Rome - of all places

On a hot day in July, in ancient Rome (near the Coliseum), I came across this blossom in the grass.

From a bouquet...

The background gives an interesting unexpected affect to these pictures.

Amanecer

Noche. Negra y ommipresente
Reina con fuerza; Omnipotente.

Espeso, grueso sin cesar,
Vista alguna, no quiere dar.

Pero raja pacientemente
Al lejano horizonte oriente

La ternesa del rayo solar
que piensa la noche sublevar.

Sin esperar ayuda alguna
empieza su batalla tan inoportuna

El alba: Con fe sin cesar.
La noche: Parece ganar.

Pero la luz, usando su cuna
Ilumina la noche infortuna.

Lo negro, por vida, resiste
Lo brillante, con calma insiste.

Ya, el sol suelto de cuna
Ganando fuerza, sin duda alguna.

Con verquenza, la noche desiste
Su poder y fuerza ya no existe.

Dia. Blanca y caliente,
Reina con fuerza; omnipotente.

Curtis Whetten
Cottonwood High School, 1978

Leaf-diving (pause the music first ->)

Orangeness

Sugar Hill Stake had a service project in Flowery Branch, GA. My job was to help gather trash from along the railroad tracks. Rail road tracks bring to mind creosote-soaked ties with rust-colored rails spiked to them, laying on a bed of gravel. All of this is pretty stale, so the contrast when I came across a vine with these flowers was refreshing.

Thank you, Yoshiaki & Naoko

In Tokyo Bay, there's a man-made island with a replica of the Statue of Liberty on it. It also has several other American style monuments: two huge malls, and a gigantic ferris wheel and a television station housed in a architectually facinating building. Naoko took Michelle and I there in June of 2004. I captured this picture in the landscaping near the statue. Thanks, Naoko and Yoshiaki!
What I like about this picture is... well, there are several things that endear this picture to me. Besides the fact that I like being in Japan, I really like the colors in this image: hues of blues blend with pink purples on a dark green background. Next, I love how the focus on the far left stamen is perfect and the blur on the petals blends the colors. You have to click on the picture for it to be displayed full size. Take a guess at what kind of flower this blossom belongs to. Today this hydrangea is my favorite. OK, otro dia otro foto.

Las seis sirenas

The title of this image, "The six sirens" sounds better in Spanish. Unfortunately the name is wrong because the six stamen are the male part of the flower. Can you suggest another name?
This image was captured while walking from our house to the Blakes where they were holding an open house for Stuart's return from his mission. Thanks to Stuart for serving a mission. Picture him doused with blessings for his service. Those associated with him also got splashed a little. I consider this image as one of those tender little mercies that fell like sprinkles around E. Blake.