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I always find it difficult to resist getting a shot of the African Iris (Dietes iridioides). Bok Tower Gardens is located in Lake Wales, Florida.
As I write this, Bok Tower Gardens is undergoing some extensive enhancement to grounds. It is expected to be finished in August of 2016. If you visit before August 2016, cut them some slack. The new grounds are going to be outstanding.
As you stroll the geyser basin near Old Faithful Inn, you come across this peaceful scene on the banks of the Firehole River at Yellowstone National Park.
May be purchased at 17-robert-carter.pixels.com under "Landscapes".
This digital painting is from a roadside lunch break we took while driving to Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
May be purchased at 17-robert-carter.pixels.com under "Yellowstone National Park" . . .
A large area of trees above and around Yellowstone Lake were burned in a wild fire some years ago here in Yellowstone National Park.
I loved Schwabacher's Landing in Grand Teton National Park. The short 1/2-mile trail leads from the parking lot and past several tremendous views, including this beaver dam. This stop is one of the most fantastic places you can visit while in the park.
I am so far behind on processing my photos from everywhere . . . spending too much time shooting and not enough time processing.
The Mingus Mill is located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The water levels are high in the spring.
These two cranes, with a wingspan of 6-7 feet, measure 36-48 inches from beak-tip to tail-tip. They were greeting visitors to Circle Bar B Reserve, a wetland reserve near Lakeland, Florida.
May be purchased at 17-robert-carter.pixels.com under "Grand Teton National Park" . . .
In the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA, just after first-light.
In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you will see this waterfall beside the road . . . the lighting is tricky, maybe even uncooperative . . . good luck.
Available at www.robertcarterphotography.com in 'waterfalls' . . .
This guy was standing next to the parking lot at a pull-out. I stayed in my car for this shot. In the background, you can see the Firehole River and steam from Grand Prismatic Hot Spring.
This guy does not look very large here, but he is much bigger than he appears and deserves a healthy respect for your own safety.
May be purchased at 17-robert-carter.pixels.com under "Grand Teton National Park" . . .
Taken at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, and though the aspens in th distance have lost most of their leaves, the meadow is alive with vibrant color.
The photo was taken in Bay View, Michigan. Note the plastic that is rolled up against the eaves. The plastic can be lowered to provide a shield to the wind.
Available in the Bay View Michigan collection at:
Taken at Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland, Florida.
Always a fine place for a walk, Circle B Bar Reserve often gives up a pleasant surprise. At a small pond area where we usually see herons and egrets hunting, we were surprised to see this Nycticorax nycticorax (Black-Crowned Night-Heron) sitting out on a branch shortly after noon. It made our day. This large stocky bird measures between 23-28 inches (58-70 cm) from beak-tip to tail-tip.
Three of the cars straight out of the movie American Graffiti . . . on display at Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida . . . and what better place to display them than Mel's Drive-In.
May be purchased at 17-robert-carter.pixels.com under "Grand Teton National Park" . . .
Taken at Grand Teton National, Wyoming, USA.
We took several shots at first-light as the sun lit up the top of the mountains, but found them inferior to these taken after the sun was all the way up. I also like the little-noticeable geese flying over the water in this image. Arrive early and make your own determination.
I hope to return to the Tetons in the future in the spring months to see the snow covering the mountains and reflecting across the water.
On the morning we left Yellowstone National Park the weather was overcast and grey. Going toward the south exit, we passed over a bridge and saw Lake Yellowstone on our left. The Sun was streaming through portions of the clouds.
May be purchased at 17-robert-carter.pixels.com under "National Parks" . . .
I just love the Great Smoky Mountains Natonal Park. Many thanks to Michael Orton . . .
When I saw this old abandoned house, I wondered what sort of entries it had in its diary during its existence. Then, when coming upon this lilac bush, I knew one of them was "This morning I watched as Molly planted her lilac bushes out in back of the house . . . "
* * * * *
"The House With Nobody In It"
One of my favorite poems, this piece was written by Joyce Kilmer. Kilmer wrote this poem in 1914 and in April 1917, he enlisted and was deployed to Europe to fight in WWI. He would not survive as he was K.I.A. by a German sniper's bullet on July 30, 1918 in France. He was 32 years old.
"Whenever I walk to Suffern along the Erie track
I go by a poor old farmhouse with its shingles broken and black.
I suppose I’ve passed it a hundred times, but I always stop for a minute
And look at the house, the tragic house, the house with nobody in it.
I never have seen a haunted house, but I hear there are such things;
That they hold the talk of spirits, their mirth and sorrowings.
I know this house isn’t haunted, and I wish it were, I do;
For it wouldn’t be so lonely if it had a ghost or two.
This house on the road to Suffern needs a dozen panes of glass,
And somebody ought to weed the walk and take a scythe to the grass.
