Faces of our Garden
Posted on July 16, 2014
When I finally acquired a decent macro lens I did not expect that this would actually provide a gateway to a completely different world. In the past, insects and other animals living in our garden were just there, not exactly worthy of a closer look, so I thought. Mostly, they all look the same anyway from an overall perspective.
This Calico Pennant Dragonfly is trying to hypnotize anything in reach.
How surprised was I when I looked at some insects really closely? They were literally dressed in colors that made them unbelievably beautiful. Greens, reds, and blues, not visible without magnification, changed my entire perception of this world. A world of tiny creatures living alongside our daily routines. Suddenly, our garden came alive because of my heightened awareness of all the things happening in it. Flies, snakes, cats, and even we humans share this space, going about our business. Every one of these inhabitants is beautiful and plays a role. I also noticed that certain insects always sit on the same branch. “Good morning, Robber Fly!”, “Hello, Frog!” There is a party going on in our Garden. And it’s actually a lot of fun, now that I’m aware of it.
Here are the faces of the folks living in our garden. I will add more over time. This, at least, is a beginning.
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Garden Intruders – Gipsy Moth Larvae closely observed
Posted on June 22, 2014
As usual, camera in reach, I discovered two Gipsy Moth Larvae while doing some gardening work. Even though very beautiful, these creatures cause extensive damage in United States Forests. Originally from Europe, they can destroy entire forests by eating their leaves. Gipsy Moth Larvae can appear in massive quantities. Fortunately, there are a few ways available to eradicate them. Read more about it here:
If you encounter any creature like this, please record it and report it to local authorities.
Gipsy Moth is one of the most destructive forest pests in the United States destroying large amounts of forests.
Garden Rose impacted by Gipsy Moths, visible on right bottom
Gipsy Moth is one of the most destructive forest pests in the United States destroying large amounts of forests.
Gipsy Moth is one of the most destructive forest pests in the United States destroying large amounts of forests.
Gipsy Moth is one of the most destructive forest pests in the United States destroying large amounts of forests.
Gipsy Moth is one of the most destructive forest pests in the United States destroying large amounts of forests.
Gipsy Moth is one of the most destructive forest pests in the United States destroying large amounts of forests.
Dragon Fly on our fence – A good garden friend
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Cambridge River Festival — Running into Japan
Posted on June 13, 2014
On Saturday, June 7, 2014 the Cambridge River Festival was held. It was a hot day with many people streaming past booths representing cultural aspects of Japan. Crafts, vintage kimonos, charitable activities and more were represented there. Many of these Japanese organizations are related to JREX, the Japanese Resource Exchange.
Tewassa (related story), (Tewassa Website), an organization raising money towards aiding earthquake and tsunami victims in Tohoku sold almost all of their goods consisting of kimono and other craft items.
Without too many words please take a look at these photos to find out about this great day in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Japanese businesses related to food also found an amazingly strong interest.
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Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival in Brookline, Massachusetts
Posted on May 19, 2014
Not too long ago I had the chance to visit a Japanese style cherry blossom festival in Brookline, near Boston. It was held at the local high school. What really stood out was that the audience, as well as the performers were all participating. It was a dancing, drumming, very happy matsuri community. I also would like to point out that Tewassa, an organization raising money towards helping Japanese Tohoku earthquake and tsunami victims was also represented. Please visit Tewassa’s web site here and an earlier post about their activities here. Every Saturday this very engaged group meets in Cambridge for about 2 hours to show their dedication to this noble cause by producing a quilt.
Please enjoy a few photos from this event.
Quilt produced on an ongoing basis by Tewassa
Brookline Sakura Matsuri 2014 – Quilt produced by Tewassa volunteers meeting every Saturday in Cambridge for two hours – HansNagl.com
The very cheerful Tewassa Team
Brookline Sakura Matsuri 2014 – Cheerful Tewassa volunteers raising funds for Japanese Tohoku earthquake and tsunami victims.
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Watching a Dragon Come to Life
Posted on May 2, 2014
Imagine a theater stage where, at the beginning, all you see is large sheet of paper spanning from one side to the other with only a few cherry blossom pedals painted here and there. Then and artist, dressed in a beautiful kimono performs a magic show just with a few brush strokes. I never saw a modern Japanese calligraphy show except on TV and knew that I would be in for something new and powerful. Surely enough I was not disappointed. Syoka Kana drew everybody into her world of dragons, cherry blossoms and calligraphy. It is a silent art which became alive under Kana’s brush. It seemed like her characters started to sing and dance.
This shodo demonstration was organized by the Boston Japan Resource Exchange (JREX) and took place at International Community Church (ICC) in Boston.
