Milkweed Seeds

November 13th, 2011

I enjoy the shape, geometry, symmetry, snow-like looks

(click image to enlarge)


Click on images for the full-size

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Beaver, Ft. Snelling State Park

May 23rd, 2011

Click photos to enlarge

Nov 03, 2010, Fort Snelling State Park

Train Tracks, Minnetonka MN

May 22nd, 2011

Oct 24, 2010

Click photos to enlarge

Cedar Waxwing Birds

May 22nd, 2011

A (non-breading or immature) Cedar Waxwing birds flying, looking, jumping etc..

About to land:

(Click photo above for a much larger photo)

Close-ups:

(Click photo above for a much larger photo)

(Click photo above for a much larger photo)

(Click photo above for a much larger photo)

What’s that there?:

(Click photo above for a much larger photo)

Jumping to another branch, like a ninja wearing a black mask!:

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The Blue Jay and the Frog

May 20th, 2011

A Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) eating a frog

After the meal
Click image to enlarge
Oct 24, 2010
Taken at Big Willow Park, Minnetonka, MN Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

Trail – in the Fall

May 20th, 2011

Fall Trail

Click image to enlarge
Oct 24, 2010
Taken at Big Willow Park, Minnetonka, MN Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

Moss on Tree

May 20th, 2011

green moss and leaves turning (red) in background

Click image to enlarge
Oct 24, 2010
Taken at Big Willow Park, Minnetonka, MN Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

A Bridge – on a Water Canvas

May 20th, 2011

Minnehaha creek in Minnetonka, MN

Click photo to enlarge
Taken October 24, 2010 with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

Taken at Big Willow Park, Minnetonka, MN

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Fattening Up For Winter

May 19th, 2011

Squirrel Indulging, Fattening up for winter

Nov 21, 2010
In the back yard!
Click photo to enlarge

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

Wild Turkeys – Richardson Nature Center

January 5th, 2011

Wild Turkeys – Richardson Nature Center

(Click photos to enlarge)

Shot Jan 03, 2011 :: Richardson Nature Center, Bloomington, MN

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Winter Wonder Land – Nov 2010 – Minnesota

November 16th, 2010

The first snow storm of the season caused many tree branches and at times full trees to break and fall.
As it snowed heavy wet snow, driving became unpleasant and most people stayed indoors.
That’s a sign it is time to head out and enjoy this winter wonderland.

These are some photos of the massive beauty of a snow-covered world, taken during snow fall

November 13, 2010 in Minnetonka, MN

Trail entrance

A heavy wet burden

Fallen tree branches, with one perfectly lined in the middle of the trail

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The Forbidden Red Fruit

October 1st, 2010

The “Forbidden” Red Fruit

(click photo to enlarge)

A “Taxus media”, A.K.A “Hicksii Yew” plant and fruit. All parts of this plant are poisonous.
.

Great for a desktop background image

Shot Aug 28, 2010 ::  Next to the Hennepin Public Library, Minnetonka, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

More info:

Taxus media (Hicksii Yew)

This yew can reach 20 feet high in 20 years and while it is narrow when young, it grows wider with age. Both male and female columnar clones produce deep dark green needles on top and pale green underneath. In general, form is broadly pyramidal with a central leader. Similar to Taxus cuspidata, the Anglojap Yew has olive green branchlets which do not turn brown the second year. Bud scales are blunt and leaves are two-ranked. Thrives in sandier soil that is acid to neutral and well-drained. Does well in either sun or shade.
Important Info : All plant parts are poisonous if ingested

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Thorns and Cotton

October 1st, 2010

(click photo to enlarge)

Some wild plant, thorns and soft cotton

Great for a desktop background image

Shot Aug 28, 2010 ::  Next to the Hennepin Public Library, Minnetonka, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

Lake Landscape at Lebanon Hills

September 12th, 2010

Lake landscapes at Lebanon Hills Regional Park

(click a photo to enlarge)

An evening at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, MN

Shot Sept 11, 2010 ::  Lebanon Hills Regional Parl, Eagan, MN

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Golden Light

September 12th, 2010

Sun shining a golden light

(click a photo to enlarge)

An evening at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, MN

Shot Sept 11, 2010 ::  Lebanon Hills Regional Parl, Eagan, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

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The Colors Of Nature And Those Of (Wo)Man

September 12th, 2010

While on a walk at Lebanon Hills Regional Park with the Nature Spirituality meetup group, we admired and examined some few plant life.. Here are a few:

Very yellow flowers

Admiring … this

Examining

The colors of flowers and that of (wo)man
A purple Aster flower

Leaves of three , let them be – Poison Ivy

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Wood, Mushrooms and Moss!

September 12th, 2010

(click a photo to enlarge)

Living nature at Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Shot Sept 11, 2010 ::  Lebanon Hills Regional Parl, Eagan, MN

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Black Eyed Chickadee

July 11th, 2010

(click photo to enlarge)

A pretty setting for a black eyed chickadee.

Great for a desktop background image

Shot July 02, 2010 ::  Lone Lake Park, Minnetonka, MN

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Yellow Weed Flower

July 4th, 2010

(click photo to enlarge)

Another pretty “weed”. A symbol of resilience, adaptation and natural beauty.

