Sometimes I Just Have To …

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“The Iconic Japanese Maple”
Portland Japanese Garden

I usually am not drawn to that special iconic scene when I visit various “natural beauties.” But, sometimes I just must create an image. This iconic Japanese maple overlooks the main pond at the Portland Japanese Garden. It is the same tree that I photographed from beneath the branches in my previous posting. Over the years, I have haphazardly made a collection of images of this tree from my various visits to the garden. I have photographed it in different seasons, different times of day, different types of light, different weather conditions, and from many different perspectives. Most times, it is the first place I stop when I enter the garden. It is time for me to get serious and create a selective set of images that interprets this beautiful work of nature through my eyes.

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Under the Branches

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“Signature Japanese Maple”
Portland Japanese Garden

Every time I visit the Portland Japanese Garden, I stop by and look under the branches of the signature Japanese maple that overlooks the main pond area. I get a completely different abstract view of the garden looking through the branches and leaves.

This star attraction is meticulously pruned to create the maple’s beautiful structure. The environment in the Portland garden is perfect for Japanese maples and their delicate pruned structure. In our Central Washington Heatherwood garden, we don’t the same luxury. Because of the harsh direct sunlight, we need to keep a heavy layer of leaves on the maples to protect them. We can still have a similar overall shape, but not the delicate loose layering of maples in a less harsh environment.

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To Aspire For

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“Grand Overview”
Portland Japanese Garden

Summertime in a Japanese garden is a texture of shades of green with an occasional hint of subdued color. It is a combined texture of rounded and vertical shapes. Here in the Portland Japanese Garden, every spot is filled in with various points of interest. Various shrubs and ground covers provide the understory. Different species of Japanese maples are the primary base of interest. Tall conifers are the backdrop for this overview scene of the garden.

As I sit and look over our Heaterwood Japanese garden, I let my imagination flow and dream what our garden may be for future generations to enjoy.

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In Search of Wine on a HOT Summer Day!

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“Oregon Wine Country”
Dundee Hills, Oregon

It was a hot 90 degree day as we traveled around the Dundee Hills above the Willamette Valley. As we drove between wineries we enjoyed the beautiful scenes in the wine country. The sky was bright without a cloud. Rows and rows of grape vines spread across the hills. We saw this huge live oak on a crest of a hill and just had to stop and enjoy the bucolic countryside. And, the wine was wonderful!!!

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A Place to Run and Play

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“The Playfield”
Heatherwood Summer

One of our design criteria for the Heatherwood landscape was to create an area for kids to run and play. Our lower lawn is large enough for a little football or wiffleball field or a full size volleyball court. The areas around the lawn do not include any rocks for kids to bang into. The edges also do not include valuable plants that may be damaged. Lawn paths lead to other areas were kids can run and play tag. The lawn is even relatively flat. And if you stay in the area near the background planting area, Mom or Dad can’t see you from the house! If Mom and Dad want to watch the kids play, there is even a place for them to sit with a nice view of the surrounding country side.

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Looking Up

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“Tree Abstract”
Yakima Arboretum, Washington

I have a habit of standing near the trunk of large trees and following the limbs up to the sky. I almost always find an interesting abstract if I twist around a bit to get just the right composition. One time back in Peace Valley Park near Doylestown, PA, I slipped standing on a log and fell into the crotch of the tree and got stuck. Luckily after several minutes, I was able to wriggle myself free. I am not quite as persistent to get the right angle these days!

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Foot Zoom

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“Japanese Garden Pond”
Yakima Arboretum, Washington

I must remember, “simplify, simplify, and simplify” when I use a wide angle lens. For this image, my subject was the Japanese lantern balanced by the rock jutting out into the pond. All the additional stuff to the right was not essential and just cluttered the image. I just needed to “foot zoom” a few steps closer to make it a better image.

“Foot Zoomed”

I must remember to get in close and intimate when working with a wide angle lens. On the positive side, working with infrared allowed me to achieve a reasonable dynamic range with the harsh highlights and shadows.

I am humbled with my progress, but still encouraged. As my website theme highlights, my photographic excursions are a “Never Ending Journey.”

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Change of Pace

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“Japanese Garden”
Yakima Area Arboretum, Washington

Today’s post moves away from Heatherwood to the Yakima Area Arboretum. Almost all of my recent photography work has been in our Heatherwood garden. I feel like I need a little change. Reviewing this week’s “Nature TTL” web site, I noticed the weekly challenge to be wide-angle images. It has been over a year since I created my last infrared images in the Palouse. So I gave myself the assignment to go to our local arboretum and photograph wide-angle infrared scenes. I quickly noticed how “out of practice” I was. I had to focus much harder on managing contrasts between tones, highlights and shadows, as well as details. Critiquing my work, I feel it was about a 3 on a scale of 10. But that is OK … it just means that I need to practice more! More to follow on future posts …

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Heart and Soul

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“Forest Pansy Redbud Leaf”
Heatherwood Woodland

Many times as I walk through our garden, I just let my imagination wander. I am not looking for anything in particular. But when something catches my eye, I stop and explore with my mind and soul. Many times, after pausing for a few moments, I just move on. Sometimes I become captured and just let my mind wander.

I saw this pretty bright new leaf on the tip of a branch. My eyes followed it up along the branch as it led up to the trunk of the tree. The heart seemed to be beating as it softly fluttered in the breeze. I imagined it feeding its blood along the branches to the other leaves and softly back up to the soul of the tree. It is wonderful what imagination can do! Look around, look up to the clouds, and dream. It is a wonderful way to enjoy a moment!

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Shades of Green

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“Along the Garden Path”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Shades of green highlight Heatherwood’s Japanese influenced garden area. Hints of reds and oranges provide a touch of contrast. The garden path meanders through the plantings. A new perspective lies beyond every turn. Every day as I walk through it, I appreciate how thing the various plantings are progressing. I enjoy what is currently in place and imagine how it will be as it matures.

I continuously envision what needs to be removed, changed, and/or added to improve the area. Where do we need additional shade? Do I need to transplant a plant to make room for one that needs more space? Do I need something new to complement an existing plant or fill in a blank space? These are just a few of the questions that I ask as my eyes and mind gaze over the garden. Just yesterday, we removed a dead shrub and transplanted an existing shrub to make room for a new tree and fill in where I removed the dead one. Then we planted a new Japanese maple to anchor the side of the stream and provide a little vertical height to frame the view. Working in the garden is a continuous exercise of enjoying the moment and imagining what can be.

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