Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #128: Garden Creatures

"On every stem, on every leaf, and at the root of everything that grew, was a professional specialist in the shape of grub, caterpillar, aphid, or other expert whose business it was to devour that particular part."

-Oliver Wendell Holmes








EMPS #128: GARDEN CREATURES. NOW CLOSED!
Snails. Spiders. Earth worms. What do they all have in common? They are all GARDEN CREATURES! This week I want you to grab your cameras, and show me what you have lurking in your YARD or GARDEN!

Extra Credit: Share with us your favorite and your least favorite GARDEN CREATURES!

Guidelines for Assignment Submissions...

1.The EMPS closes each Sunday evening at 9:00 PM (ET). No submissions will be accepted after that time.

2. Submit your entry by getting your photo, uploading it to you blog or website, and then comeback here and leave me your link in the comment thread. PLEASE REMEMBER... THE LINK YOU LEAVE MUST GO BACK TO AN ENTRY WHICH IS SPECIFIC TO THIS WEEK'S ASSIGNMENT! A general link to your site will not do, and will not be added to the list of those participating the following Monday. HYPERLINKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED!

3. Please be sure to provide a link back to the assignment in your submission, so your readers can find the assignment and join us. Everyone is welcome to play along!

4. Please keep in mind that the image you submit for the EMPS assignment, must be your own original photography. NO LIFTING!

Please Note: I have set aside two days during the week for visiting your submissions. Thursday and Sunday, so look for me then!

Participation List for EMPS #127: FROM THE OVEN 06/06/2011

1. Jama

2. Hip Chick

I will be playing along with you this week, so look for my entry sometime around mid-week. See you next Monday with an all new Monday Photo Shoot Assignment!

-Carly

Blue Scarlet Dragonfly

From For Ellipsis

"Deep in the sun-searched growths, the dragonfly hangs like a blue thread loosed from the sky."

-Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Silent Noon

It was a beautiful day in Tilden park yesterday! I only had a couple hours with the camera, but they were quality hours to be sure. Lots of critters. Dragonflies and butterflies and even a lizard or two. I spotted a fast moving lizard I had never seen before, but with a little bit of research last night I found out it was of the Skink variety. It moved along very fast, and at first I thought it might be a small blue snake, but nope, it was a Skink. I couldn't photograph it, because it moved too quickly, but I will be watching for that one specifically the next time I am in the park. Tilden is amazing this time of year. The leaves are beginning to turn, which reminds me that autumn is just a whisper away! I can't wait!

Blue Scarlett Dragonflies

From For Ellipsis

Isn't she pretty? It was nice to have a little company for the walk around the Botanic Gardens. :)

-Carly

Like I Said... Detox

"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night."

-Edgar Allan Poe

As I said in my post yesterday, I took a few days off from blogging earlier this week to detox from the Internet. I had my A1c done, and we took Elvis for his usual appointment with Dr. B and we took care of some assorted chores, but with the ample time left over I simply didn't feel like chaining myself to the computer, because nothing beats a nice walk in the sun. I had a really nice walk in the sun.

Tilden Park has become my own personal peaceful haven in the warm summer months. It's beautiful all year round, especially in December when they have the Christmas Fantasy in the Woods, but in the summer it is a dream of beauty. One of my favorite spots in the park, to take a long walk with Alan, is Lake Anza. It is a 9 acre lake in the middle of the park, and it has swimming as well as fishing available. I love walking around to the far side, away from the swimming crowds, where the dragonflies like to play. I love photographing those nimble little acrobats. I have become especially fond of the red ones, but the tiny blue ones have been catching my eye lately as well.

After we walked around the lake for a while, we spent a little time in the Botanic Garden. The garden is divided into different sections that contain different native California trees plants and shrubs. One of our favorite sections is the Redwoods, which is a beautiful grove of redwood trees that provides some peaceful shade from the sometimes overbearing summer heat. If you enjoy hunting lizards, then you will enjoy the California desert area, where dozens of lizards dart in and out among the native cactus. I am not much fond of lizards, so I always wear shorts when I go there, because they are much more likely to run up a pant leg, then a bare, white, thin uncovered leg. LOL.

We spent about 5 hours total in the park, just walking and enjoying the beauty. I did a lot of photography that day, and a lot of brain clearing. I enjoy the Internet, and you know I love Ellipsis, but to me it's a hobby, not a way of life. If the Internet died tomorrow I would miss the interaction and being able to share my photography with folks, but I wouldn't go into withdrawal over it. There is too much beauty and wonder right in my own backyard. :)

So tell me, where do you go to find beauty? Do you ever take time off from blogging to Internet detox? What is your favorite daycation? Tell me everything... I know you want to!

-OndineMonet
"Daycation Detox"
Lake Anza
Tilden Park
Berkeley, California
July 22, 2008
Afternoon