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That last gate photo is so disorienting in the contrast of its materials and style, neither of look inviting to pass through. What's just beyond it looks very inviting. I wish you a wonderful evening.

Submitted by magiamma on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:42pm

Hi Snoopy

@snoopydawg
Wow! Cyclone fence meets mid-evil gate. Where does it lead I wonder? And your other photo with the gate is lovely. Both make me think they open to somewhere magical.

So sad about the condos. It's happening everywhere and people cannot afford to live in them. They are living in the streets here while the engineers etc. from the silicon valley come and rent the condos.

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 8:56pm

There is a very nice yard and house behind the gate

Janis

There used to be a hospital in this area and so that's where doctors built their huge homes. I got a kick out of the gate the first time I saw it, but I'm glad they didn't just throw it away. I bet there is a story behind it.

magiamamma

The second photo is just left over fencing that someone just left up for some reason. It's in the area of where I took the photos of the mustard seeds and posted a few weeks ago. This area is very diverse with lots of different terrains in the same area.

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Submitted by janis b on Sat, 06/16/2018 - 9:35pm

I can imagine there's interesting stories behind it,

that we'll never know. Adds to the intrigue in a way.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:14pm

Hi Pricknick, and thanks for posting tonight's POT

Sometimes I wish that dimension included time-travel. It would be nice to be there, even for only a short time, just long enough to feel the sunlight and fresh air on your skin, and fill yourself with its sublime beauty. These moments and impressions are so powerful and long lasting. Your photos are the next best place. I love how you reveal the perfect sun symbol in the centre of the lily. Thank you.

Submitted by Pricknick on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:25pm

Thanks for asking me to host.

@janis b
Just getting ready to start the bonfire so I'll be permanently hiatus for the rest of the evening.
Peace.

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Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:38pm

My pleasure.

@Pricknick

I'll be around for the next two hours. Enjoy the warmth and sparkling of the bonfire. Looks like a clear, still day and night. Maybe you'll tell us a campfire story next week ; ).

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:23pm

Red wing Blackbirds are adorable.

In my home town of Carmel Valley, there's an old abandoned airport that they occasionally pay people to mow. When they don't bother for a few months, the Blackbirds take over the area and sing constantly. Which of course causes the wealthy homeowners to complain, and so the grass is again mowed...

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:55pm

Those homeowners must be tone deaf

@detroitmechworks

with self imposed sightlessness.

[video:https://youtu.be/Q9tZedXvJ44]

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:31pm

More green, and some grey

Submitted by magiamma on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:53pm

Evening Janis

@janis b
Those lichens are having a good go of it there in your rain forest. Beautiful photos. And the water body is? Milford Sound? Probably not. Just guessing the only big water body I know.

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 8:02pm

The photo is from Huia Point Lookout,

my little corner of the universe.

The Milford Sound is at the bottom of the South island of NZ, and is a fiord and the wettest place in NZ.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 8:10pm

This one from my last walk on the beach reminded me of you

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 8:57pm

great pix J

love your scenics Janis...

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 9:05pm

Thanks dystopian!

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 9:01pm

Is that moss and lichen on the tree?

Nice composition of the cloud in the middle. Is that the lake that starts with a W where all the rich people are moving to?

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Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 9:10pm

Yes, on a young (100 years old) Kauri tree.

I think the 'W' lake you're thinking of is Lake Wanaka in the Southern Alps, a long way from here.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 9:24pm

Yep, that's the name I was thinking of

For some reason I thought you lived by it. Hmm

Did you see the story of the raccoon that climbed up a building? I tried finding it, but no luck.

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Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 9:43pm

I'm living on the Manukau Harbour

on the Tasman Sea. One side of NZ is the Pacific and one side the Tasman.

The amazing racoon was news here as well. Glad he made it back down safely.

Submitted by QMS on Sat, 06/16/2018 - 6:18am

Is that where the Tasmanian Devils live?

@janis b Looks like a pretty area by your photos.

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question everything

Submitted by janis b on Sat, 06/16/2018 - 9:43pm

It's gorgeous,

@QMS

and free of devils, Tasmanian ones anyway.

Submitted by QMS on Sun, 06/17/2018 - 4:54pm

the devil and the deep blue sea

@janis b @janis b living among beauty explains your character, outstanding array of magic.

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question everything

Submitted by janis b on Sun, 06/17/2018 - 9:25pm

Evening QMS

@QMS

Living among beauty has definitely carved a deep imprint on my character, which has always sought it. Everyday there is something to remind me of the vitality and everlasting beauty of nature, despite all that has been tragically altered. I guess I need that.

