Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Happy Thanksgiving to all. Here’s an abundant harvest of pumpkins and squashes from the Bloedel Reserve.
Today is a special day to give thanks for our health, families, friends, and the wonderful world that we live in. Each day, each moment is a gift. Each of our roles is to step back and cherish each moment we are given, to live a full life, to make the world around us a little better, and to make someone’s life a bit happier.
“October Glory”
This is the first tree I planted after moving “back home” to Selah, WA in 2016. I planted it for its fall color. I am not disappointed. Last fall I planted 3 more in the surrounding area. In a few years, I expect this corner to be a peaceful place to enjoy fall color.
Bloedel Reserve
This willow caught my eye from the other side of the pond. It was like a sentinel watching over. Walking around and getting under the willow’s canopy gave me a much more interesting and unique perspective.
Bloedel Reserve
Alders and vine maples line the paths through the Reserve. It is a Fall Wonderland. Light filters through the trees making the vine maples’ orange, red, and yellows pop out from the green background. The light brightens the grey-white bark of the Alders. What a beautiful palette of color nature has given us.
“Monet’s Forest”
Gentle light filtering through
leaves of orange, yellow, and green,
paints an image of warmth and peace.
As I looked into the Forest at the Bloedel Reserve, I felt like I was looking into a Monet painting. Soft filtered light, shadows, and subtle pastels decorated the scene. In post, I added a little of the impressionistic feeling using Topaz Impression.
“Red, White, and Green … the Natural Colors of Western Washington”
When you see RED, SHOOT. This little advice from John Barclay sticks in my mind. Fall has a multitude of color contrasts. A red maple leaf always catches my eye. I saw “Greeting Card” written all over this image when I snapped the shutter.
A fallen red leaf
nestles into a bed of green,
getting ready for a long winter’s sleep
“Sunburst”
Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, WA
Sun bursting through
a canopy of yellow and orange,
warms my heart.
What a beautiful, warm day it was!
“Nature’s Abstract”
Beautiful abstracts abound in the natural world around us. I am constantly amazed how much of nature’s art I see when I just take my time to peacefully look around me. Moments before I recorded this image, I was admiring a beautiful reflection of trees with their full fall glory in a pond at the Bloedel Reserve. I turned around and immediately saw gentle rays of sunshine peeking through two aspen tree trunks. I gasped at the beauty and quickly took an image before the sun went behind a cloud. That brief moment was a wonderful gift!
Grey Alder & Vine Maple, Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island, WA
Simple subject, glorious color. What a treat it was to visit Bloedel on a beautiful sunny fall day. Reds, oranges, and yellows were scattered against brilliant greens. The grey-white bark of alders stood out among the color. There was just too much to photograph. I am already planning on a future trip.
Yakima River Canyon
Early morning sun highlighted the hills and their reflection on the river. I needed about another half hour before the tress on the rivers edge would be highlighted. I did not have the patience and drove further up the river. That was a mistake!