The Conservatory Flowers

It's been awhile since I have posted on here, as life sometimes has a way of changing our plans when we are busy doing something else. I just wanted to post some beautiful flowers I saw at the conservatory in Detroit as few months ago. So here they are, as they did not disappoint.


Happy Easter

Crimson Spikes

Scarlet Vein Lace

Bittersweet Whip

Dreamy Bubblegum Gerbera

Now that it's officially Spring, I've got the itch to go outside and see all of the changes in nature that will be taking place soon. It's still unusually cold here in Detroit, but I am optimistic that we will get warmer weather soon. Meanwhile, here is a beautiful Gerbera flower to remind me that there is much more to come, along with the warmer weather. Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!

Detroit & Play Ball!

Yesterday was the first game of the Detroit Tigers Season Home-opener! The people of Detroit love the Detroit Tigers and treat opening day like an actual holiday. Yesterday was especially nice for the fans because the sun was shining, the weather was beautiful, and most of all, the Tigers won the game against Kansas City. Here is a photo of the front entrance to Comerica Park where the Tigers play all of their home games.

This next photo is a view of the Detroit skyline from the Detroit River. I made this photo a monochrome because I think it added a good symmetry to the GM Headquarters building which is chrome and mirrors. Hope you enjoy!

Making History

On Friday 3/21/14, shortly around 5 PM, Michigan became the 18th state in the country to legalize same sex marriage. A Federal Judge revealed his ruling that overturned the ban on same sex marriage, which had stood since 2004. On Saturday morning, several county clerk's offices around the state, opened their offices to accept applications for marriage licenses, and by 8:10am, the first legally same sex couple was married in the state of Michigan. In total, there were over 150 same sex marriage ceremonies performed yesterday. This is definitely history in the making! This is a photo taken a few weeks ago during the trial, at the federal courthouse, in downtown Detroit. There were picketers outside the courthouse each day that the trial was in progress. The trial started out as an equal rights trial for same sex parents and their children, to be recognized as a family, be entitled to health insurance as a family, etc. As of 5 pm yesterday, a stay was issued on the ruling, and now there is a halt to same sex marriages until a judge hears an appeal later this week. Stay tuned!

Beauty of Old

Recently, I had a chance to visit the oldest Conservatory in the USA, which unknown to me at the time was right in my backyard. Ok, not literally in my backyard, but about 10 miles away in Downtown Detroit. I was looking for something to do with my Mom on yet another unbelievably cold day, so I decided to take her for a ride around Belle Isle. Belle Isle is an island park which is connected to the city, by way of a 19 arch bridge that spans across the Detroit River. We were driving around the vast island park, and came upon the Conservatory. I was happy to find somewhere warm and indoors to take my Mom. We went inside, and it was absolutely beautiful! The Conservatory contains exotic plants and flowers from all over the world. There were not as many flowers because of the time of year, but what we did see was beautiful! Here is a photo of the outside of the Conservatory, and I will post more of the inside soon. Enjoy!

Tangerine Dreams

I got my first point and shoot camera about 10 years ago. I always had an interest in photography, but my lover affair with photography began with that first P&S camera. I have a few of my photos from that camera that are still in my top favorites of photos that I have taken over the years. "Tangerine Dreams" is one of those photos. I took this photo on a visit to Naples, Florida, from the 5th floor of our hotel balcony. The sunset with the sailboat just cruising on the water made it a scene that will always be a souvenir in my mind, of that wonderful trip!

I'll Follow The Sun

Celebrating the fact that we are having a heat wave here in Michigan. The temperature has been 25 degrees for two straight days now! I'm being optimistic that the record-breaking cold is gone for the season, maybe just wishful thinking....Here is a photo that I took last Summer, where the flowers are growing towards, and basking in full sunlight. It warms me inside just thinking that Spring is right around the corner! So, TGIF, Happy Valentine's Day, and enjoy your weekend everyone!

Desolation

Staying inside as much as possible, as it is still freezing cold here in Michigan. This morning is is -5 degrees outside. I know Spring is right around the corner, and I can't wait! I did manage to go out a few times and snap some photos of the freezing cold conditions. Right now most all of the Great Lakes are at least 60%-90% frozen depending on location. This photo is one of Lake St Clair, which flows into Lake Huron a few miles down the road. I called this one "Desolation", because there is no living thing in sight here, not even a bird. It was so cold this day, that the kids deserted the hockey nets, probably in favor of some warmth and hot chocolate. Have a great day everyone!

Embracing Unchangeable

Well, it does not look like the cold weather is going away anytime soon. As I am writing this, it is actually -9 degrees outside. Schools are closed once again, etc. I cannot ever remember a colder winter in my life. The kind of cold that actually takes your breath away, and can cause frostbite in minutes if your not properly covered in the cold elements. I decided to actually take myself outside with my camera because I am going stir-crazy with cabin fever. I didn't go far, just outside my front door. Did I mention, it showed all weekend too? Here is a little photo of me trying to embrace what I cannot change, the winter's bitter cold! I am looking forward to the weekend when the temperatures will be in the 20's. I think it will actually feel like a heat-wave in comparison to the temperatures we have had in January. So everyone, enjoy the day, and please keep warm!

