Tuesday, May 21, 2013

A Different City, A Different Point of View, A Different Series of Posts!

Hello, hello!

Two posts in one day? Well actually to be fair, the previous post had been started while I was still at Conn--I just didn't have the time or energy to finish it until now. ^^;; So technically, I didn't do two posts in one night. In any case, I thought that since I was back home, I might as well start a new series of posts.

This new series is called A Different Point of View and probably won't be added to as regularly as First Touch for a number of reasons. First is that, unlike First Touch, this is not a documentary series. Second is that being back in the city, there is not as much flora to capture unless I were to frequent the botanical gardens or snap shots of the sidewalk trees. That's not to say that the city is barren however, so expect that there will be posts over the summer. I might still put up pics from Conn however, though I would much prefer to do that when I am actually at Conn. In any case, I'm diverging.

Different Point of View is an idea I had, I think, on a rainy day. I've always wanted to go running around taking pictures in the rain, which isn't such a great idea for my camera. So I decided that what better way to take pictures of the rain without being in the rain than to go at it from the inside? Plus, living on the fourth floor really gives one a different perspective on plants outside one's window. Unfortunately my camera was not on hand when I had this idea, so no rain pictures. And I managed to get window pictures only once, but in any case, the purpose of this series is to get pictures that are not necessarily from a traditional outside viewpoint, but from different locations, such as inside, perhaps one day from a treetop, etc.

I've rambled on enough, so without further ado, I present to you...a different point of view--from the fourth floor windows of my dorm. I assure you, each and every one of these are all window shots, some with zoom, others without.


Ah, the mysterious window makes a partial appearance

With a visible window ledge
With zoom, as you can probably tell

Should be easier to tell in this picture that I was a ways above ground level!
A-ha! A window comes into view! To be honest, I took this picture because I was amused by the presence of the spoon



And now, from my room window...
Silly me, not opening the screen...
Let there be light...

Yep yep. That's all for now. It'd be great if there were some suggestions for other points of views I could take. Until next time then.

First Touch of Spring - Time is of the Essence (Part II)

Hello!

So, as promised, here is Part II of my last post! More pictures, less words. Lucky you! ;)

I have no clue what this plant is--I originally thought I would see berries, but lo and behold, the "berries" were actually flowers!

Taken a little over a week later--they've gotten bigger and slightly redder in color
Surprise! They've blossomed into flowers! (Taken over a week later)

Full bloom five days later

Its poor neighboring relative--still in this state. Hmm, wonder why that is?

We're looking at the patch of grass behind the bench...
How sad and barren! (Sorry that the pic is oriented wrong >.<)

Now, practically a month later...
There is life!

I guess I won't be able to call these First Touch of Spring anymore huh? Spring is well on its way! Plus I'm not at Conn anymore; ah well, until next time then~

Friday, May 10, 2013

First Touch of Spring - Time is of the Essence (Part I)

Good evening fellow plant lovers,

Can you believe how time flies? I just realized that I'll be going home soon--but there's still so much I want to share pertaining to life here at Conn! I still have so many pictures of the coming of spring and well it's no fun posting them when I'm not here. But I guess a different location means a different series of posts right?

In any case, this latest post was inspired by watching the progression of spring--from flowering trees to falling flowers to the reappearance of leaves--it's really rather amazing to see how nature changes isn't it? And I don't mean just from winter to spring, but within spring itself. Besides just the changing scenery, this post is also in memory of a great first year here at Conn. I can't believe the year is over already. In any case, without further ado, here are a few of my observations. As always, I hope you all enjoy!




Two weeks after the previous photo

And a little over a week later
What a difference that one week made!

Here's a side-by-side before and after shot:

Common Name: Weeping Katsura
Scientific Name: Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Pendulum'

This next one has been a favorite of mine to track, just because of all the changes it has undergone in such a short amount of time. And they're noticeable changes too, which really amazed me.
Sorry about the rather mediocre quality of this picture--the wind stubbornly refused to stop blowing!

Can you believe that in little over a week, this tree blossomed so much??
6 days later...
Not even a week yet, and where have all the flowers gone??
Well I guess they're still here, just sans petals... 
And 5 days later...all leaves, no flowers

Common Name: Sargent Cherry
Scientific Name: Prunus sargentii

What? Weeds are a part of spring too!
The development of fluff about two weeks later!
From yellow dandelion heads to white dandelion fluff!
Well, that'll be all for now, before I overwhelm you all with the amount of pictures. I am a little overwhelmed myself. But stay tuned for Part II, coming up soon (I hope!). Until then~