The Color Wheel

On a clear fall day, a wide expanse 

of blue sky provided the backdrop 

for this big maple tree, in the process 

illustrating the color wheel 

with a tapestry's swash of hues.

And, per Stefan's request,
the whole tree!

I'd thought it over and found I liked to see it
off-center just a bit, like myself.

Wintery Shades of Gray

It has rained for about two-and-a-half days straight.

 I love the humidity with the mild air and would 

be happy if this would be our winter, but sadly,

temperatures that have been in the fifties are dropping -- 

Boo! back into the thirties. The ground is sodden

with large pools of standing water in 

the Coke Field and elsewhere. 

Nearby, the sidewalk was clotted with leaves

faded into suitably dire shades of gray.

I liked the way the leaves related to each other, creating

interesting patterns of negative and positive space,

and especially enjoyed the swirls and whorls

the rain water made as it flowed amid the leaves.

Where False Titties Come From ...

Only thing ... these toadstool falsies were about 

twelve inches in diameter. Each.

The Big-Ass Bees Are Out

At the Coke Field, the little florets are on this plant 

are hosting the bees who'll spread its pollen 

to the flower's kin along the creek. 

July Theme: Facades: It's So Green

This past week, the weather has been dodgy ... the sun 

is dodging in and out of cloud cover

and rain showers have occurred once or twice a day.

Compared to last year, the green is abundant; 

all the trees are happy and flowers 

have been blooming amok.

The pictures above were taken this past week

at the Coke Field, showing shrubbery

overwhelmed with their good fortune.

The photo below was taken on the same day

 a year ago, showing the grass dried

into a mat of straw yellow.

And what has this to do with the CDP July 

theme of "Facades"? Nothing, I suppose, 

unless one realizes that one of my favorite spots

to look for bits of green, turtles, and pretty sunrises

 is actually a small grove of trees growing 

alongside a drainage ditch. People walk across

the property without realizing one can see

the occasional heron, coyotes stalking field mice,

and hawks raising their young in a nearby tree.

Yep, it is a ditch bisecting a large field that

is used as a parking lot during the IMS

racing season. But I prefer the facade, that is 

my little bit of wild in the city.

To see other interpretations of this month's

theme by photographers from all around

the world, click on the link above,

or the CDP badge to the right. 

A Rainy Day

It was gray all day. Rain had been forecast and I delayed going for a walk 

even though I knew Now would definitely be better than Later.

Grass in the Coke Field is already ankle high, much of it squishy

underfoot from earlier showers.

As I skirted the edge of the little woods, I looked up to see a large nest,

too big for most birds in the area, too weird to be a squirrel's abode.

Glancing into the still leafless branches, I saw I was

being watched by a large hawk. She was at least a foot tall, 

her herringbone patterned breast echoing the patterns of 

the naked trees behind her. Too fast, I reached for my camera,

startling her into flight. I looked for her, but she had flown

to another shelter, waiting for me to leave.

I'll go back another day. And another.

I walked on, feeling a mist of rain on my face that

turned into drops, then became a shower.

Somehow, I convinced myself I could walk between

the raindrops and enjoy the shower without becoming sodden.

I took the time to visit some trees, to check on 

a couple redbuds and a plane tree in the neighborhood,

and to try for pictures of rain on these pretty trees.

In and Out

The sun and clouds are alternating their presence in our days, 

in and out, as we work our way closer to spring.

These changes often happen within hours --

the morning is cloud-covered, bringing snow showers

that coat the ground with a thin glaze of white.

The breeze pushes out the overcast, dragging the bright

sun just behind. Everything is bathed in the sun's light,

then, more clouds and a bit more snow.

It's a bit like the instructions on a shampoo bottle:

"Wash. Rinse. Repeat." cleansing away the winter 

doldrums as preparation for the renewal 

and promise of spring.

And while I was huddled on my couch, I listened to a couple
musicians I hadn't heard much about.

Stalking the American Robin

People who live near the Coke Field have told me about watching coyotes 

trotting across the field and of foxes pouncing on field mice.

Hawks can sometimes be seen circling overhead, coolly awaiting

an unsuspecting rabbit to enter its line of sight.  

While I've startled up the occasional heron, the only bit of wildlife

I see regularly is the ubiquitous American Robin.

Today, I found myself on-line looking for illustrations showing

the differences between coyote and dog tracks

(the general shape of a coyote paw seems more oval

than a dog's foot) because I think I've gotten

excited over a track that's turned out to be the poodle

belonging to Harry, who lives down the street.

Watch as Sara, the Great White Hunter stalks puppies and kitties 

in her quest to photograph Speedway's urban wildlife.

Sunshine, on a Cloudy Day

The branches are pointing towards the brightest spot of the day,

 a moderately lighter area in the day's overcast.

