Natural Light

Evening sun through denuded cottonwood trees, in the valley between the cliffs of Indian Creek.  A break from pictures of climbers.

Decay! Decay! Decaaaay!

Insects making quick work of late-season wildflowers, on the flanks of Mt. Hood.

The title, of course, comes from that seminal work of the postmodern era, Strindberg and Helium. Seriously, you should probably go watch it.  Let it bring...some...joy to the long, boring walk...through the shadowland of memory.

Extremophilic!

Meanwhile, I was taking in the therms at Yellowstone.  Its quite a bizarre place, but beautiful.  This is the Grand Prismatic Spring, and grand indeed it is.  The physiology/biology of the extremophiles that color these boiling pools is difficult to believe, to comprehend.  Life finds a way.

Bonsai

Trees in the sea of clouds.  Mt. Huangshan, China.

Ent-tricate

A Tolkien-esque, Treebeardy sort of pine on the north rim of Yosemite valley.

Sweet Columbine

Columbine on the trail to La Plata Peak, Colorado.

The Mountain Cat's Ear

Two social commentary pictures in a row?  Crazy.  Now, here is a flower.

Liliaceae Calochortus Subalpinus, the Subalpine Mariposa Lily, taken near the beginning of a circumnavigation of Mt. Hood via the Timberline Trail, with my bro.

Dew

Sunrise dew on the bushes outside my tent, Dolly Sods, WV.

Burned out

Undergrowth rebounding after a controlled burn in Mariposa Grove, near (in?)Yosemite.

Through a Chinese Doorway, Three

A little slice of secret garden in heavily urban environs, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.

Shortcut to Shrooms

Gentiana nubigena

Beautiful little Himalayan flower, found on the hills behind Namche.

(Pixellated) Flowers for my Mum

Yes, it is a virtual bouquet, but on the plus side a) no flowers were harmed in the making of this Mother's Day gift, and b) didn't have to propagate the hallmarky consumery grossness of this most sacred day.  I took this picture in Suzhou garden, on a day that was actually rather strife-filled and unhappy for me.  But it was my Mom (and, I guess, boyfriend) that cheered me back up and let me enjoy and remember all the aspects of the day (and there were many) that weren't unpleasant and strife-filled.  My mother is simply a good person- compassionate, empathetic, giving, and supportive.  All qualities I hope to have should I pass on these genes to another generation.  Yep, I said it- I want to be like my Mum.

I love you Mom!  Happy Mother's Day.

The Primrose Path

In the Yosemite backcountry.

Sturm und Drang

Weirdo Flowers Need Love Too

Taken on a portion of the Appalachian Trail that goes right through a big ol superfund site.  I'm not saying that this is some sort of burgeoning radioactive super villain weirdo flower, but...

Oddly enough, I really like this section of the AT.  Maybe because it is fairly unique terrain among the thousands of miles of treed-in ridgelines looking out over forest or farmland.  But its probably a good thing I enjoy it cuz...marcellus shale, fracking.    Oh, and- BONUS VISUAL AIDS!


*Those stills are from the documentary Gasland, which is an incredibly well-done, though incredibly depressing film about the environmental and health effects of fracking and the stonewalling received by anyone seeking help, information, or god forbid, regulation, from the industry, their lobbyists, and the politicians who love them.  See that movie.

Fuck Yeah, Spring!

It was gorgeous today.  That is all.

Where am I now?

Imma say right now that this is another shout out to Digs, but I think it will be harder for cheaters to use that info on this one.  Hint: its a museum, but if anyone says the Guggenheim I might smack you.  Spiral staircases are not created equal.  Where am I???

April Flower

At a garden in Suzhou, China.