I am looking at a bosque of Plane trees planted next to the Interlaken Ost train station. In the recent afternoon sun, I could call them butterscotch or toffee and be happy.
Often, in the urban public realm, simpler is better.
Platanus acerifolia?
Sometimes I just don’t understand.
But when I see beauty, the need for understanding diminishes.
Neighbors—good, bad or indifferent.
Do they mind their own business?
Do they foist their life philosophy?
Or…are you glad for them?
My neighbors—why are they always so jolly?
When I was growing up, I heard many times, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’–in different circumstances but often about people. Sociological training at home. Skin color, clothes, part of town…
These days, I am the stranger, in a strange town. I live on a hillside, looking down on the town center. The largest, tallest building is the public school. And in this image you can see it bedecked with planter boxes overflowing with red and pink geraniums in flower.
It is obviously the most important building in town and most beautifully adorned and maintained. If I judge the people of this town by the care they have shown for the public school, have I made a mistake?
Public school as town center for the last century
Sometimes what can’t be seen, can be undoubtedly felt–welling up and out of the unknown.
As a photographer, I am average, at best.
I take photos of plants and landscapes that speak to me.
What do I hear? What do they say? Only I know that I must look closer. So I do that through the camera viewfinder. I share these because somehow or other they have spell bound me. And I like that. I hope you have a similar experience.
Sun. Flower. Tell me more about the Sun and flowers.
Found at approx 1600 meters above sea level in the
Swiss Alps, Bernese Highlands, Jungfrau Region
Gentiana acaulis
22May2018
Found in Swiss Alps, Bernese Highlands, Jungfrau Region
Gentiana verna
22May2018
Or is it just having fun?
I had the joy of observing these two patches of flowers yesterday.
One is wild in the woods and the other is wild in the garden. Judging books by their covers, are we?
But someone has written that having a book in your pocket is like having a garden in your pocket. Then where do the wild flowers belong?
But anywhere you find them, they are a discovery pleasure of spring.
Wild in the garden
Wild in the woods
Had to catch a bus today. Once a week I have therapy and I get there by bus. Well, on the way…it is mid-March in the Berner Oberlands and March came in like a lion with Russian wind and cold from Siberia. The first two weeks felt the harsh results.
But this morning, on my way to catch the bus, I saw the promise of spring realized. I had to stop and photograph.
Is today the day? For sure.
And even I was still 10 minutes early for a bus that is always on time. Temperature had risen above 50 degree fahrenheit. Mild for mid-March. I sat down and took one more photo before the bus.
Deep breath of fresh water lake air. No chill. Yes, spring.
