joki.de/just-to-get-a-glimpse-beyond-the-illusion

3240 State Forest Road

Jonesboro IL

Union County

Photo taken on January 13, 2021

A stonewall lined stream constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. A spigot of water in the stream helps create a pastoral scene with a large white barn in the background brightened by the evening sunshine. The barn now serves as a visitor center with brochures and maps available.

pixels.com/featured/white-barn-at-trail-of-tears-state-fo...

Halle Belgium

This seasonal creek runs again. The fallen leaves and bare branched trees provide the setting.

Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve

2280 Piney Creek Road

Campbell Hill IL

Photo taken on November 27, 2020

Great River Road Series

Love the feel of the forest by a small stream flowing over a solid rock floor. Leaves cluttering the banks, they haven’t been here long, still crisp and still have color giving the floor a twinkling of light that catches the falling sunlight here and there. The green moss too is reactive to the low sun. Some greens are bright and colorful, while the shaded greens are dull and almost brown. Providing contrast to allow the bright greens the spotlight for the moment.

Mingo National Wildlife Preserve

Puxico Missouri

Stoddard County

Photo taken on November 20, 2020

Cypress knees hold a special place in my vision of the world. After years of trying to find out just why a cypress tree have knees our scientist have shrugged their shoulder. They don’t know. They have knees for a reason, but we won’t find it with test tubes and microscopes.

pixels.com/featured/the-mystery-of-cypress-knees-larry-br...

General Watkins Conservation Area

Benton Missouri

Scott County

Photo taken on January 12, 2021

American Beech trees (Fagus Grandifolia) often display some of the most intricate root systems. Most trees hide their roots deep underground, but the beach allows us to peak into how it grabs into the ground like a giant hand with many fingers clutching the earth giving it life.

Castor River Shut-Ins

Fredericktown Missouri

Madison County

Photo taken on November 24, 2020

When water wants to flow through a hard rock wall something has to give. The rock wall will laugh at the water, “you’re nothing, you have no form, you have no resistance. I’m strong and rigid, you will not harm me.” But the water keeps coming, and coming, building up a force that can only be held back for so long. When it comes it comes, taking the hard rock with it. Breaking it up into little stones that sit in the stream waiting their turn to be washed away to the sea.

pixels.com/featured/something-has-to-give-larry-braun.html

Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve

2280 Piney Creek Road

Campbell Hill IL

Photo taken on November 27, 2020

Great River Road Series

Sometimes the sunlight will sneak in through a canyon opening and illuminate a few large rocks here and there. Creating specs of glowing moss covered rocks, leaving others hidden in the silent shadows.

pixels.com/featured/silent-shadows-larry-braun.html?newar...

Lake Kinkaid

Murphysboro IL

Jackson County

Photo Taken on December 28, 2020

Energy always attracts notice. Cars racing, planes flying, a thunder storm, and water dropping elevation quickly. Take away energy from the photo pool and you're left with hummingbirds flowers and sunsets.

pixels.com/featured/lake-kinkaid-spillway-larry-braun.htm...

Castor River Shut-Ins

Fredericktown Missouri

Madison County

Photo taken on November 24, 2020

Some people call this pink rock, because of the color of the granite stones standing in the stream bed. In this day and time when everything is pinking up, this shut-ins is trendy... today.

maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mindful%20Cove/153/149/29

For me, the Heart Gardens Queen Anne's Lace is the star of this picture. They are 17 years and going strong in SL. Mindful Cove is the perfect setting for forest bathing.

那時，一個回眸，就會被這不經意的角度給震懾許久~

因此就算是站在這窄小而濕漉漉的棧道上，也希望捕捉下她曼妙的倩影~

日本山形 &宮城 ，奥羽山脈，面白山紅葉川溪谷~

Omoshiroyama River Valley , Yamagata & Miyagi~

Holly Ridge Conservation Area

Bloomfield Missouri

Photo Taken on December 14. 2020

An unexpected bridge on a hike. I like bridges, they ease the crossing of creeks and streams. Provide a place to stop and gather my thoughts. I look up and down this passive stream. Today its quiet and reflective. Tomorrow after a rain it could be noisy and swift.

pixels.com/featured/bridge-at-holly-ridge-conservation-ar...

Little Grand Canyon

Pomona Illinois

Jackson County

Photo taken on January 3, 2020

Layers of rigid rocks

Forms an enormous river bluff

Littered with amber leaves

A path takes us to the edge

A peek inside the numerous caves to see

The upside down bats hanging out with friends

pixels.com/featured/layers-of-rigid-rock-larry-braun.html

Salvador Dali is quoted as saying, “have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.” That's certainly true of this image - the sharpness is off, depth of field too shallow, and that grey post on the left intrudes on the scene. That said, something made me turn around and bring up my camera for a quick shot. Perhaps it was the depth created by the light and the curvy path. Looking at it again in hindsight, I still find it visually appealing and remember the experience of that moment.