Great for a desktop background image

Shot July 02, 2010 ::  Lone Lake Park, Minnetonka, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

Hairy Woodpecker Looking

July 4th, 2010

This little gal is looking for food in this decomposing tree

(click each photo to enlarge)

Hairy Woodpecker (female)

Photos not enhanced in any way, only cropped from the larger original

Next to Starring Lake, Eden Prairie MN :: April 12, 2010

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Dark-Eyed Junco

July 3rd, 2010

A well hidden dark-eyed Junco in April

See photos of a dark-eyes junco taken in March here . Notice the change in color of this bird’s feathers

(click each photo to enlarge)

Next to Starring Lake, Eden Prairie MN :: March 24, 2010

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera from about 20ft away

The Original Watercolors

July 3rd, 2010

An authentic watercolor painting

by nature.

(click photo to enlarge)

A Weeping Willow’s (this tree) Reflection in the spring

On Starring Lake, Eden Prairie MN :: April 12, 2010

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

The reflection of this weeping willow has been digitally enhanced. Only contrast was increased and brightness reduced. No other alterations (except for resizing the image from the original larger size).

Weeping Willow In High Contrast

July 3rd, 2010

Digitally editing this photo to increase contrast resulted in this stunning almost 3-D photo

enjoy,

(click each photo to enlarge)

A Weeping Willow Tree in the spring

On Starring Lake, Eden Prairie MN :: April 12, 2010

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

A Weeping Willow In The Spring

July 3rd, 2010

(click each photo to enlarge)

A Weeping Willow Tree in the spring

On Starring Lake, Eden Prairie MN :: April 12, 2010

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

July 3rd, 2010

I like this bird, I don’t see it often enough.

Photo shot from 30 ft away

It is exciting to see a Red-Bellied Woodpecker, and these birds are smart and they simply look pleasant (happy), I think it’s their eyes and face that give me this impression.

You may wonder, why this bird is red-bellied while it clearly is red-headed?
The answer is simple, the belly is red, we just can’t see it.

I am 50-80 feet away from the bird here

I think this bird could have been named “zebra” (for the zebra-pattern black and white color on its back, wings and tail), red-crowned, or red-necked bird.

Red-bellied woodpeckers are relatively new to the North. Like northern cardinals, northern mockingbirds and tufted titmice, these birds are native to the Southeast. It’s only been in the late part of last century that they pioneered northward. Now these birds are found through the Upper Midwest and Northeast from the Great Plains east to New England.

(click each photo to enlarge)

A Red-Bellied Woodpecker

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Camouflage

July 3rd, 2010

(click each photo to enlarge)

A sparrow?

Next to Starring Lake, Eden Prairie MN :: April 12, 2010

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera from about 20ft away

Website bug fixed

July 2nd, 2010

A quick note to let you know I changed the site looks and feel, along with this I fixed a bug with the tags and categories. NOW you can click on a tag or category and see all the photos right there without having to open each post to get to the photos.

I also added google ads, they should all relate to photography, and hopefully would generate a few cents here and there as people click on the ads they find interesting to help supplement the cost of having this site.

all the best
Ethan

Trees of the Winchell Trail

June 30th, 2010

We put a fence,

and life goes on,

“adaptation and growth”

and life goes on,

“death”

(this tree is decomposing into BLOCKS !)

.

Here’s a scenic part of the trail

(click photo to enlarge)

Trees of the trail

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Orange Spider

June 30th, 2010

(click photo to enlarge)
A sure cure for Arachnophobia (fear of spiders)

Orange Spider

Shot June 27, 2010 ::  On the Winchell Trail @ Mississippi Gorge Regional park (from 36th to 44th Streets), Minneapolis, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

About the trail:

More info on the National Park we will be walking through: http://www.nps.gov/mi…

More info on the restoration work that’s been done in this area: http://www.nps.gov/mi…

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Common Milkweed

June 30th, 2010

(click photo to enlarge)

Common Milkweed, has white liquid in it’s leaves and flowers. Purported to have been used by Native Americans as gum.
Monarch butterflies also lay their eggs on milkweed, but since there was only a small patch, no Monarch eggs or larvae were found.

Shot June 27, 2010 ::  On the Winchell Trail @ Mississippi Gorge Regional park (from 36th to 44th Streets), Minneapolis, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

About the trail:

More info on the National Park we will be walking through: http://www.nps.gov/mi…

More info on the restoration work that’s been done in this area: http://www.nps.gov/mi…

Read the rest of this entry »

Wild flowers, pt.2

June 30th, 2010

Enjoy,

Wild flower, I thought this was a Daisy with fine white petals with a hint of pink and a vivid yellow center, but a friend pointed out this was an Aster flower.

(click photo to enlarge)

Shot June 01, 2010 ::  Lone Lake Park, Minnetonka, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

Wild flowers

June 30th, 2010

Everywhere I look, I see beauty,

Wild flower, Aster flower, white petals with a hint of pink and a vivid yellow center

(click photo to enlarge)

Shot June 01, 2010 ::  Lone Lake Park, Minnetonka, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera

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Not so lonely on Lone Lake

June 30th, 2010

(click photo to enlarge)

Shot June 01, 2010 ::  Lone Lake Park, Minnetonka, MN

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi 12.2 MP D-SLR Camera