It needs new paint and shingles, and the vines should be trimmed and tied;
But what it needs the most of all is some people living inside.
If I had a lot of money and all my debts were paid
I’d put a gang of men to work with brush and saw and spade.
I’d buy that place and fix it up the way it used to be
And I’d find some people who wanted a home and give it to them free.
Now, a new house standing empty, with staring window and door,
Looks idle, perhaps, and foolish, like a hat on its block in the store.
But there’s nothing mournful about it; it cannot be sad and lone
For the lack of something within it that it has never known.
But a house that has done what a house should do, a house that has sheltered life,
That has put its loving wooden arms around a man and his wife.
A house that has echoed a baby’s laugh and held up his stumbling feet,
Is the saddest sight, when it’s left alone, that ever your eyes could meet.
So whenever I go to Suffern along the Erie track
I never go by the empty house without stopping and looking back.
Yet it hurts me to look at the crumbling roof and the shutters fallen apart,
For I can't help thinking the poor old house is a house with a broken heart."
Lilja one of the 5 Thomas Dambo troll sculptures here in Maine at the coastal maine botanical gardens. 125 in the world, 44 in the USA.
He is considered the world’s leading recycled-materials artist.
This Tricolored Heron was found at Circle B Bar Reserve near Lakeland, Florida. Just as with the Great Blue Heron and other birds at this location, I never tire of photographing it. The Tricolored Heron measures about 26 inches from beak-tip to tail-tip. (Egretta tricolor)
The Seney National Wildlife Refuge is little-visited due to its remote location in Michigan's upper peninsula. The dirt loop road winds through the wetland area that is home to a vast variety of wildlife. I would love to visit for multiple days some time, perhaps at an area bed and breakfast, so that we could experience the various lighting conditions throughout the daytime hours. On the day of this photograph, we were returning from another destination and made just a quick stop to drive the loop road. Plan a visit soon after October 1.
Available at www.robertcarterphotography.com . . .
(10312 403 ELHBS OE)
May be purchased at 17-robert-carter.pixels.com under "Landscapes".
Autumn looks different in various sections of the USA. Here we stopped along the road as we drove through Wyoming, USA.
Photo taken at Circle B Bar Reserve (CBBR), Lakeland, Florida. I am often told by a new visitor to this reserve, "There is a big gator back there on the right" . . . when regular visitors know that gators are to be seen for dime a dozen at the reserve. We humans forget to look up because we have no fear of flying predators attacking us. But at CBBR visitors must remember to look upward . . . things are to be seen almost within arms reach. This osprey is just one example. He measures 23-24 inches (58-62 cm) from beak-tip to tail-tip and has a wingspan of 6 feet (183 cm). He hoovers over the water and plunges feet-first for fish.
The Great Egret (Ardea alba) measures 38-39 inches (97-100 cm) from beak-tip to tail-tip. This guy was found at Circle B Bar Reserve (CBBR), a wetland reserve south of Lakeland, Florida.
May be purchased at 17-robert-carter.pixels.com under "Grand Teton National Park" . . .
We have all seen photos of this beautifully designed barn with its fence in the Grand Teton National Park . . . but to be in its very presence is an honor and privilege. What a wonderful setting . . . would love to visit in the spring with the mountains covered in snow.
[Located in Grand Teton National Park, The historic TA Moulton barn is over 100 years old.
Started out of necessity to shelter his horses against the harsh winters of the Tetons and Jackson Hole, Thomas Alma Moulton didn’t know he was building a future landmark to a nation and mecca for photographers to come to. He and his two sons, Clark and Harley worked the land to provide for their families. They worked together along with their neighbors to carve out a meager existance along what was known as Mormon Row. Started in 1913, it took many years for the Grand Teton barn to be in its current form. First built as a square box, later on the peak and one lean to side was added. Later, when more room was needed, the other lean to side was added. This was a functional working barn. It was never intended to be the most photographed barn in America.
Two brothers, Thomas, John filed on their 160 acre homesteads in of 1907. A third brother, Wallace filed a year later. They had learned of the rich soil from other Mormon homesteaders who had filed before them. He first built a small cabin to live in during the summer while working the land and building on his barn. In 1912 Alma and Lucile and baby Clark, moved from Idaho to the homestead into a cabin with a dirt floor and not much more.
Up until 1961, the family worked the ranch to support themselves and help the community survive.] . . . {{{This information taken from www.themoultonbarn.com}}}
(D5 092815 053 ELCHSC)
I have always thought of this house as the perfect house to own to pass out candy on Halloween night . . . cannot say why exactly but maybe it is the orange flower boxes. I understand the Top of Michigan Trail Council is in the process of purchasing the structure for their new headquarters. The raw photograph for this image was taken while out for a bike ride on October 11, 2015.
