Tag: Crystal Hermitage Gardens

Lens-Artists Challenge #262 Framing my photos

This week Amy of The World is a Book, asks me to explore “Framing my Photos”. The purpose of framing a photo is to create a pleasing composition, so we can direct the viewer’s attention to the subject of our photo. I am always on the lookout for different ways to compose my image.

Looking through a fence

Chicken Coop at End of the Road farm
My 7 year old grandson connects with the ball. Go Lucas!
Overlooking the Russian River in Guerneville, Ca.
Peeking through a garden center in Pacific Grove, Ca

Porthole

S.S. Red Oak Victory Ship at Richmond Ca.
Looking out over the Port of Richmond

Between foliage

Crystal Hermitage Garden overlooking Tahoe National Forest
Red wing black bird eating a berry. Point Reyes, Ca.

Our Sacramento Zoo is protecting birds from Avian Flu so its been a while since they have been available to the public.

Flamingos at the Sacramento Zoo.
Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Carmichael, Ca
Sunset over a sunflower field in Yolo County

Architecture

Half Moon Bay
Doorway looking in
Sutter’s Fort framed by a window.

New York City 2023

The Oculus in New York City
Hayden Planetarium
View from One World Trade Center
The Met
Central Park from the American Museum of Natural History
Views from New York City March 2023

Always on the lookout for interesting framing

Using a coffee cup to frame my subject

Lahaina

These last images were taken in 2015 on our last trip to Maui. Seeing the images from the devestating fire in Lahaina I returned to look at these images. Some photos fit the theme of framing my photo, and some I just wanted to share. A reminder of all that was lost. As rebuilding takes place I hope that changes will be made to help eliminate another tragedy.

City of Lahaina Courthouse
Banyan Tree
Lahaina Banyan Court Park
Sunset cruise
Lahaina Harbor

I hope that you can now look for interesting ways to frame your photographs. If you have any favorites, let me know!

Lens-Artists Challenge #254 Spiritual Places

This week Tina from Travels and Trifles creates a Lens-Artists challenge focused on Spiritual Places. While many associate spirituality with religion, the Oxford Dictionary defines it as “relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things”, a much wider interpretation.

While photographing buildings, I inevitably find myself in front of a religious site. It may be a church, temple, or synagogue. There is a quietness to these places. Some may call this respectfulness.

One place that gives me a sense of peacefulness is located in Grass Valley. Ananda Village and Crystal Hermitage Garden exude calm.

Many visitors enjoy the tulips in the spring.

Looking over the Sierras.

Churches

Rio Linda, Ca
Sacramento, Ca
Jackson, Ca.

Churches that started as a different building, and churches that have been repurposed.

Saw this in Lincoln, Ca.
On the main street in Zionsville, Indiana this Methodist Church transformed into an art gallery. It sits vacant and is looking for a new purpose.
Congregation Beth Shalom in Marysville, California. This building was once a boarding house. It is now making another change.

Abandoned Religious Building

Bodie, California

Stain Glass and Beauty

Petaluma, Ca.
St. Peteter’s Chapel in Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo California.

Sikh Temple

Yuba City Gurdwara, California

Buddhist Temple

Offerings
Bok Kai Temple in Marysville, Ca

Memorial Sites

Donner Party
Ground Zero 911
Rosie the Riveter
Rosie the Riveter
Memorial sites let us remember

Cemetery

Walking through a cemetery, looking at the gravestones, imagining the history, and taking in the flowers provides me with some quiet reflective spiritualness.

I end at the gravesite of my parents. They both are Holocaust Survivors.

My brother pays respect to my parents. There are no markers for my family from Poland for at least 3 generations due to World War II.

Many ask why stones and not flowers are left at Jewish graves. Upon researching this I found that there are many plausible explanations for this tradition. I would like to think of the remembrance of those who come before me.

Lens-Artists Challenge #241 Spring

This week Sophia invited me to show you what Spring means to me. Is it about new beginnings, nature reborn, or a new chance to go and enjoy the outdoors?
When I think of spring in Sacramento, I think of saturated colors. After our years of drought, California has seen generous dowsing of rainfall. Many of our old oak trees have been taken down because their shriveled roots could not hold up the tree. They are calling these rains “atmospheric rivers”. I say, everything in moderation. Nature is not listening to me.

First – Almond blossoms

Daffodils show up next

This usually got us going up to Daffodil Hill. But the crowds overcame the little town of Volcano, and the local farmer closed his farm to visitors. I remember times in the past when there were few visitors during the week. Too bad.

The Crystal Hermitage Gardens bloom with tulips.

Located in Nevada City, and this year tickets need to be purchased before the visit. This will limit visitors, and make the visit more tranquil.

This year the rainy season has created many changes. But soon the wildflowers will be on full display. Among my favorites are the Californian Poppies.

Full disclosure here – none of these photographs were taken this year. Plans to visit Ananda and the Crystal Hermitage Garden will happen in April. I missed the almond blossoms with all the rain we have been blessed with. My own plants are also waiting for things to dry up. Maybe in a couple of weeks.

When I sit outside with my coffee, and Moxie suns herself I hear many birds, That is enjoyable. But not something that my camera captures.

What do you like about the upcoming season?

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #221 Flower Favorites – and Why?

This week Ann-Christine (Leya – To see a world in a grain of sand) hopes I will bring some colorful joy to us all. She would like a story to go with them. I have plenty of flowers in my photo library. I have a garden, but between lack of time, heat, and a puppy I don’t have many flowers. I love to visit and appreciate the efforts put in by others.

This is my unexpected flowering succulent. An ice plant relative.

Following the annual cycle of blooms, I visited Daffodil Hill in the spring. Over the years it’s popularity grew and overwhelmed this rural setting, and the privately owned ranch closed.

Daffodil Hill provided the backdrop for this photo with some visiting guide dogs in training.

Years ago I went with a friend on a cloudy, misty weekday. Few visitors that day.

So many varieties have been planted over the years. I miss this place.
A peaceful place., until word got out.
Spring and tulips go together.
The Hermitage Gardens in Grass Valley never disappoints!

With friends we go out searching, and come across many beautiful flowers as a bonus!

Mustard flowers bloom among the grape vines in Napa Valley
Sunflowers, zinnias, lotus, irises thistle and cactus flowers found on many outings around Northern California
A sea of flowers cover this hill
Love my California Poppies

Finding pollinators among the flowers is always a fun photograph.

Going to the California coast I love the different flowers I find.

Coastal wild flowers
Pride of Madeira

Botanical Garden and local nurseries display flowers of the area.

As you can see I love love being out finding flowers. My macro lens often brings a breeze, so not many macro shots. My gear now is Fuji xt4. I used my Nikon D7100 for my earlier shots. Now even my iPhone 13 pro gets some use.
i hope these flowers brought some beauty into your day, Any particular flower or image caught your attention?

Oh I forgot to say what flower is my favorite! I don’t have one. I am just not a real fan of cut flowers. I don’t like when they fade.