Category Archives: B&W Photography

Kotoji in Winter

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“Kotoji in Winter”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

I think winter is finally here. The first five weeks of winter have been very mild with temperatures often in the 40’s and 50’s. We have had several very light snowfalls that have melted within a day. Sunday night we received this snow. More is scheduled for this week and coming weekend. Heatherwood is beautiful this time of year. It creates a very peaceful feeling. All the new plants provide a striking contrast to what was just a lawn and pasture setting two years ago.

In this image, the Kotoji lantern silently watches over the dry stream bed. In a couple of months the steam will be active with flowing water and waterfalls.

Patiently watching a silent bed,
Kotoji waits for spring ahead,
With rushing water soon to come.

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The Caretaker

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Yukimi Lantern Overlooking Pond
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

A little Yukimi lantern guards over our small pond. During the winter months we turn off the waterfall, which allows the surface of the pond to function as a mirror reflecting the rocks and trees above. For now it is peaceful and quiet. In two months, the water will be turned back on and the waterfall’s turbulence will excite the emergence of spring.

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Come On In!

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Japanese Garden Entrance
Heatherwood, Winter

Come on it! The curved path and rock border leads the way. The Hokkoji lantern provides a greeting. Branches of deciduous trees frame a vision of what may be. Conifers hint what may lie beyond as the fog creates a little mystery and maybe hides a surprise.

These are some of the thoughts and ideas that have gone into the design of Heatherwood.

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Framed

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“Selah Ridge – Framed”
Heatherwood, Winter

I constantly am trying to improve my photographic skills. Early this morning I was re-reviewing an on-line class from David duChemin titled “The Decisive Moment.” It was dark outside when I started the session. After I finished, I looked outside and saw that our garden was encased in fog. The decisive moment was at hand. I quickly slipped on my shoes and grabbed my camera. It was mysterical and magical outside. I enjoyed this moment and many more.

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Don’t Let Your Head Hang Down!

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Snow Covered Grasses
Heatherwood, Winter

It has been a long and difficult year. But, that is not a reason to let my head hang down. With the Covid-19 pandemic and all the political discord our lives have changed. They will never be the same. We have learned to cope with uncertainty and adjust. New ways of doing things have entered our life styles. That is not all bad.

Being newly-weds, the “stay-at-home” initiative has given Mary and me a lot of quality time to really get to know each other’s habits and interests. We have had a lot of time to discuss our feelings and opinions. We have had time to plan for many things we would like to do in the future. We miss not spending time with our families and friends but look even more forward to what the future will bring.

We are thankful for the challenge and joy that our new garden brings us. We excitedly have watched the garden form during the last two years. We enjoy our frequent strolls through the garden and appreciate those special moments as we sip our morning coffee or afternoon wine.

It has been a long and hard year! But, I can look up with a smile to the challenges and opportunities that a New Year will bring.

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360 Degree View

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Selah Bluff
Heather Heights, Selah, WA

Aspens, cattails, grasses, and the dark sky frame this ridge on Selah Bluff. From the top, one has a 360 degree view. The Wenas valley is to the north. Mt. Rainier can be seen to the northwest, Mt. Clemens to the west, and Mt. Adams to the southwest. To the east are the ridges of the Yakima River Canyon. To the southeast are the Yakima Firing Center and Rattlesnake Mountain. Looking south I can see our neighborhood, the lower Selah Valley and the Selah-Yakima Gap. It is a place to put down my camera and just enjoy nature and the open area around me.

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Livelihood of Our Garden

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Natches-Selah Irrigation Canal
Heather Heights, Selah, WA

Only a 10 minute walk from the house will bring us to our irrigation canal. It is one of the last open areas in existence. Built in the late 1800’s, it has served the area well for many years. As time has passed, there is a need to maintain lower water loss and better control the amount of water released from the ditch to the various areas. Soon it will be replaced by a pipeline. What a loss to progress!

This is just one of the many places around our home to explore. Oh, how I wish I were a kid again!

Without this source of water, our Heatherwood garden would be just a dream.

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Peaceful Walk Around the Neighborhood

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Neighbor’s Pasture
Heather Heights, Selah, WA

It is nice to live in the country. Our home is right in the middle of an area of small pastures. On the east we have a neighbor’s pasture with cows. On the west, our neighbor has five horses and a small grove of apple trees. Farther north we have a riding stable and pasture with a cherry and apple orchard above. We can walk along the paved roads of the neighborhood and view the valley below as well as catch glimpses of Mt. Adams and Mt. Rainier. We can stroll through orchards and along irrigation ditches and flumes catching bits of nature. If we get ambitious, we can climb to the top of the ridge above us and get a 360 degree of the countryside around us. And of course, we can stroll in our little garden arboretum.

So, if we ever feel closed in, all we have to do is open the door and take a walk. It’s nice to live in the country!

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Bright and Brilliant

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Japanese Garden
Yakima Area Arboretum, Washington

The midday contrasts of the foliage tend to blend together. Deep shadows and bright sunlit leaves tend to obscure detail. Some say that the light is bad and it is not a good time to photograph. But I am here enjoying what is in front of me. How can I make the best of it? Infrared comes to the rescue!

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