Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). It flourishes along the flamingo enclosure. Some might say, this flower does not have permission to be in a row with photos of a zoo. It is not exotic. A very common plant; nothing special. But I like it very much. When I see it, then rise up in me images of my childhood. I see places, where I played at gravel ponds, dug channels into the sand, caught fish with hands in a cold creek. And at these damp places there were these flowers with their purple blossoms. When I see this flower, I close my eyes and I feel, hear, smell, see these places of my childhood. For me it is a flower of summer and reminds me of good times.
How beautiful! Love both the form and the color of this flower - and your dof gives it such a soft feeling. It's wonderful how things like this transport you back in time to happy memories.
@milaniet
Thank Milanie, for your nice comment!
The sight of some objects can trigger in me deep memories - smells, colors, shapes, events, sounds...
Maybe I'm a bit dreamy...
Amazing, Jerome... lovely lighting and softness to this. Love your memories... similar to mine growing up in B.C. where our shoes were always wet because the water came over our boots as we walked home through the ditches, floating our pine cone boats.
@aikimomm
Thank you, dear Phoebe, for your perspective on things that surround us. I think it is ultimately about what we do with them and how much the world outside can be a world in us...
For this purpose one could say much...
Thank you, Stef, for your nice comment! I am very pleased that you have similar experiences and memories of your childhood. The encounter with nature is something very important for young people. You can learn and benefit from it so much.
I read that you're already retired - I envy you... I would have much more free time for everything seems important to me right now.
A passionate nature lover you are. That's nice! Your way of traveling is really amazing and I am very impressed. The passion for nature and passion for photography find wonderfully together here.
And I admire your beautiful photos! An excellent eye you have! With the Nikon D810 you have also an excellent tool. Which macro lens do you have? I have recently a Nikon D750.
May I ask you what subjects you taught?
@jerome Yes, nature, such an valuable part of childhood! It teaches us many lessons. I was kayaking today and when I returned home, a dragonfly landed on my leg and hung out there a while... a first after many years of watching these guys. If I hadn't smelt like the river, I doubt he would have landed on me.
Yes, just retired this June so newly sprung and working on new adventures. ( I have a very serious one planned for next summer: 2300 miles of river north of the Arctic Circle... at least three months... solo... the rest of the Yukon!! I'm so excited. And, I'll be able to bring my good camera gear as I'm going to use the old row boat that I did the first half of the river on... 11'. This trip is much more remote which will be amazing! Hope you get to retire soon as well... there is so much to see world wide that I can hardly wait to get started. Yes and nature and photography go hand in hand... the first half of the Yukon I had an old film Pentax and took slides... this time will be different.
I use a Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 macro HSM as my macro lens. I have really good rings as well but hardly need them. I like that I can take photos from a few feet away as well as up close as it gives me the option of getting that cover shot and I move in for the macro.
I started and ran a program for children with mental illness who were unable to function in the classroom... the program was in the public school, and students were mainstreamed as much as they were able. I started the middle school program then was asked to start the elementary school program, and an early childhood support system. So I was running the elementary program when I retired... taught all subjects, but science and math were my passions. What kind of work will you be retiring from? You speak so poetically, are you a writer? I have been to Austria long ago, and it was such a beautiful country... lucky you!
This photo is just beautiful! But I also just love your text. First of all, you are so poetic in the way you speak and feel things. And also I can relate so well to your comment that when you see something (this flower for you in this case), you can feel, hear, smell, see places of your childhood... that it reminds you of summer and good times. I have felt that way about certain bushes before, where it did the same thing. How very lovely!!
@stefneyhart
Thank you for your kind letter, dear Stef!
With a kayak you're out - exciting! For water I'm not so much on the go, very much I rely on my feet. I'm more climbers. But I find it really exciting when you tell me about your trips to water.
A dragonfly resting on your leg - experiences like these belong to the actual sensations in life.
In Austria you were already! Nice that you have good memories of this visit. Two years ago I was in Alaska. A wonderful country! Very much I would visit this country again.
What I would also like to do: Experience the Indian summer and hiking through the autumn woods of New England.
Next summer you doing your great trip - certainly a wonderful experience and adventure.
Unfortunately, I have to wait a good while on my retirement - 12 years. In which age can a teacher in Oregon to retire?
I have the same macro lens like you - Sigma 105mm, 1: 2.8 :).
I teach the subjects of art and technology - for secondary schools. Since a few years I'm in training for students of pedagogy (primary and secondary).
Literature interests me, but I'm not a writer. But I like to express in written words. However, my English is so bad. I hope I write in this forum not too much nonsense. I hold back me to write here in English. Much of verbal wit, I do not understand and I can not participate in some conversations.
I teach the subjects of art and technology (handycraft) - for secondary schools. Since a few years I'm in training teaching students (primary and secondary).
Very interesting is your educational field. I think it is very challenging.
