Trees of Julington Durbin Preserve

Looking at the tree tops today. Sun was just coming up and lit up the branches. I really like the crisp outlines against the blue sky in the mornings. I'll have to work some pastels up out of these.

The first one I was struck by the downward curve on the limbs on the bottom half of the tree. Why do they grow like that? I love the curves, whatever the reason.

The next one I really liked the wrought iron curly cues on the branches.

The last one I liked because it just looks like a fractal.

Marching onward

I have stopped running through the woods anymore. My knee has suddenly grown old and tired and refuses to put up with that kind of behavior. Now, me and the dog, we march. Quick-step, arms flying forward and back (except when my companion stops to pee or poop or sniff something, which is pretty often, and then my leash hand stays behind me and doesn't resume the fro-ing until Miss Daisy catches up again), striding forward through tall grass (don't they mow here anymore?) and muddy bogs, I look ridiculous I think. This kind of walking looks out of place here, I am sure. This poor turkey gaped at me for a full minute and a half before turning and quickly striding off into the woods, exactly as though he was afraid to be associated with such an odd person.

 But the wildflowers didn't mind at all.

 Nor did the crooked tree.

 The dew ignored me.

And this baby toad just hoped I wouldn't step on him. So I didn't and took a picture instead.

Find the toad!

The past few weeks there has been a hatching of tiny toads out in the woods. They hop and bounce all over the trail and I dance and skip to avoid stepping on them. Finally decided I was a force of nature and quit worrying about it. The dirt is soft and my shoes have many, many toad friendly depressions in them. I took some pictures this morning and when I got them off my camera realized that I had a hidden picture game here. So, find the toad! If you need a hint, email me and I'll tell you right where to look.

Waiting for the dog

Sometimes, when you're waiting for the dog to finish whatever it is she's doing, you look up and there's a nice picture waiting to be taken.

Morning is best

Have I mentioned that I love walking in the woods in the morning? If I have, pardon me for repeating myself, but it's true. I hear birds singing and fluttering in the saw palmettos. The noise of early morning traffic is muffled by the trees, like distant surf. I especially love it when it's foggy out. The dog gets spooked and hangs back instead of tugging ahead on her leash. Multiple layers of trees and grasses, in greens and browns and blacks loom out at me and then, as they recede into the mist, become gray ghosts. When you look up, the sky is bright blue with pink clouds all across it, like cotton candy.

Moon is up

I love this time of year and this time of morning. The sun is just hitting the tops of the trees and the moon is still out. Just me and the dog and the birds and other, hidden critters. It's lovely and crisp and quiet.

Day of the grasshoppers

Walking out in the preserve today I noticed all these grasshoppers clinging to grass stalks and the blades on the saw palmetto plants. They sat still very nicely for pictures. I suspect they couldn't move even if they wanted to, it was so cold out there this morning and they were covered with dew. I got to thinking about why they'd hang out like that overnight and thought maybe it had to do with where the sun hits first in the morning. Maybe the sun warms them up more quickly when they're out in the open like that, but then the obvious drawback is you're like breakfast on a stick for the birds.

Transitions

This is how it is walking in the mornings. It's dark at the beginning, and then by the time you come around to where you started, the sun is up and you have a new perspective. You've talked yourself right out of whatever you thought was impossible when you woke up. Of course, it works the other way, too.

Almost green

I made this extra large because I love the almost green color in the sky behind the clouds and though you might like it, too.

My favorite thing

It was so cold out in the woods this morning, I had a hard time hanging onto the camera. My fingertips hurt, my nose was running and it was dark, besides. But then the dog and I walked around a curve and saw light coming through the trees, cutting through the cold fog. It was sweet. But tomorrow, I'm wearing my hoodie and gloves.