Recurring Theme/ Sky Watch

Fence (and barn) at sunset

A couple of weeks ago, Tarolino of Helsinki Daily and Luontovuosi 2009 challenged me to think about recurring themes in the photos I take for this blog. Yes. I'm just getting to this NOW. Sorry, Tarolino, but I've had a busy couple of weeks and I have not been as attentive to this blog as I would have liked.

Well, one theme has got to be FENCES, right?

I love their lines, the way they weave their way through fields to mark property lines and to define pastures. And I''m intrigued by the shadows they cast especially in winter...

Fence (and daffodils) at mid day

and how they make marvelous backdrops for gardens.

To see tons of gorgeous skies from around the world, visit the Sky Watch Website and click on Mr. Linky: http://skyley.blogspot.com

Top Birds/Sepia Scenes

Two birds on tin roof and air vent

One bird at the barn peak and one on the vent. Is the bird below envious of the bird above, the King of the Mountain?

To view other Sepia Scenes visit MaryT, theTeach at http://sepiascenes.blogspot.com

Spring Green/ Watery Wednesday

Small private pond on major road in EG

You can find more photos celebrating Watery Wednesday at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com

Skunk Cabbage/ Macro Monday

Eastern Skunk Cabbage, Clumpfoot Cabbage, Foetid Pothos, Meadow Cabbage, Polecat Weed, Skunk Cabbage, or Swamp Cabbage

Whatever you call this plant, it's botanical name is always Symplocarpus foetidus and is a symbol of early spring. Here rising above the muddy ground you see the ball-like spathe inside the hooded spadix, which is approximately four inches high. The flowers are actually tiny and located on the spathe. The plant's leaves have not yet appeared.

Leaf beginning to grow among three purplish-brown and green spadices

Please note: Today's Flowers is the post below.

To see more macro shots visit Lisa's Chaos at http://lisaschaos.com

Dutchman's Breeches/ Today's Flowers

Dutchman's breeches aka squirrel corn

I once read a poetic description that said Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) look like laundry fluttering on washday. What do you think?

Blooming now in East Gwillimbury, Dutchman's breeches are wildflowers between 6 and 12 inches tall. The flowers are about ¾ of an inch across.


Dutchman's breeches bloom in moist deciduous woodlands popping up from tiny bulbs in early spring. They go dormant when the weather grows hot.

Please note: Monochrome Maniacs is the post below.

If you love flowers -- and who doesn't - check out Today's Flowers at http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Rundown & Abandoned/ Monochrome Maniacs

Slowly disintegrating

To find other maniacs crazy about monochromes, visit Aileni at http://www.calonyddaear.com/monoindex/

Pond at Sunset/ SOOC

Path of early evening light

To see more photos Straight Out Of the Camera (SOOC) visit Jan at http://www.murrieta365.com

Killdeer/ Camera Critters

Looking for a place to lay eggs?

Believe it or not, killdeer nest in the middle of a lawn or even on gravel. Their spotted eggs look a lot like rocks so are well camouflaged.

Some kind of mating ritual?

Early one morning I heard a racket across the street, several killdeer making a big commotion. So, of course, I grabbed my camera and moved in on them. They were so engrossed with whatever they were doing (it wasn't that clear to me) that I was able to move in fairly close. Then I got too close and....


To join in the Camera Critter fun, visit Misty Dawn's site at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com

Protect(ion)/ Photo Hunter

Gate to home hidden in the woods

The house deeper into the woodlands than I could see. I wonder what's at the end of the driveway, don't you?

Gate to home out in the open

I'm not sure what the purpose of this gate is. There is no fence around the property and the large home is in plain view.

To see what other Photo hunters found, check out http://tnchick.com

Perennial Favourite/Sky Watch

Sunset over greenhouses filled with perennial garden plants

I don't know what's inside the barn, but the plastic-covered greenhouses contain perennials sold to retail nurseries.

To see tons of gorgeous skies from around the world, visit the Sky Watch Website and click on Mr. Linky: http://skyley.blogspot.com

Animal House/ Sepia Senes

Shed that once housed animals

This shed is on an abandoned East Gwillimbury farm. Over the past 20 years I have watched this farm slowly fall apart but it was only this past week that I've found the nerve to investigate closely with my camera.


To view other Sepia Scenes visit MaryT, theTeach at http://sepiascenes.blogspot.com

Pink Puddle/ Watery Wednesday

Weeping willows over temporary "pond"

Every spring water collects on this low-lying land, which makes the weeping willows very happy. Driving by I couldn't resist taking a photo of the sunset in the sky and reflection.

You can find more photos celebrating Watery Wednesday at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com

Sweet Violet/ Macro Monday

Close up of a sweet violet

"...sweeter than all the roses"? Well, I think the jury is still out on that one.

Common around North America, sweet violets (Viola odorata) are actually native to Europe and Asia.

Blooming amidst blades of grass

Many gardeners consider them to be uninvited guests and I admit I weed them out of my garden beds but I like them in my lawn. In fact, this is a photo of one blooming in my lawn right now.

Please note: Today's Flowers is the post below.

To see more macro shots visit Lisa's Chaos at http://lisaschaos.com

Grecian Windflower/ Today's Flowers

Grecian Windflower (Anemone blanda)

The blossoms of daisy-like Grecian windflowers are approximately 1 to 2 inches in diameter and come in pink, blue and lavender. In MY garden, though, only the lavender blossoms have survived the 10 to 12 years since I planted the tubers. I have no idea what happened to the other colours.

Close up of blossom

This year they appeared a few days ago and will continue to bloom for another 5 or 6 weeks.

Please note: Monochrome Maniacs is the post below.

If you love flowers -- and who doesn't - check out Today's Flowers at http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Bicycle Art/ Monochrome Maniacs

Hi-rise Bicycle

To find other maniacs crazy about monochromes, visit Aileni at http://www.calonyddaear.com/monoindex/

Spring Reflections/SOOC

Early evening calm just before sundown

I love the lines in the reflection created by the trees - the white birches and the darker evergreens.

To see more photos Straight Out Of the Camera (SOOC) visit Jan at http://www.murrieta365.com

Peacock/ Camera Critters

Showing off

This handsome fellow lives with another peacock and a small flock of peahens in a neat old barn in East Gwillimbury.

Strutting around

Doesn't he look regal?

Please note: Photo Hunter is the post below

To join in the Camera Critter fun, visit Misty Dawn's site at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com

Purple/ Photo Hunter

Shades of Purple

This week's Photo Hunter challenge: purple

Royal purple

To see what other Photo hunters found, check out http://tnchick.com

Peering Over the Fence/ Sky Watch

Early spring sunset

The snow is gone but the grass has not yet turned green yet. In this low light the field looks grey but it is really brown.

To see tons of gorgeous skies from around the world, visit the Sky Watch Website and click on Mr. Linky: http://skyley.blogspot.com

Victorian Porch/ Sepia Scenes

A closeup of gingerbread details on a Victorian porch

Much of central Ontario was peopled in the 18th century by British settlers so it should not be a surprise that there's a strong Victorian influence in the homes built here back then. Some of the gingerbread (bargeboard) has survived and some has been replaced. New homes built on an old street often sport gingerbread to "fit in." And whole developments of new homes are often decorated with gingerbread too.

Sometimes new houses are so well built it's tricky to tell the old buildings from the new...except that most new houses are built of cement bricks, which are much harder than the old clay ones.

This brick house is a genuine "century home" built more than a hundred years ago. But I'm not sure how old the porch is, but I'm guessing it's much newer than the bricks.


To view other Sepia Scenes visit MaryT, theTeach at http://sepiascenes.blogspot.com