clicking of the camera. At first I used silent mode to reduce the noise but this only allowed two shooting frame rates of single frame or continuous low frame which meant I was missing shots. I reverted back to normal continuous high frames and she soon got used to the whirring of the mechanisms as the mirror slapped back and forth.
The big fella would bark orders at her from the safety of the fence or the rear of the garden, whilst she rarely made a sound. That was until one day when in the sweltering heat she kept opening her beak and sunning on the grass, panting slightly in the heat. I placed the circular water sprayer nearby and had it rotating so that the birdbath and grass was bathed in gentle water droplets and she soon came back, landed and seemed to really like the cooling effect on offer. She then climbed onto the birdbath and opened her wings slightly and made some gentle purring, cooing noises....
I swear she was expressing happiness, joy....
On another blisteringly hot day when the sprayer was on, she came down, walked towards it and opened her wings up running into the water spray. Not once, but many times.
A further revelation into the unseen sides to these beautiful birds came with the male and female on the rear garden fence. They sat together, locked beaks like a kiss and then the male took his time gently preening her head feathers and the back of her neck as she made tiny happy sounds. They stayed together like that for several minutes, showing a gentle, softer side to their nature and demonstrating the deep bond between them. Into July and the pair started to bring their three youngsters to my garden, the nippers learning to use the birdbath for bathing and dipping food, the parents attentive as ever. Two of the youngsters headed off once large enough and strong enough.
I was privileged to be in close attendance as the last juvenile was brought down by the pair, taught to take food and then on a night in July, to soar and fly with it's mother in the evening sky as the light faded. She would swoop and twirl, and at regular intervals just touch the juvenile in flight with her wing tip feathers, as if to reassure it that she was close in attendance. What an amazing experience to view. A few days later, the juvenile, though now gaining independence and more than capable of tackling food scraps in the garden, was still on occasions demand feeding from it's mother who was now teaching him to take chicken breast, hotdogs or digestive biscuits and bury them in the garden beds for later delectation. The juvenile also liked to gather up peanuts and bury them in the grass. On one occasion I witnessed a pair of rambunctious Pica Pica (Magpies), chasing the young crow on rooftops, leaping at him no matter how hard he tried to get away. He defended himself well and survived the attacks, much to my relief.
Into August and the last youngster remained with the adults, though now was very independent even though he still spent time with his parents on rooftops, and shared food gathering duties with his mum.Hotdog sausages were their favourite choice, followed by fish fingers and digestive biscuits which the adult male would gather up three at a time. In October, the three Crows were still kings of the area, but my time observing them was pretty much over as I will only put food out now for the birds in the winter months.
Corvus Corone.... magnificently misunderstood by some!
Paul Williams June 4th 2021
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©DESPITE STRAIGHT LINES (Paul Williams)
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Photograph taken at an altitude of Fifty three metres at 15:25pm on a summer afternoon on Tuesday 8th June 2021, of an adult Carrion crow (Corvus corone), standing beside some ground covering Geranium macrorrhizum off Hythe Avenue and Chessington Avenue in Bexleyheath, Kent.
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Nikon D850 Focal length 460mm Shutter speed: 1/800s Aperture f/7.1 iso250 Hand held with Tamron VC Vibration control set to ON in position 1 14 Bit uncompressed RAW NEF file size L (8256 x 5504 pixels) FX (36 x 24) Focus mode: AF-C AF-Area mode: 3D-tracking AF-C Priority Selection: Release. Nikon Back button focusing enabled 3D Tracking watch area: Normal 55 Tracking points Exposure mode: Manual exposure mode Metering mode: Matrix metering White balance on: Auto1 (4600k) Colour space: RGB Picture control: Neutral (Sharpening +2)
Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2. Nikon GP-1 GPS module. Lee SW150 MKII filter holder. Lee SW150 95mm screw in adapter ring. Lee SW150 circular polariser glass filter.Lee SW150 Filters field pouch. Hoodman HEYENRG round eyepiece oversized eyecup.Mcoplus professional MB-D850 multi function battery grip 6960.Two Nikon EN-EL15a batteries (Priority to battery in Battery grip). Black Rapid Curve Breathe strap. My Memory 128GB Class 10 SDXC 80MB/s card. Lowepro Flipside 400 AW camera bag.
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LATITUDE: N 51d 28m 28.35s
LONGITUDE: E 0d 8m 10.48s
ALTITUDE: 54.0m
RAW (TIFF) FILE: 130.00MB NEF FILE: 90.80MB
PROCESSED (JPeg) FILE: 41.40MB
PROCESSING POWER:
Nikon D850 Firmware versions C 1.10 (9/05/2019) LD Distortion Data 2.018 (18/02/20) LF 1.00
HP 110-352na Desktop PC with AMD Quad-Core A6-5200 APU 64Bit processor. Radeon HD8400 graphics. 8 GB DDR3 Memory with 1TB Data storage. 64-bit Windows 10. Verbatim USB 2.0 1TB desktop hard drive. WD My Passport Ultra 1tb USB3 Portable hard drive. Nikon ViewNX-1 64bit Version 1.4.1 (18/02/2020). Nikon Capture NX-D 64bit Version 1.6.2 (18/02/2020). Nikon Picture Control Utility 2 (Version 2.4.5 (18/02/2020). Nikon Transfer 2 Version 2.13.5. Adobe photoshop Elements 8 Version 8.0 64bit.
