Passion in the Landis Arboretum

Popularly, passionflowers and especially passionfruit are frequently used with sexual or romantic innuendo, giving rise to such uses as a one-time soft drink named Purple Passion. The "Passion" in "passion flower" does not refer to sex and love however, but to the passion of Jesus Christ. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries adopted the unique physical structures of this plant, particularly the numbers of its various flower parts, as symbols of the last days of Jesus Christ and especially the Crucifixion:

a photo is worth 6.5 words

One reason to travel is to build memories. Always take a camera. You never know whom you will meet.

locked door

Over this weekend I visited a lighthouse near the Oneida River. There is good news and bad news: the good news is that no admission was charged.

body language

Is it obvoious what is going on in the "bird-brain"? We can "read" other people because we are people. But we are not birds.

earthen vessels

Most rest on the shelf in denial.

a mystery

When I passed this spot about 30 min. ago. there was a fisherman. But his pail and some fishing equipment is all that is left --- along with a little fish.

What happened to the fisherman? I have three possibilities. I will give you the most likely explanation: The mother of the fish, out a feeling for revenge, pulled him in under the water.

flowers are forever

Flowers that were painted on a brick wall. However, the artist used watercolor paint.

interpretation

The sign read do not enter without permission.

"Mary, may I go into this area?"

"You have my permission."

Shortly after I entered the area, I shot this flying green heron.

Sunflower Walk ?

I have heard of "bird walks", "whale watches", and "wild flower walks". But a "sunflower walk"? I would think that if you have seen one sunflower - you know the rest of the saying. I took the walk. I was wrong.

Stop and smell the sunset

Though you are in the picture, does that mean that you see the picture?

Wild Carrot

If it looks like a rose and it smells like a rose, it is probably a rose. HOWEVER , if it grows like a weed and if smells like a carrot, it is probably Queen Anne's Lace.

A piece of stone

Pictures often bring us thoughts and feeling that are definitely not in the picture. I see things in this picture that are not there.

Though my eyes see a piece of stone, I do have other feelings about it. Strange....

"predator eyes"

Mary and I were walking the path along the Erie Canal on Friday evening. Mary pointed out this Green Heron to me and I hurried {note: I did not say ran.} back to the car to get my camera.

The Green Heron is one of the few known tool-using species. They typically stand still on shore or in shallow water or perch upon branches and await prey. Sometimes they drop food, insects, or other small objects on the water's surface to attract fish.

Then What ?

Many of us are familiar with the famous lines from the Scottish plowboy: "If we could see ourselves as others see us, then ..." But what then? What is the rest of the story?

out of step

Right...then...Left !!! Right...then...Left!!!

Are boys slower than girls or do they have more on their mind ?

You can't say he's not part of the parade ---- He doesn't even know there is a parade.

Or, maybe he is in a different one !

a partial view

I wanted to show you another amazing cloud, but I was too tired to climb the rocks to get the picture. You will just have to be satisfied with the view of the top of the cloud.

What is that?

Some wondered what clouds have to do with "Where's Bob?". If there are clouds over the garden, then I tend to play cloud games. There are five cloud games to select from; I usually play the easiest. The cloud sometimes determines the game.
scheduled

a garden creature

This chipmunk and his sister spend early morning time in Mary's garden. If there are no clouds in the sky, I will sit on the deck and follow their antics. I have invented a game called "Where's Bob?" {Bob is the chipmunk}

coexistence

fourth of July

I was surprised when the expression, "It is what it is" was not already taken as the title of a blog. Then I found out from my "cutting-edge" friends that it really is a trite, overused, and meaningless expression. {among other things --- all not good!}

I kept the title for three reasons:
1. I am very much at home with meaningless expression.
2. I find that, for me, long familiarity does not spoil. {trite}