The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) measures 19-20 inches (48-51 cm) from beak-tip to tail-tip. This guy was found at Circle B Bar Reserve, a wetland reserve near Lakeland, Florida. Also visible in this image is the dormant vegetation still in existence in this part of Florida during early March.
. . . and I do not know that he is angry, but when I look at the face close up, it seemed to have an angry expression.
Taken at the Pinewood Estate at Bok Tower, Lake Wales, Florida. I uploaded the crisp version of this image a few months ago. I enjoyed processing it again to get this effect.
The Pinewood Estate has several 'back' doors and balconies but I found this one to be most interesting.
Strolling through Circle B Bar Reserve, I came across this Limpkin feeding her chick. As usual, mom is trying to make sure junior get plenty of nourishment. Circle B Bar Reserve is a wetland reserve located near Lakeland, Florida.
The Limpkin measures 26 inches (66 cm) from beak-tip to tail-tip and seems to get very little respect or notice from photographers.
May be purchased at 17-robert-carter.pixels.com under "National Parks" . . .
Taken at Everglades National Park, Forida.
May be purchased at www.robertcarterphotography.com under "Grand Teton National Park" . . .
I had been out cutting hay all morning . . . was rather exhausted actually . . . had hay dust everywhere including my eyes. As I rode back to the barn for some lunch, I stopped my team of horses and hopped off the wagon to grab this shot . . . I always have my camera with me in a plastic bag when I am out working.
Alright, alright . . . I may have taken a bit too much poetic license here. The fact is that while at the Grand Tetons National Park the Park Service had a bulldozer parked next to the Moulton Barn . . . it was a totally unfortunate distraction. It forced me to look for different POV's. In this image, the weeds hide the dozer. In the end, I was happy that I found this angle, but unfortunately, I was shooting into a bright sun at about 45-degrees to the left. God willing, I will return to The Grand Teton National Park in the future with more time to spend here. This barn, in its setting, must surely be one of the greatest architectural structures in the world.
[Located in Grand Teton National Park, The historic TA Moulton barn is over 100 years old.
Started out of necessity to shelter his horses against the harsh winters of the Tetons and Jackson Hole, Thomas Alma Moulton didn’t know he was building a future landmark to a nation and mecca for photographers to come to. He and his two sons, Clark and Harley worked the land to provide for their families. They worked together along with their neighbors to carve out a meager existance along what was known as Mormon Row. Started in 1913, it took many years for the Grand Teton barn to be in its current form. First built as a square box, later on the peak and one lean to side was added. Later, when more room was needed, the other lean to side was added. This was a functional working barn. It was never intended to be the most photographed barn in America.
Two brothers, Thomas, John filed on their 160 acre homesteads in of 1907. A third brother, Wallace filed a year later. They had learned of the rich soil from other Mormon homesteaders who had filed before them. He first built a small cabin to live in during the summer while working the land and building on his barn. In 1912 Alma and Lucile and baby Clark, moved from Idaho to the homestead into a cabin with a dirt floor and not much more.
Up until 1961, the family worked the ranch to support themselves and help the community survive.] . . . {{{This information taken from www.themoultonbarn.com}}}
This was one of my Dad's memorable tools in raising my sister and me. We were so fortunate to have been very blessed by him.
As we strolled Mackinac Island, I saw this bouquet hanging from a lamp post . . . and my Photostream could use some more color.
This image was explored.
Visiting Joshua Tree National Park, you will come across many dead Joshua Trees throughout the landscape. This one was near a young Joshua Tree beginning its life. For us mid-westerners the heat at the time of this image was intense at about 117 Degrees.
May be purchased at 17-robert-carter.pixels.com under "National Parks" . . .
I'm whispering in a very low voice . . . I saw these deer around the curve as I walked along Sparks Lanes in Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee.
My thanks to Michael Orton . . .
When we visited Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, we were stunned by the crowds . . . yes, we knew it would be busy, but it was beyond that. I found it difficult to get a clear photograph of just about everything. I felt quite fortunate when I came across this view of the castle sitting above the creek through the black forest . . . and no people. I later hiked up the creek bed to get a shot looking straight up at the castle. It will be uploaded in a few months.
I attempted to get the Anhinga to turn around and smile, but no luck. I am zoomed all the way out for this shot at Circle B Bar Reserve, Lakeland, Florida.
The Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) is sometimes referred to as the Snake Bird because when it swims through the water with its head above the surface it looks just like a snake swimming along. The Anhinga measures about 34-35 inches (86-89 cm) from beak-tip to tail-tip.
This picture was taken at Circle B Bar Reserve south of Lakeland, Florida. The reserve contains a vast wetland area that is home to birds, bobcats, wild pigs, otter, gators, and on and on. Best of all, it is FREE.
Resurrection Fern can be seen along the tree branch. This fern appears dead, but when it rains it will burst to a vibrant green.