Amber colored water
Swamp and peat soil
Leached organic acids
Bowl shaped and shallow (maximum depth six feet), the large Drummond Lake (3,142 acres) becomes very rough and treacherous in strong winds.
“Local geology reveals a complex series of marine, barrier, and lagoonal sediments, indicating as many as five transgressions, all possibly occurring during the Sangamon interglacial time period.” – Donald R. Whitehead
Full bloom
Early spring
Ornamental
One hard rain and they are gone.
“But then, as she knew too well, the more fondly we imagine something will last forever, the more ephemeral it often proves to be.” – Iain M. Banks
Invasive species
Winter berries
Contain cyanide
Some photographic results are surprising concordant given the relatively nondescript location of the venue.
“They’re rhizomatous, meaning they reproduce vegetatively from their roots (as well as by seed). This results in dense thickets of bush that can replace native plant communities in the yard or landscape.” – Sarah Logie
Cinnamon plumage
White eyebrow stripe
Upward-cocked tail
Members of a pair-bond move around together in their territory year-round.
“Bird songs are a complex vocal signal that functions in a reproductive context to attract mates and defend territories.” -Rebecca Clapp
Flower spires
Leatherleaf
Unusual interest
The Mahonia features many unique structural components.
“This shrub has clusters of fragrant flowers that bloom in late winter and by summer will mature into small fruits that birds love to eat.” -Rebecca Clapp
Early morning
Close to home
Harbinger
Looking up from my driveway while waiting for a ride, the world offers an anticipatory sign of what is to come.
“Our wishes are presentiments of the abilities that lie in us, harbingers of what we will be able to accomplish.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Root structure
Earthen materials
Worn away
Where a river meets a bay, turbulent fluid dynamics are relatively intense.
“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” – John C. Maxwell
River bed
Steep gradient
Velocity turbulence
Here the river becomes shallower and faster with the bed material resistant to erosive power.
“Life is like the river, sometimes it sweeps you gently along and sometimes the rapids come out of nowhere.” – Emma Smith
Soil erosion
Surface Roots
Nonlinear network
Damaging these roots can adversely affect the health of the associated tree.
“Heavy, poorly-drained or compacted soil encourages shallower root growth. Each year a tree’s roots get thicker, just like the trunk does, and eventually they can break the surface and be visible.” – Diana Alfuth
Short tail
Powerful bill
Strong feet
They will often wedge a found food item into a crevice and peck at it with their strong beak.
“The chickadee and nuthatch are more inspiring society than statesmen and philosophers, and we shall return to these last as to more vulgar companions. “ – Henry David Thoreau