Really great are your travel plans - 2300 miles of river north of the Arctic Circle ... at least three months ... solo ... the rest of the Yukon - sounds incredibly exciting! I suppose we will see extraordinary photos from this trip. I envy you very much, but I am of course very happy about your project. Next summer you doing this trip - I wish you already a wonderful time on this trip. Certainly a wonderful experience and adventure. I understand very well that you can hardly wait to visit the beauties of this earth. Unfortunately, life is too short to see everything.
Pretty beautiful greetings to Oregon! Looking forward to hearing from you again!
a beautiful picture and wonderful words Jerome. I also agree that flower can remind us of our childhood. When you close your eyes and draw in their perfume you are there again.
Thank you, Clare, for your nice comment!
How nice that you have this flower in your garden! To me it means a lot. :)
Thank Milanie, for your nice comment!
The sight of some objects can trigger in me deep memories - smells, colors, shapes, events, sounds...
Maybe I'm a bit dreamy...
Many thanks for your so nice comments! :)
Thank you for your kind comment!
I think memories belong to a big treasure in us. It's good to open this treasure chest now and then.
Thank you, dear Phoebe, for your perspective on things that surround us. I think it is ultimately about what we do with them and how much the world outside can be a world in us...
For this purpose one could say much...
Thank you, Lynn, for your nice comment and your fav!
Thank you, Stef, for your nice comment! I am very pleased that you have similar experiences and memories of your childhood. The encounter with nature is something very important for young people. You can learn and benefit from it so much.
I read that you're already retired - I envy you... I would have much more free time for everything seems important to me right now.
A passionate nature lover you are. That's nice! Your way of traveling is really amazing and I am very impressed. The passion for nature and passion for photography find wonderfully together here.
And I admire your beautiful photos! An excellent eye you have! With the Nikon D810 you have also an excellent tool. Which macro lens do you have? I have recently a Nikon D750.
May I ask you what subjects you taught?
Yes, just retired this June so newly sprung and working on new adventures. ( I have a very serious one planned for next summer: 2300 miles of river north of the Arctic Circle... at least three months... solo... the rest of the Yukon!! I'm so excited. And, I'll be able to bring my good camera gear as I'm going to use the old row boat that I did the first half of the river on... 11'. This trip is much more remote which will be amazing! Hope you get to retire soon as well... there is so much to see world wide that I can hardly wait to get started. Yes and nature and photography go hand in hand... the first half of the Yukon I had an old film Pentax and took slides... this time will be different.
I use a Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 macro HSM as my macro lens. I have really good rings as well but hardly need them. I like that I can take photos from a few feet away as well as up close as it gives me the option of getting that cover shot and I move in for the macro.
I started and ran a program for children with mental illness who were unable to function in the classroom... the program was in the public school, and students were mainstreamed as much as they were able. I started the middle school program then was asked to start the elementary school program, and an early childhood support system. So I was running the elementary program when I retired... taught all subjects, but science and math were my passions. What kind of work will you be retiring from? You speak so poetically, are you a writer? I have been to Austria long ago, and it was such a beautiful country... lucky you!
Thank you for your kind letter, dear Stef!
With a kayak you're out - exciting! For water I'm not so much on the go, very much I rely on my feet. I'm more climbers. But I find it really exciting when you tell me about your trips to water.
A dragonfly resting on your leg - experiences like these belong to the actual sensations in life.
In Austria you were already! Nice that you have good memories of this visit. Two years ago I was in Alaska. A wonderful country! Very much I would visit this country again.
What I would also like to do: Experience the Indian summer and hiking through the autumn woods of New England.
Next summer you doing your great trip - certainly a wonderful experience and adventure.
Unfortunately, I have to wait a good while on my retirement - 12 years. In which age can a teacher in Oregon to retire?
I have the same macro lens like you - Sigma 105mm, 1: 2.8 :).
I teach the subjects of art and technology - for secondary schools. Since a few years I'm in training for students of pedagogy (primary and secondary).
Literature interests me, but I'm not a writer. But I like to express in written words. However, my English is so bad. I hope I write in this forum not too much nonsense. I hold back me to write here in English. Much of verbal wit, I do not understand and I can not participate in some conversations.
I teach the subjects of art and technology (handycraft) - for secondary schools. Since a few years I'm in training teaching students (primary and secondary).
Very interesting is your educational field. I think it is very challenging.
Really great are your travel plans - 2300 miles of river north of the Arctic Circle ... at least three months ... solo ... the rest of the Yukon - sounds incredibly exciting! I suppose we will see extraordinary photos from this trip. I envy you very much, but I am of course very happy about your project. Next summer you doing this trip - I wish you already a wonderful time on this trip. Certainly a wonderful experience and adventure. I understand very well that you can hardly wait to visit the beauties of this earth. Unfortunately, life is too short to see everything.
Pretty beautiful greetings to Oregon! Looking forward to hearing from you again!
Dear Stef, if you are interested in an e-mail contact - my address: sunset.glow@yahoo.de
Thank you! So nice! :)
It touches me very much. Thank you, Caroline!