Photography

Enjoying the full moon on a cold MN night ..

Wild plants arranged by nature, nice colors…

At the MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge .. Nov 2, 2014

Nature-made water colors …

rippled reflections

Colorful Fall Flowers

I filmed this short clip of nature sounds at the Minnesota River Valley National Wildlife Refuge on a nice walk, Oct 16  around 2PM .. enjoying the Minnesota Fall.   This was my first visit to this park.   When you stop thinking, moving, and enhance your awareness to the present moment things start to become more vivid, colors, sounds… this video attempts to share that experience

You can watch this on youtube and as full screen for a clearer view here: http://www.youtube.com/v/gckSurwx4O8

video description from youtube: Ready for a moment of enhanced awareness?  Maybe see some magic?   look around, listen, watch … Nature sounds, crickets, wind, trail, leaves, sun, valley … this video might offer you a mystical minute of enjoying some awareness to the surrounding nature, shot during a walk at the MN River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (in between the noise from airplanes taking off)

Here is another one, this one is more of a  quick 360 view
You can watch this on youtube and as full screen for a clearer view here: http://www.youtube.com/v/L5eFs_aG_uI

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Ready for a moment of enhanced awareness?  Maybe feel some magic?  Hear some sounds? See leaves falling off trees in the wind.. Filmed at the MN river valley not far from the river itself.  Look around, listen, watch … wind, trail, blowing leaves … This video might offer you a mystical minute.

Minnesota River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Oct 16 2014

You can watch this on youtube and as full screen for a clearer view here:
http://www.youtube.com/v/HzdOmEo0ST0

You can watch this on youtube and as full screen for a clearer view here:
http://www.youtube.com/v/pS2K_OA22VI

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October 10, 2014
Grass with frost at about 7AM, Hopkins MN

October 10, 2014
Grasses and wild plants with frost at about 7AM, Hopkins MN

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The red tree, at about noon time, where I parked and ate lunch in  the red sun light passing through the leaves

Oct 10, 2014, Eden Prairie, MN

this is an Acer x freemanii hybrid of red maple (A. rubrum) and silver maple (A. saccharinum)

Nice fall colors on the side of this hill, in the shade you will see frost on the grass – Oct 10, 2014, Hopkins, MN

Photo above shows a sumac plant

October 8, 2014 – Chan, MN

In Chanhassen, MN – October 8, 2014

Plant identification post:

This one is: Viburnum trilobum/opulus – canberrybush viburnum

October 2, 2014 – Eden Prairie MN

Fall colors, Chanhassen, MN

Oct 9, 2014

above photo is at highway 212

Below, shows early fall colors in the metro

Below is Red Rock lake in Eden Prairie

At a trail at the Theodore Wirth park in Minnesota. Saturday May 10

Looks a lot like Motherwort, but already has the smell of garlic.  Once plant grows it will be easier to tell just by looking at it.  Future posts will show future growth stages of garlic mustard.  Very invasive plant, pull, eat or discard appropriately.

It’s been a cold spring season in MN this year (2014).

At a trail at the Theodore Wirth park in Minnesota. Saturday May 10.

Future photos will show other stages of this plant’s growth / life cycle.

This is early spring, a colder than usual spring season.

Could you identify this plant / weed that’s in my backyard?

It has white sap, red stems, hairy stems, hair on the under side of the leaves, a red lining around leaves, not a square stem.

I think this is hemerocallis or daylily.

Came across a field of these plants, April 21 2014 .. after a long and colder than usual winter and cold Spring, plants are eager to return back to life, a lot like people.

Nice field with the shade of the sun and green colors looking very nice.

Tubers:

I replanted this plant in the same spot i pulled it out from for the photo.

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I have a few plants trying to identify, here’s the second one

Is it Rumex or sheep sorrel,  a dock or a sorrel?

Photos taken 4/21/2014 (Minnesota)

click each photo to see full (huge) size and zoom in

zoomed on some parts in these photos

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I have a few plants trying to identify, here’s the first

Is it ground ivy (creeping charlie) or motherwort?

Photos taken 4/21/2014 (Minnesota)

video taken 04/19/2014

This one is a video taken 04/21/2014 of the same area after raking, it clearly shows a dried up shoot / stem that is square

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and

Shot on September 2, 2012

At carver reserve in Victoria, MN

A dragon was spotted in MN on September 2, 2012, here’s the proof.

Taken at carver reserve in Victoria, MN.

Do you see it?

Click photo for larger size

At Murphy Hanrehan

Path, Sky, Calming

Let the sun shine

through

for the green buds

to

grow

Click image to enlarge
March 24, 2012
At Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Eagan, MN Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

Glowing Amber?  Inner Sun? Golden Gem Stone, the Philosopher’s Stone?

Molten Glass? Frozen Water? A Geological Formation?

Hmm, what is this?

Here’s a close-up

Ok, I’ll show you.

It’s resin from a tree, here’s the branch

This inner glow, or “inner fire” here is nothing but the sun light shining on this substance

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I enjoy the shape, geometry, symmetry, snow-like looks

(click image to enlarge)

Click on images for the full-size

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Fall Trail

Click image to enlarge
Oct 24, 2010
Taken at Big Willow Park, Minnetonka, MN Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

green moss and leaves turning (red) in background

Click image to enlarge
Oct 24, 2010
Taken at Big Willow Park, Minnetonka, MN Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

The first snow storm of the season caused many tree branches and at times full trees to break and fall.
As it snowed heavy wet snow, driving became unpleasant and most people stayed indoors.
That’s a sign it is time to head out and enjoy this winter wonderland.

These are some photos of the massive beauty of a snow-covered world, taken during snow fall

November 13, 2010 in Minnetonka, MN

Trail entrance

A heavy wet burden

Fallen tree branches, with one perfectly lined in the middle of the trail

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The “Forbidden” Red Fruit

(click photo to enlarge)

A “Taxus media”, A.K.A “Hicksii Yew” plant and fruit. All parts of this plant are poisonous.
.

Great for a desktop background image

Shot Aug 28, 2010 ::  Next to the Hennepin Public Library, Minnetonka, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

More info:

Taxus media (Hicksii Yew)

This yew can reach 20 feet high in 20 years and while it is narrow when young, it grows wider with age. Both male and female columnar clones produce deep dark green needles on top and pale green underneath. In general, form is broadly pyramidal with a central leader. Similar to Taxus cuspidata, the Anglojap Yew has olive green branchlets which do not turn brown the second year. Bud scales are blunt and leaves are two-ranked. Thrives in sandier soil that is acid to neutral and well-drained. Does well in either sun or shade.
Important Info : All plant parts are poisonous if ingested

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(click photo to enlarge)

Some wild plant, thorns and soft cotton

Great for a desktop background image

Shot Aug 28, 2010 ::  Next to the Hennepin Public Library, Minnetonka, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

Lake landscapes at Lebanon Hills Regional Park

(click a photo to enlarge)

An evening at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, MN

Shot Sept 11, 2010 ::  Lebanon Hills Regional Parl, Eagan, MN

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Sun shining a golden light

(click a photo to enlarge)

An evening at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, MN

Shot Sept 11, 2010 ::  Lebanon Hills Regional Parl, Eagan, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

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