“Selah-Naches Irrigation Flume”
Heatherwood View
After 129 years of use, the last section of our historic irrigation flume is being replaced by a modern pipeline. Today, this section was demolished. It was so sad to see it come down. To pay it a little tribute, I post-processed the image to give a little historic antique look. Memories!!!
“Rudbeckia and Grasses”
Heatherwood Winter
Birds love our winter garden. We enjoy watching them flying in and out of the meadow and into the crabapples feeding on seeds and fruit. Several of our blue spruces act as winter homes. We have noticed more birds this year than in prior years. As Heatherwood matures, we hope that the garden will become a little sanctuary for various bird species.
We leave the garden’s spent vegetation in place during the winter, not only for a food source for birds but also for its winter interest. How dull the garden would look if all the perennials were to be neatly cut back in the fall. We will save the neat look until the spring.
“Winter Grass”
Heatherwood Meadow
Recently I have let myself become a little trapped into a photographic rut. Most of my work has been focused on recording what I see. At times the result has been “pretty pictures” that have not portrayed my real feelings behind what I see. I am in a state of being in search of what it takes to create a compelling image that is unique and reflects my feelings behind it.
“Winter Beauty”
Heatherwood Meadow
I woke up to early morning fog covering Heatherwood. As the fog lifted, it left a little hoar frost across the garden. Out came my camera. It was time for a little winter walk in the garden. I initially was focusing on small details but was not coming up with much that I was happy with. I looked up and saw this set of golden layered grasses and the evergreen background. The grasses were tipped with a thin layer of hoar frost that provided highlights and a little winter contrast that separated the layers.
“Sunrise Through Cherry Tree”
Heatherwood Winter
Another beautiful Heatherwood sunrise, what more needs to be said! Thank You!
“Redbud Abstract”
Heatherwood Woodland Garden
One month of winter has passed by, only two more until the first day of spring arrives. Our grounds have been covered with snow since the last week in December. We have enjoyed the beauty of the Heatherwood’s winter scape, but are getting a little “itchy” to get out and work in the garden.
I try to live each day in the present, focusing on what I can do today to enjoy it to its fullest. Each and every day is a precious gift. I feel a little guilty when I start wishing for the future. But it is hard not to when there is such beauty ahead.
“Sunrise Filtering Through the Fog”
Heatherwood View
As the sun breaks the horizon,
Its light filters through the fog.
A pink wonder appears.
Every sunrise presents a different view of the day ahead. Each one is an open slate, ready for us to make it the best it can be!
“As the Mist Lifted”
Heatherwood View
For the last several days, the valley below our home has been filled with fog, obscuring the bucolic snow covered hills to the south. Yesterday as the fog mist lifted, it left an etherial view of the hillside. It was a calm, peaceful way to start the day.
“Winter Morning Glow”
Heatherwood Winter
We have many wonderfully beautiful sunrises during the winter months at Heatherwood. We typically have low hanging clouds on the horizon. The pink skies radiate off the crisp winter snow. The color was spectacular. I looked up from my office desk and saw the sun just breaking over the cloud and fog covered horizon. I quickly grabbed my camera and went out to the patio in my slippers and tried to catch the sunrise on the distant hills. A few minutes later I looked down to our garden and saw this brilliant pink color reflecting off the snow. The fog was rolling in but had not reached the upper part of our garden yet. I was extremely lucky to have this little vignette right in front of me. Thank YOU!
This image was created about 1 hour prior to the image on my previous post. I could see the fog rolling up the hill until it totally encased our garden. As quickly as it rolled in it receded leaving a tell-tale trail of hoar frost.
“Winter Garden in Fog”
Heatherwood Winter
The fog rolled in and left Heatherwood engulfed in a hazy mist. Hoar frost ice crystals formed on the tips of the plants. It was like a winter wonderland. I grabbed my camera and off I went!
Even on a dreary dark winter day, our garden is a place full of nature’s little gifts. Every time I go out, I see a different perspective of something I have passed a hundred times before. It catches my attention and interest and begs me to try to create an appropriate image. Last year I took over 36,000 images of our Heatherwood garden (not including photos on my iPhone)! I have just completed my 2021 garden highlights selections of about 360 images (1percent). My resolution for this year is to be a little bit more selective. I don’t know if that will work because another resolution is to experiment more and be more creative. It will be a balance.