Brash & Polar Vortex

With our record-breaking cold temperatures (Polar Vortex) this winter in Michigan, it has created problems on our international waterways. These waterways have shipping channels which let freighters travel between the upper and lower great lakes. One of the main waterways, which is the St.Clair River, has frozen solid and creating what is called as "Brash", making the waterway un-passable due to the solid ice formations. The Coast Guard and ice-breaking boats have to come in, and cut the ice, making the water passable for cargo vessels. So far, the crews have been working for at least a month on removing the Brash ice for passage on the water. Brash ice is actually broken ice, which is makes it harder for the cutter ships to navigate a path for the cargo vessels. This is the same river I wrote about in a post last week, entitled "Winter Inspiration" which shows the river in a totally different state about a year ago. I have never seen the river frozen solid, and was sure surprised when I took a ride a few days ago just to see the water. I was greeted with large chunks of ice as far as the eye can see. I'm still amazed, every time I see something new and amazing that has been created by nature! Here is a photo of the "Brash" that was created by the so-called Polar Vortex! Enjoy!

Spring Dreaming!

Driving on the roads yesterday, I was wishing that I was that person who loves winter. Sadly, I am not that person. I miss the sun, the warmth, and the magic of new life growing from the ground that Spring brings. So, while I play dodge the potholes with my car, look at the now dirty black snow, and the clouds in the sky, I will keep counting the days until Spring. :)

Winter Inspiration

Living in Michigan, I am surrounded by water. I live on the east side of the state where Lake Erie connects to the Detroit River, which connects to Lake St. Clair, which connects to the St. Clair River, which then connects to Lake Huron. That is a lot of water on the east shores of Michigan. This photo is a view of the St. Clair River on a cold winter day. The St. Clair River is a large passage-way for freighters that can travel along all of these lakes and the St. Clair River. The St. Clair River is also a ferry-passage for vehicles to, and from Canada, which is just across the river. The day I took this photo, it was extremely cold outside, I had no gloves with me, my fingers were frozen, but I knew I had to at least take a few photos of what looked like a true winter scene on the river. Hope you like it!

Diamonds Hiding in the Snow

I have been stuck inside for the last two weeks due to being sick. I am hoping to venture out later today now that it is a little warmer outside. Who would have thought that 20 degrees would be a heat wave! While, I was stuck inside, I managed to go out on my porch one afternoon when I saw these tiny little branches hidden in an otherwise snow covered bush next to my front porch. Beautiful little drops of water on the tiny branch shot up-close, created an abstract/bokeh type of effect on the snowy background. Happy Friday!

Inviting Warmth!

Happy New Year to everyone! I am hoping that 2014 brings joy and happiness to people everywhere. In Michigan, it seems to be the coldest I remember in decades! It is actually -13 degrees outside right this moment. That is on top of the 12-15" of snow we received in the last two days. I wonder if people in Alaska live like this all year round. Since it is so cold, I thought that this photo would invite us to feel warm and fuzzy inside. If not, there is always marshmallows to roast! Stay warm wherever you are.

Possibilities

Downtown Detroit is home to many things, one of which is quite a few really old churches. The architecture of the old churches is beautiful. Eventually, I would like to photograph all of the ones in the downtown area and post them so others can enjoy the beautiful architecture of the buildings that have stood through the test of time. When you enter into one of the churches, that's where "Possibilities" are endless. Faith, love, hope, etc. are all part of the magic that can happen inside of a church. All it takes is for one person to believe. This photo was taken earlier this year. It sits on one of the main roads in downtown Detroit, right next to Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers), and across the street from Hockeytown Cafe (Detroit Red Wings). Since it is the Christmas season, it seemed like a perfect time to post this photo, and think about the "Possibilities." Hope you enjoy!

Puddle Jumping!

I was looking through my many photos, and I came across this one that I have always liked for some reason. I took this last year in Florida, on one of the many shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It was near night, which always brings in the tide. In this photo, the tide would wash out and take large amounts of sand with it, creating several pockets of holes in the sand. Then when the tide rolled back in a few seconds later, the large amounts of sand would wash back up on the shore with the tide. This is one of those photos where you can actually see the sand rolling back to the shore. Hope you enjoy!

Bridging the Gap

This is another fall photo taken at one of the parks I frequent all year-round. I loved the look of this scene because of the many colors that were on display for fall. The bridge goes over the man-made lake that has fountains sprouting through it in the summer. Even in the winter, when the fountains are off for the season, I always find something interesting here to photograph. Hope you enjoy!

Washed Away

It seems like when the Fall season starts, time changes in preparation for Winter. This particular Fall seems like it is going by much faster than I can ever remember. I went back to the cider mill for the last time this fall, and was really surprised as most of the trees are already close to bare. It was cold and windy, so the river was flowing pretty fast that day. While I stood there watching the river, I saw a fair amount of leaves being "Washed Away" down the path of the river's current. In this photo, there is a clump of leaves that got stuck on a rock, and had not yet been washed away. Enjoy!

Through the Path of Colors

Fall is a special time of year in Michigan, where everything changes in preparation for Winter. The air outside is crisp and fresh, the leaves on the trees change from green to golden yellows, oranges and reds, just before falling off and covering the ground with a great deal of leaves that crunch under your feet as you walk the ground around you. This is a photo I took in the park a few days ago as the winding path was a backdrop of gorgeous fall colors!

Fall-The Last Sail!

I've been to about 5 different parks in the last two weeks, just to go see all of the beautiful fall colors! Each park has something different as far as the colors go. There is a great variety of colors at each park. Some of the parks have water, as they are my favorite kind of parks. This one, I took a few days ago just sitting in front of the Coast Guard Station at one of the marinas. It was extremely cloudy outside, but the sun was still shining. This lonely sailboat caught my eye, as it appears to be the last boat in the water. The colors of the trees around the area of the boat, created a pretty photo. Hope you like it!