I took a long nature walk
& enjoyed watching the
sunset as well =)
Wishing you all a
beautiful day/night ~
Hugs & Kisses Always ~♥~
One More Night ~
A sad day as Bromley Garage (TB) had involvement with route 208 for so many years, with some support from Catford Garage (TL). For those interested, 19842 was the last Catford bus to do the 208 as TL44 earlier In the morning. The very last TB bus on route 208 is believed to be 10149. Seen in an afternoon downpour of rain is 10151 on the last day of the old tender.
Photo (c) TomG.2019.
As Rob pointed out the bridge, in the foreground, that leads to Lea Marston Church is the only one that is built in stone along this section of line. 66849 drifts by running 0E66 (someone has a sense of humour) Toton to Bescot.
to me,
the resurrection is as enigmatic
as it is pivotal to the story of christianity.
according to the gospel of matthew,
toward the dawn,
mary mag’dalene goes to the sepulcher.
there is a great earthquake.
an angel descends from heaven,
rolls back the stone and sits on it.
“his appearance was like lightning,
and his raiment white as snow.”
the angel tells mary mag’dalene
that jesus is not there, “for he has risen.”
according to the gospel of mark,
mary mag’dalene goes to the tomb
very early on the first day, at sunrise.
upon arrival,
she sees that the stone has already been rolled back.
she enters the tomb
and is amazed to see “a young man sitting on the right side,
dressed in a white robe.”
he tells her that jesus is not there,
that he “has risen.”
according to the gospel of luke,
mary mag’dalene goes to the tomb
and finds the stone rolled away.
she sees “two men”
who are dressed “in dazzling apparel.”
they ask, “why do you seek the living among the dead?”
according to the gospel of john,
mary mag’dalene goes to the tomb early,
while it is still dark.
she sees that the stone has been taken away.
she leaves and tells the disciples that jesus is not there.
the disciples come
and see for themselves that jesus is not there,
and they go back to their homes.
however, mary mag’dalene remains,
weeping outside the tomb.
as she weeps,
she looks into the tomb and see “two angels in white.”
they ask her why she is weeping.
she turns around and sees jesus standing there,
but she does not know it is jesus.
he too asks her why she is weeping
and whom she is seeking.
she supposes him to be the gardener
and says to him,
“sir, if you have carried him away,
tell me where you have laid him,
and i will take him away.”
jesus calls her name and she recognizes him.
jesus tells her,
“do not hold me,
for i have not yet ascended to the father,
but go to my brethren and say to them,
i am ascending to my father and your father,
to my god and your god.”
tradition has it that mary mag’dalene
was a repentant prostitute
whom jesus saved from stoning
and from whom he cast out seven demons.
she anointed his feet with oil
and wiped his feet with her hair.
she was utterly devoted to jesus.
i know nothing about theology,
and i do not mean to offend anyone’s beliefs,
but i picture her as being completely in love with jesus,
in a human way.
she is there for the crucifixion
~ what could be worse ~
and afterwards,
she is there to care for his battered body.
what greater expression of absolute love could there be?
the disciples come and take a quick look around
and return to their homes,
but mary mag’dalene stays and weeps.
having risen from the dead,
but not yet ascended,
the first word jesus speaks is to mary mag’dalene
and the word is her name.
jesus then tells her not to hold him.
in my mind,
jesus anticipates that her first desire will be to hold him.
what more fundamental expression of humanity could there be
than the desire to hold and to be held?
the most enigmatic aspect of the account
is the fact that mary mag’dalene does not recognize jesus.
given their relationship,
why does she not know it is Jesus?
why can’t she hold him?
what form has jesus taken?
you think,
perhaps he must be some sort of heavenly apparition.
i mean, after all, by the various accounts,
you have an earthquake
and an angel with an appearance like lightning,
with raiment as white as snow.
you have a young man dressed in a white robe.
you have two men in dazzling apparel.
you have two angels in white.
yet, notwithstanding all of the supernatural occurrences,
mary mag’dalene supposes jesus to be the gardener.
what could be more humble,
more human,
more of the earth than a gardener?
what could be more un-supernatural?
for years,
i have pondered mary mag’dalene and jesus there in the tomb
~ all eternity momentarily frozen ~
gazing upon each other;
perhaps that’s the point .
ilford 100 delta
black and white film,
pushed one stop,
on a snowy day
in my backyard,
with a holga.