LONGWOOD GARDENS

"Exquisite flowers, majestic trees, dazzling fountains, extravagant conservatory, starlit theatre, thunderous organ—all describe the magic of Longwood Gardens, a horticultural showstopper where the gardening arts are encased in classic forms and enhanced by modern technology. Many generations helped create Longwood Gardens, but one individual—Pierre S. du Pont (1870-1954), industrialist, conservationist, farmer, designer, impresario, and philanthropist—made the most enduring contribution. 

More than 200 years earlier, the land had been inhabited by the native Lenni Lenape tribe who hunted, fished, and farmed the productive wilderness. In 1700, a Quaker family named Peirce purchased the property from William Penn and soon established a working farm. Joshua and Samuel Peirce began planting an arboretum on the farm in 1798. The farm was purchased in 1906 by Pierre du Pont so he could preserve the trees, and from 1907 until the 1930s Mr. du Pont created most of what is enjoyed today. In 1946, the Gardens were turned over to a foundation set up by Mr. du Pont. After his death in 1954 Longwood's first director was hired. Since that time Longwood Gardens has matured into a magnificent horticultural showplace filled with countless opportunities for enjoyment and learning." (excerpt from Longwood website)

All photographs were taken by me and can be viewed larger by placing your mouse cursor directly over the image and clicking. My Longwood Gardens Christmas gallery can be viewed here.  All photographs are available for purchase.

Looking up through the roof of the gazebo pictured in the next photograph.

Gazebo and lake in a light snow

Walkways

Lamp posts and tiers

Orange tree

A variety of Jasmine

In the Conservatory

Wreath of ferns

Conservatory

Hibiscus

Lines, circles, and curves

Bird of Paradise

A DIFFERENT KIND OF THANKSGIVING

“Being solitary is being alone well: being alone luxuriously immersed in doings of your own choice, aware of the fullness of your own presence rather than of the absence of others. Because solitude is an achievement.”   ~Alice Koller

I was so grateful to receive four invitations to Thanksgiving celebrations. How fortunate I am to have a wonderful circle of friends who thought about me this first Thanksgiving since mother's death.  But solitude called to me, and I listened.  I decided to take Hannah and head to the New Jersey shore to spend time at Island Beach State Park.  We walked the shore line for 2 1/2 hours in a light rain.  I photographed, picked up stones and shells, listened to the waves breaking, and watched Hannah enjoy her first experience with the ocean. We were alone on the beach. Except for several fishermen we  passed no one, saw no one. We were alone with the sea spray and the screaming gulls.

PHILADELPHIA ZOO

The Philadelphia Zoo’s 42-acre Victorian garden is home to more than 1,300 animals, many of them rare and endangered. The Zoo, fulfilling its mission of conservation, science, education and recreation, supports and engages in conservation efforts to protect endangered species around the world. Cheetahs, hippos, giraffes and much more make the zoo Philadelphia's leading family attraction with over 1.2 million visitors last year.

Like many other Philadelphia landmarks and institutions, the Philadelphia Zoo is an American first. The charter establishing the Zoological Society of Philadelphia was approved and signed on March 21, 1859. Due to the Civil War, however, it was another 15 years before America's first zoo was ready to open.

The Zoo opened its gates on July 1, 1874. The Frank Furness Victorian gates and gatehouses, and the Zoo's location, are the same today as they were on the day it opened.

On November 13th, I had the opportunity to visit the zoo for the first time since moving to Bucks County in 1970. The weather was incredibly beautiful, and I spent 4 hours roaming the grounds and taking many photographs. You can view the photographs in larger format by clicking directly over it.

Cheetahs

The cheetah is the fastest mammal on land, capable of speed bursts of up to 70 miles per hour. It has a highly flexible spine and a slender build which allows it to take long and rapid strides. The cheetah can sprint 60-70 miles per hour but only for short distances -- approximately 300 yards. It has blunt, partly curved unsheathed claws which provide additional traction during rapid acceleration.

Mother giraffe licks baby Abigail who was born at the zoo on July 17, 2010

Two rare birds at McNeil Avian Center

 

Caribbean Flamingos

The Caribbean flamingo and Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) are the most brightly colored and largest of all flamingos and sometimes considered subspecies of one species. They are a scarlet pink color overall and have black primary feathers with large bodies and flexible long necks topped with a small head. The flamingo's long legs and feet are bare, and their toes are webbed. Young birds are mostly grey and do not develop their characteristic pink until after the first year. The sexes are similar in appearance although males tend to be larger than the females.

Southern White Rhino

At the end of the 19th century the southern white rhino was considered extinct, but a small population numbering around 50 animals was discovered in South Africa. With intense protection the southern white rhino came back from the edge of extinction and is now considered to be the most numerous species of rhino left in the world. Most of the approximately 15,000 southern white rhinos are restricted to game reserves and national parks where their safety can be carefully monitored.

Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises

Red-Shanked Douc Langur

Pygathrix nemaeus

The douc langur is one of the most colorful of all primate species. Their body is largely gray agouti (each individual hair is gray, black and white). Their thighs are black, but the lower part of their legs from the knees down are reddish orange. They have black hands, feet and shoulders, with a striking white tail, throat and cheeks.

 

EMOTIONALIZING DOGS

It has long been a pet peeve of mine that many dog owners do not allow their dogs to BE dogs.  Author Jon Katz wrote a wonderful entry on his Bedlam Farm blog today about how our emotionalizing, anthrophomorphizing, and projection are the "new and real abuse" that harms so many dogs. I cringe when I see neurotic behavior in dogs caused by the lack of training and parameters laid by owners -- dogs floundering because an alien existence has been thrust upon them by needy owners. 

Jon Katz writes:

People have been wondering about animals and our communications with them for thousands of years. Lots of opinions, mine only one. But here is where I am going with it, after some years of researching, experimenting, and thinking and writing about the subject. I’m considering a book of short stories focusing on the way people and dogs talk to one another.

It is well known now that humans and other animals – especially dogs – emit biochemical smells (hermones) when they feel love, anger, or other intense emotions. Humans perhaps once knew how to smell these feelings, but have mostly lost the gift, scientists believe. It is very pronounced in dogs. It’s one of the elemental ways in which they talk to each other.

It is, I believe, the language of our relationships with them, the words they use to speak with us, spiritual connection to them and the way we train them. They smell our affection or anger or need, and they react to it. We use words, they use feelings, smells and other instincts.

Because we are not, in many ways, as evolved as they, we insert our words into their minds and think we know what they are saying and feeling. What’s the harm?

To me, the emotionalizing, anthrophomorphizing, projection and transformation of dogs into children prevents us from communicating with them and leads to what I call the “new abuse” or the “real abuse” that harms so many dogs. Many more dogs are harmed by being treated as children than are chronically abused by humans, I believe.

In America, the rescue ethic is noble, and powerful. “Rescue” is a powerful term, and lots of dogs could use it. But it also projects a sense that we are “saving them.” And people tell me all the time that their dogs were surely abused, even though they usually can’t possibly know that. This feeling comes sometimes from our need, not theirs.

When you emotionalize a dog, and project your thoughts into their heads, then you overfeed them, can’t train them, or confine or crate them --and can’t help them understand or live by our many rules, leading to so many losing their lives in various ways, being medicated, sent off or back to shelters because they bit, or have accidents, or bark or chew up the furniture.

The great trainers I have known do not patronize dogs in this way, do not talk to them the way humans talk to one another. They listen. When you project pity, “cuteness,” piteous notions of abuse – even when they are true – then you project a sense of superiority. We all think we are superior to cute or pitiless things, and it makes us feel good to nurture. That is sometimes a selfish response -- about us, not them.

I don’t like to be patronized, or treated like a child, or seem as piteous and abused. I try not to do it with the animals I live with. This is a lofty goal. I often project emotions onto my dogs, anthropomorphize them – I’m not sure it’s even possible to never do it – but I do try and be aware of it, and to leech it from my training, listening, and communicating with them.

MASTERS OF THE MOMENT

A friend gave me a pile of old magazines, and as I was browsing through them I came upon this article titled MASTERS OF THE MOMENT -- a collection of thoughts from well known people from different walks of life.  Today's reflection is from Kristine Tompkins who is the former CEO of Patagonia. She has, along with her husband, bought up 2.2 million acres in Argentina and Chile to create new national parks.

Quote from Kristine Tompkins: "The millions of species with whom we share the Earth have intrinsic value. We have to reach, if not perfect harmony between man and the natural world, at least a truce.  I have a border collie-like personality -- I'm happiest with a job to do. I glaze over if things are going smoothly, and excel when faced with very big problems.  You see something that needs to be changed? Jump out of your chair and put your shoulder to the sheel."

THE FOUR ROOMS

"There is an Indian proverb or axiom that says everyone is a house with four rooms: a physical, a mental, an emotional, and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person." ~Rumer Godden

I like this metaphor for the different aspects of who we are. I reflect upon MY four rooms. At times I feel I can be in several rooms simultaneously. When I do nature or macro photography, I am definitely in a mental, emotional, and spiritual room at the same time. . .

Is YOUR house well balanced? Do YOU spend time in all your rooms? Please share your thoughts about how you spend time in your rooms as a comment below. It is very simple and makes the blog even more interesting to my readers.

STEPHEN WILKES

Yesterday I had the phenomenal experience of hearing photographer Stephen Wilkes speak about his Ellis Island photographs, which are currently on display at Michener Museum in Doylestown, PA. I visited the exhibition in July and was totally mesmerized by the images. I was frustrated that there was no technological information offered for each photograph. I suppose it could have been done on purpose to allow these powerful images of Ellis Island to impact the viewer.

Portrait of Stephen Wilkes by Greg Gorman

This corridor photograph graces the cover of Wilkes' book titled ELLIS ISLAND -- GHOSTS OF FREEDOM. He told us that this image is one of his favorites because of the contrasts and textures that offer a metaphor for life in a place of decay. Notice the green vines growing on the left, and the decay on the right. He also spent much time talking about light and how fleeting it is to a photographer. Light only exists for several minutes; it is never constant -- always affected by geographical and physical conditions.