I'd been out walking for about ninety minutes when

snow started falling. I stopped at the store only to find the 

temperatures were dropping just as the flurries

increased their intensity.

A bit of  blue briefly shown through the overcast.

"I got sunshine on a cloudy day," came from this Motown

classic, recorded in 1964 by the Temptations

All I Want for Solstice

Winter came in with the solstice, right on schedule, 

bringing cold rain, hail, gusty winds and snow flurries. 

It then warmed up and gave us sunny, blue skies.

Apparently, this is just a respite, as we are to get snow

for Christmas. A white Christmas. Ugh!

It will be pretty for about fifteen minutes, then will

turn to dirty slush and ochre-colored ice.

To top it off, I hate being cold and count the lengthening

days as just another chore to get through

until spring returns, bringing green grass and flowers. 

A December Gift

I fully expected to find the Coke Field a mass of gray branches 

sticking out above lifeless grass. Of course, it wasn't; denuded of their

leaves, the trees and stems revealed their taupe, mauve and

maroon winter wardrobes. Sneaky bits of green grass remain,

as well as moss, and the day's blue sky shown in the creek.

During my walk, I met a man walking his dogs. 

He remarked on the beautiful day we'd been given, 

a gift in the middle of December. As I watched, the clouds

raced across the blue sky, and the sunlight danced 

a tango on the trees and field, and I had to agree.

Maltese in Speedway

Fluttering in the morning breeze, the white fibers 

of the milkweed reminded me of Maltese 
terrier puppies being paraded in the show ring, 
their dark noses and eyes standing out 
from their silky coats as they strut for the judges.

Where Maltese puppies come from.

Sunny Reflections

Clouds moved in as the sun rose over the Coke Field 

 casting rich, seductive color over the landscape.

I turned around to see that the clouds had 

allowed the sun to take a peek at its reflection 

in the creek. What it saw was a pool of liquid gold, 

undulating through the field, at the beginning 

of a long trip to the Mississippi River.

November Theme Day: Water's Edge

The day I took this the clouds were moving in to hide 

the bright sun. I turned to look over the little bridge at the Coke Field, 

where the sun reflected off the water so brightly it drove the plants 

at water's edge into shadows and silhouette.

Today is Theme Day for the members of the 

City Daily Photo community of bloggers.

Here are other interpretations of the theme,

made by photographers from all over the world.

  

Mostly Blue and Orange

When I left for my walk last Saturday morning, it was beautiful. 

My first visit was to the catalpa tree just a block away, 
then I walked towards the Coke Field, 
hoping to catch it bathed in the same intense color 
I found when I first got up.

Nope. The clouds began to gather as I approached

the little bridge where I go to look for turtles and herons.

Of themselves, the clouds are not a bad thing; 

perhaps they might make a nice backdrop for sunlit leaves?

No such luck. The sun did not reappear while I was

at the Coke Field. But it did after I was about 

a half mile from home. 

Blue, yellow, and green, with just a spot of red.

Monochrome

Surrounded by color, these dried stems and pods in the Coke Field 

might easily have been overlooked. Since they are virtually the same value

 as the mound of dirt where they grew, I almost missed them.

Cloudy Reflection

When I stood on the little bridge at the Coke Field, 

I saw this cloud admiring its reflection 

in the creek. It was a bright sunny day, made

even more surprising by the contrast between the

clouds and sky and the ground below. 

John Constable in Speedway

I don't like drama in my life, but I love to see it in clouds.

I was introduced to the artwork of John Constable

in one of my first college art history classes.

While my preference is for contemporary art, Constable's

land and seascapes stick with me; there are times when 

I will just stop to watch the clouds as they scud

across the sky. Often, when I am at the Coke Field,

I'll stand on the little bridge and imagine it's

a field in the English countryside.

Below is Ploughing Scene in Suffolk, painted in 1814.

But the one below, a seascape study, is my favorite.

Our storms generally come out of the plains

of the Midwest. On occasion, I saw dark clouds

approaching as we drove west from Ohio.

The vast, green farmland of Ohio was as good

as any ocean to see thunderheads sweeping in,

dropping curtains of rain on their approach.

Jus'kiddin'

The corner of 26th Street and Lynhurst Drive is not an intersection 

as much as it is a 90-degree turn. One needs to pay attention to the signs

or end up either in the middle of the Coke Field or wrapped

around a utility pole. The yellow stripes warning

drivers to not pass at all, at any time seem rather bland

until you notice the many varying shades of yellow that attempt

to describe the arc of the turn. Add to that

the swash of a skid mark made by a car than ran the risk

of missing the turn and you have the whole story. 

Floral Galaxy ...

...or maybe floating lace. 

While walking through the Coke Field on Sunday

afternoon, I saw this grouping of tiny white flowers 

at the edge of the trees. The sun had caught them 

at an angle that made the flowers look 

as though they were floating.