Tywappitty Lake

Chaffee Missouri

Scott County

Photo taken on November 17, 2020

Friendly fern growing at the foot of a tall tree. A fresh fall of leaves protect its leaves from the cold of the approaching winter.

Tywappity Lake

Chaffee Missouri

Scott County

Photo Taken on November 7, 2020

When yellow leaves are illuminated by a setting sun, we see gold. Nobody owns this gold, its free for the looking. No need to take it with you it will only last while the sunshines on it. Once you try to posses it, it's gone, like dreams of more more more.

Beech Tree Trail

Morris State Park

Hwy. WW

Campbell, MO

Photo taken On November 12, 2020

A fallen log lays in random pieces on the forest floor. Once a mighty structure, once reaching for the sky, once a place for birds to perch. Now distraught, now returning to the earth, providing nutrients for the next generation.

怎麼辦，已經沒哏到只能取這個芭樂標題了.............

TGIF，祝大家，有個愉快的周休假期.............

日本青森県，十和田市，大字奥瀬，蔦七沼，月沼~

Tsuki-numa , Tsuta marsh, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, Japan~

Buttermilk Hill Trail

Kinkade Lake

Shawnee National Forest

Murphysboro Illinois

Photo taken on January 26, 2021

The lake is gloomy today, with the winter sky, rumpled waves and dead leaves projecting from the bare branches. The horizon is interrupted by advancing ridges that aspire to meet in the middle. A distant bank of trees fill in the gap on a far hill.

pixels.com/featured/a-view-of-lake-kinkade-looking-south-...

First quick edit from one of the pics I´ve taken this morning.

Lake Kinkaid

Murphysboro IL

Jackson County

Photo Taken on December 28, 2020

Clouds have gathered to catch the last rays of sunshine. The ridges poke out the banks and the surface of the water is calm just like the winter evening.

When we are at one with Nature, we are at one with humanity - AP

Forest Bathing

Deep in the forest

I am no-one

If I exist at all

I am but a single breath

A wisp of cloud

I float

Each breath I take

Is a prayer

A silent meditation

I am without consciousness

I am the leaves in the trees

The roots in the earth

I am the ancient bark

That needs no sound

Here in the silence

I am no-one

Yet I am all

A conundrum

I need only to let go

Of self

Of ego

I bathe in the forest

And I am reborn

Kon'nichiwa

Shinrin-yoku

I am you

And you are me

We are one

And we are free.

- AP

Shinrin-yoku - The Art and Science of Forest Bathing by Dr Qing Li

On forest air

"As well as having a higher concentration of oxygen, the air in the forest is also full of phytoncides. Phytoncides are the natural oils within a plant and are part of the tree's defence system. Trees release phytoncides to protect them from bacteria, insects and fungi.

They are also part of the communication pathway between trees; the way trees talk to each other.

There is also a substance in the soil that we breathe in when we walk in the forest ... a common and harmless bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae." (This stimulates the immune system and our emotions)

© 2026 Poppy Cocqué. All rights reserved.

Halle Belgium

用一種漫不經心的態度，在滿山的楓紅之上，飄浮而過吧~

現在發現，西化頗深的日本，不論是山谷，山脈，高原等知名景點，都有纜車的存在，而lift以及滑雪場，也幾乎是標準配備了~

因此懼高症也在歷經了這麼豐富的交通工具訓練下，變得比較不會腿軟了~(苦笑)

繼續傾銷庫存中~(掩面)

日本山形縣，藏王，蔵王中央ロープウェイ~

Zao, Yamagata, Japan ~

With a prolonged stretch of unseasonably wet grey weather, I can't say I've been inspired to be outside with my camera very much. However, cooler weather seems to be settling in and we even have snow again. All that pristine whiteness makes it such a joy to get out of the house. In this trail mix, two routes were combined into one and the colorful markers caught my eye.

Quetil Trail

Alto Pass Illinois

Photo taken on January 22, 2021

A view along the Quetil Trail, a rail to trail hiking trail in Alto Pass Illinois. Large sandstone outcrops on the left with a valley on the right makes this a wonderful place to take an afternoon stroll. The trail is mostly level and wide, a great place to hike for all skill levels.

補上班日，是一定要有這麼認真的禮拜六就是了~

只能假想自己，是坐在穿過滿山秋意的公車中開心上班去了~

日本長野県，志賀高原リゾートエリア，橫手山ドライブイン ~

Hirao, Yamanouchi, Shiga-kogen Highlands

National Park, Shimotakai District, Nagano, Japan ~

復習一下:

橫手山（よこてやま）標高2,307m。是構成上信越高原國立公園一部份的志賀高原其中的一座山，數第二高峰。在山頂上設置有展望台，天氣好的時候可以遙望到富士山與北阿爾卑斯、佐渡島等。

Tywappitty Lake

Chaffee Missouri

Scott County

Photo taken on November 17, 2020

Some leaves linger on. Stubborn, they find it difficult to leave the clutching branches that keep them elevated above the gathering of last years harvest.