When I viewed the exhibit at Michener in July, I just assumed that the photographs were digital and wondered how they could be enlarged and retain the depth of field and sharp detail and focus. I learned that he took these photographs using an 8 X 10 (large format) camera which uses film (ala Ansel Adams). He took only three photographs in each room with some exposures being as long as 15 minutes! His first negatives came out completely black, so he had to go back and do it all over again. "It happens to all of us," he said.

Below is the photograph Wilkes has titled "Blue Room."

Wilkes also shared experiences he had of feeling a presence in the room while he was working, actually seeing a child (dated 1920's by clothing). In another instance he felt such a strong presence of negativity that he left the room without taking one photograph; he did return later and was able to photograph successfully. Another time he felt as if he were being watched from the doorway and said something to the person who was with him that day. The other person reported having the same, exact feeling.

This project ran from 1998 to 2003 with the goal of raising funds to help preserve and stabilize the historic buildings on Ellis Island. His emphasis was on the hospital and wards. Ironically, Wilkes said, it was the act of stabilization that made it more and more difficult to move about the buildings and find the quality of light for his images.

Wilkes also shared that this five year project was life changing for him. His mother was a concentration camp survivor, and there was a similar energy at Ellis Island that spoke profoundly to him. He definitely felt a connection between the two.

LAKE IN THE CLOUDS

"A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed. . . it feels an impulsion. . . this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons."
~Richard Bach

I had a wonderful invitation to spend two days with special friends at their lake front home in the Poconos. It was even more special because Hannah was also invited. It was the first time I'd taken a trip since mom's death, and I really cherished the opportunity to be in a new environment.

This is one of my favorite photos because it so aptly illustrates the name of the lake, Lake In The Clouds. I saw the reflection while I was being treated to an amazing morning ride in their boat, which was propelled by a quiet electric motor.

Thank you, Nan and Bob, for this gift -- a glimpse above the horizon.

WRIGHTSTOWN GRANGE FAIR 2010

The annual Grange Fair is always a great opportunity for photographing. The first day of the fair I went to photograph the harnessing exhibition. The draft horse pictured is a Belgian. They are gorgeous animals which stand over 18 hands in height. The draft breeds are noted for their gentle, calm, and sweet dispositions.

Here is the Belgian in full harness. He will be hitched with a team mate to pull a wagon and offer fairgoers an opportunity to ride behind the horses. Always a very popular event.

Here is a 4-H girl showing off her turkey. He was a very sociable bird, and the kids loved him. They were feeding him blades of grass.

A beautiful face belonging to a pony giving pony rides. It's always hard for me to see these wonderful creatures hitched to a wheel, walking in circles for hours. The children love being on the ponies, but my heart aches for these gentle souls. I often ask myself if this is exploitation of animals for man's entertainment? But then, I suppose, I could say that my use of my own horse for dressage was also exploitation? However, the ponies were clean, in good flesh, and their feet were well trimmed, so it was apparent they were well cared for. AND, best of all, they wore no bridles or bits, so the children could not yank on their mouths.

What's a Grange Fair without animals and farm equipment?

There were tents where different non-profit organizations and businesses interacted with the fair goers to raise money and provide information and education. This one-eyed screech owl was helping spread the word about AARK, a certified wildlife rehabilitation center, badly in need of donations.

It's always heart-warming to see the bond that 4-H kids have with their animals. This young lady was relaxing with a couple of her sheep.

Cows are a huge part of the fair. Many different breeds are represented and shown. 4-H kids even get an opportunity to judge the cows. Here are a Holstein (b&w) and a Guernsey. The two of them seemed to be having a conversation about what was going on around them.

OXEN -- I found these huge animals fascinating. They had the most beautiful faces, and were unbelievably gentle. They were yoked together. This was a demonstration to show how yoked oxen are used for working. I wondered whether oxen were a breed so I researched and found out they are simply steers of any breed of cattle, that are at least four years old, and taught to work. A steer is a castrated bull. A full-grown ox is usually larger than a bull because it is allowed to live, and, therefore, reaches full maturity. When farmers choose an animal for an ox, they choose one with horns. The horns keep the yoke on their heads when they back up. The horns grow as their bodies grow, so the horns can get quite large. Different breeds have different shapes and sizes of horns.

I loved this shot I got of the ferris wheel just as dusk was falling. You won't get me on one of these things!

There are many displays, and I liked this quilt. Different "bug" fabrics were used to suggest bugs in jars. I thought it was pretty clever.

One of the produce tables with many different types of home-grown vegetables and the ribbons awarded.

The Grange Fair reminds me so much of the Shippensburg Fair in the town where I grew up. It was exactly the same with animals, 4-H, fair queen contest, rides, food, vendors, a horse show, and competitions in many categories. There's a part of me that will always be a "farm girl."