I just heard that the final artwork will be on permanent display at the International Community Church in Boston (Please click on the link below for more information).
Syoka Kana’s Blog (In Japanese)
International Community Church (ICC) in Boston
Syoka Kana – Shodo Performance – Boston – April 2014 – Allowing photos to tell the story
Syoka Kana – Shodo Performance – Boston – April 2014 – Allowing photos to tell the story
Syoka Kana – Shodo Performance – Boston – April 2014 – Allowing photos to tell the story
Syoka Kana – Shodo Performance – Boston – April 2014 – Allowing photos to tell the story
Syoka Kana – Shodo Performance – Boston – April 2014 – Allowing photos to tell the story
Syoka Kana – Shodo Performance – Boston – April 2014 – Allowing photos to tell the story
Syoka Kana – Shodo Performance – Boston – April 2014 – Allowing photos to tell the story
Syoka Kana – Shodo Performance – Boston – April 2014 – Allowing photos to tell the story
Everybody should have such a dragon…
Syoka Kana – Shodo Performance – Boston – April 2014 – Allowing photos to tell the story
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Spring Photo Gallery
Posted on April 2, 2014
This is an ongoing collection of various photos taken mostly around Massachusetts throughout spring 2014. I will add more as soon as I get more chances to enjoy spring with my camera. There are just a few photos shown here as spring is just about to begin. More will be added continuously. Thank you very much for visiting.
Click on an image to view gallery
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Loving Hands Quilting for Tohoku
Posted on March 9, 2014
Tohoku Thoughts – Three Years after the Earthquake and Tsunami
— Tohoku People —
Kind and welcoming. Happy, cheerful, no-nonsense attitude. Hardworking, honest and good-hearted, shy at first then opening the world for you. More than anything else: Resilient and Tough.
— Memories —
Forests and the summer rain. Mountains, a glass of sake, Cicadas, fishing boats and oyster farms. Hot Springs, Herbs, Food from Sea and Land, Snow, Stories, Inspirations. Friends.
A few Tohoku memories and thoughts
Thank You for your hard work and spirit, allowing me to re-live my memories, enjoying your Tohoku every time I visit there.
Links:
tevassa.org: Quilting for Tohoku in Cambridge, Japan Resource Exchange (JREX)
Country Gazette Newspaper Appearance
Posted on March 1, 2014
Country Gazette, Franklin Edition, Friday, February 28, 2014
It does not happen every day that one opens the local newspaper in the morning and finds some very familiar images published in it. The Country Gazette, published in the Franklin, MA area, featured a section which included some of my photos. They were carefully arranged on a page called Photographer’s Portfolio.
I would like to thank the Country Gazette for featuring my photos.
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Freezing Glow at the Coast
Posted on February 20, 2014
The coldest glow I ever experienced
A couple of days ago I took a quick ride to the nearby coast at Onset, MA. The day was just about to end and I thought I would not have enough light for any photos. Still wanted to look at the sea and listen to the waves for a while. When I arrived at the iced up beach I realized that the setting sun painted colorful reflections on the very calm sea. As it grew darker the reflections changed from a soft pink to a very strong dark red. This did not last very long and right after the last piece of red vanished it got very dark and super cold. My fingers were numb despite some great wool gloves and I carefully moved the tripod with the camera back to the car across the frozen beach.
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Snowy Day in Massachusetts, again
Posted on February 18, 2014
Looks like these buses are looking forward to spring
These school buses reminded me about a group of people lined up for a long time waiting for the moment when spring finally makes an appearance on the horizon. Looking at this photo it seems as if they are actually having a conversation about moving to Florida.
This barn located near Franklin, Ma looks like it escape from a fairy tale book
This red barn near Franklin, Ma cannot be overseen, especially with the white and black colors of the forest as a background. The snow on the ground is also untouched. It sits there almost like a candy house. When I attempted to drive past this place it seemed as if the car stopped almost by itself indicating that the ride will continue only with a photo in the box. I could not argue with this.
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Blizzard Commute
Posted on February 17, 2014
Franklin Line T Commuter Train becoming visible through the heavy blizzard snow
Took these photos of the Franklin Line T commuter train while cross-country skiing through a nearby forest during the last blizzard. It was amazing to still see the trains in operation on this day despite the large amount of snow and ice. Sometimes I wonder what people inside might think or do when looking out of their windows into a swirling cloud of white snow inside this nicely heated train.
I am very glad that my camera equipment held up. Every time I venture out into such weather I am learning something new about how to best hide the camera and lens from the elements.
Franklin Line T Commuter Rail making its way through the heavy blizzard snow
Franklin bound T Commuter Rail taking on the blizzard
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Cafe Gute Katze & GoodTimes English 