藏王的天氣變化也好快~昨夜還是傾盆的大雨，早上的湖畔已是迷霧一片~寧靜中還可以聽見遠方傳來的空山鳥語~

似乎正催促著旅人，該前往下個目的地了~

@日本山形縣，藏王，藏王溫泉區，盃湖 ~

@Sakazuki Mizūmi, Zaōonsen

Yamagata-shi, Yamagata-ken~

醉意染紅山丘，整個平床公路就像在畫中一樣，行駛在其中，只要輕踩油門，兩旁的色彩就如同熟成的酒釀，溶化到心裡........................

日本長野県，下高井郡，山ノ内町，志賀高原，平床 ヒラトコ ダイフンセン~

Hiratoko daifunsen, Shiga-kogen Highlands

National Park, Honshū, Japan ~

Cache River State Natural Area

930 Sunflower Ln

Belknap Il

Photo Taken on December 8, 2020

A fallen log covered by cypress needles. Dropping sun illuminates the needles to a glow, long shadows across the duck weed. Thousands of long lean trees poke out of the pond water reaching for the sky. Leaves left on the trees glisten in the evening sunlight.

pixels.com/featured/fallen-log-in-the-swamp-larry-braun.h...

Heron Pond

Cache River State Natural Area

930 Sunflower Ln

Belknap Il

Photo Taken on November 27, 2020

Colorful late leaves float flat on top a layer of duckweed.

pixels.com/featured/colorful-leaves-larry-braun.html?newa...

Lake Kinkaid

Murphysboro IL

Jackson County

Photo Taken on December 28, 2020

Energy always attracts notice. Cars racing, planes flying, a thunder storm, and water dropping elevation quickly. Take away energy from the photo pool and you're left with hummingbirds flowers and sunsets.

県道66号的另一個賣點就是，遠方那坨看起來像饅頭的中倉山了，雖然山勢看起來很嬌小，卻很和諧的，與週遭的牧場，公路以及各色各樣的植披融為一體，難怪，一路都會聽到停不下來的快門聲~XD

真的有夠冷滴~(掩面)第一次感受到睡覺睡得很用力的踏實感! (什麼道裡啦~)

日本長野県, 上信越高原国立公園, 志賀高原, 下高井郡山ノ内町, 県道66号豊野南志賀公園線~

Jōshin'etsu-kōgen National Park, Honshū, Japan ~

for r e s t

If you've never found yourself in old growth forest with trees that are hundreds - if not thousands - of years old, do yourself a favor and seek them out. To stand among giants that stood quietly through modern history makes one feel rather insignificant in the grand scheme of things. We stood on the trail for some time just to take it all in. Thankfully, I believe the province has recently taken steps to protect this grove from the loggers chainsaw.

If you'd like to know more about old growth forests or want more information, check out: ancientforestalliance.org/ Be sure to check out the incredible (if not heart breaking) photographs of TJ Watt: ancientforestalliance.org/photos-media/big-lonely-doug-an...

In this image, I could not capture the height of the tree with my widest lens but wanted to convey its size relative to Lynn. Happy Treemendous Tuesday!

Or maybe it was leaf-bathing 😁

forest bathing

I love those beech forests.

Caused to the last hot summers even these trees are injured, sunburned with damages in the bark. We will see what the future brings.

Green Moss on a Free Flowing Creek.

Lake Kinkaid

Murphysboro IL

Jackson County

Photo Taken on December 28, 2020

A small stream flowing down a side canyon through the sandstone bedrock. What a pleasant color to decorate the winter with. After the leaves have turned brown, and the flowers have faded into dried stems, moss is still a vibrant green.

pixels.com/featured/green-moss-on-a-free-flowing-stream-l...

Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve

2280 Piney Creek Road

Campbell Hill IL

Photo taken on November 27, 2020

Great River Road Series

A rather large boulder left in the stream bed. Probably rolled down from the weathered sides of the stream. This is called a ravine, which is a narrow steep sided valley commonly eroded by running water. These steep banks provide opportunity for eroded rocks to roll down to the bottom and create an interesting site for the eyes to feast. We know it hasn’t rolled for awhile because it has moss growing on its surface, almost glowing.

Not every day is full of sunshine and roses. Weather wise, this one was no exception - but it didn't rain, there was a wonderful sense of stillness, and most of the other campers in this provincial park were at the beach one lake over. That suited us just fine!