Submitted by magiamma on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:33pm

Hi Pricknic - thanks for posting

I love the shot of the waterlily.

This week I combined nature and art at the Serra Azul Nursery Sculpture Garden.

Sierra Azul Nursery Sculpture 2.jpg

Nature makes her own sculpture
Sierra Azul Nursery Flower 3.jpg

Multi dimensional flowers
Sierra Azul Nursury Flower 1.jpg

Reaching to the sky
Sierra Azul Nursery Sculpture 1.jpg

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:46pm

Hi magiamma

Your artwork and photos of nature's artwork are fascinating. It's sometimes difficult to distinguish between vegetable and animal. How the light enhances the figures in the last photo is beautiful. Thank you.

Submitted by magiamma on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:55pm

Not my art work

@janis b
The garden next to the nursery has a show each year of new work plus the permanent work that they have bought from the exhibitions. It's always such a treat to go just because it's summer and so many wonder plants are on display.

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 8:19pm

There was something in the first sculpture

that had a quality that reminded me of your work. I think because of it's construction.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 9:03pm

"Nature makes her own sculpture"

Do you know the name of the plant?

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Submitted by magiamma on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 10:36pm

No Snoopy

@snoopydawg
But I can send a picture to the nursery and find out I bet. It is just such a little piece of sculpture on its own.

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:54pm

Thanks for Friday Night Photos tonight, Pricknick.

I haven't been able to get out with the camera much the last few weeks so here's some shots from the archives.

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by magiamma on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 7:59pm

Hi Social

@Socialprogressive
Thanks for the phabulous photos. I like them all. But the dragon fly is my favorite. We have those here in Norther Cal up in the wine country.

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 8:53pm

400+ dragons

Just as an aside, off the top of my head methinks there are a little over 400 species of dragonflies in North America, which means U.S. mainland and Canada. Odes, short for Odonata, is the group consisting of dragonflies, and their smaller cousins, damselflies. California has a little over 100 species of odes in the state. There are a few counties in Texas with 100 species! SP's above is a Flame Skimmer (Libellula saturata)

Here is a late green one for Janis... a just-emerged Eastern Pondhawk.

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 9:16pm

Thanks for the dragonfly

I don't recall ever seeing a green one before. The colour and markings are wonderful. I think they must have been the inspiration for the helicopter.

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Sat, 06/16/2018 - 8:08am

Thank you, Magiamma

@magiamma
I think the dragonflies here are camera shy. They never like to come close enough for a picture when I'm out with the camera.

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by janis b on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 8:20pm

Thanks Social

@Socialprogressive

Your wildlife photos are a treasure.

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Sat, 06/16/2018 - 8:13am

Thank you for the wonderful compliment, Janis

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I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by Daenerys on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 10:28pm

Evening everyone.

Should've been in bed an hour and a half ago but alas it's hay baling time here, so no rest for the wicked.
Here's a bobolink that hubby and I saw on our walk yesterday:

They are quite pretty, and make sounds like R2D2. They are also in the blackbird family.

Cheers!

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This shit is bananas.

Submitted by LEFTYFRIZZLE on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 11:01pm

4 MILE CREEK

My fondest memory as a boy growing up on the Platte River in Nebr was laying on the banks of the 4 Mile Creek with a line in water listening to the shrill of redwing blackbirds and the cooing of turtle doves.God I miss the Green of the Great Plains,summers in Las Vegas are long and depressing,your photos are beautiful!

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Submitted by janis b on Sat, 06/16/2018 - 9:47pm

I'm glad you have those memories to enjoy, Frizzle .

@LEFTYFRIZZLE

They're priceless.

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 11:46pm

great pics pricknick

Hey P, love your Red-winged Blackbird and Red-tailed Hawk pix. The river looks like great birding and swimming.

D, yer Bobolink is great... a half-black blackbird... their genus means "rice eater". Their song is wonderful, "bobolink, bobolink spink spank spink" all bubbly gurgling, awesome.

One last late shot, a pink and plum dragon, Roseate Skimmer, male

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by janis b on Sat, 06/16/2018 - 9:56pm

Thanks for all the colour!

[video:https://youtu.be/-F46yl5gqzA]

Submitted by dystopian on Sun, 06/17/2018 - 5:18pm

Thanks Janis!

Could you tell I was a Stones guy, or was it woman's intuition?

John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame did the string arrangement on this song, and Nicky Hopkins played the piano. Charlie's drums are great too. They might have been on something?

—

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

Submitted by janis b on Sun, 06/17/2018 - 9:33pm

More like intuition,