Rounding the Bend

King’s Creek area, starting to show signs of autumn …

KonzaKingsCreekOctober

Photo Challenge: Rounded

Last Bloom

Konza Prairie is full of wildflowers in spring and summer, but yesterday, this thistle was the only bloom I saw.

KonzaThistle

However, there was plenty of promise for abundant flowers next year!

 

KonzaAsterSeeds

KonzaRoseHips

KonzaDriedSumac

Wishing you a beautiful day!

 

Grasses & Hills

It was a beautiful day for enjoying the prairie on the Flint Hills of Kansas!

KonzaAutumnGrasses

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Wishing you a lovely day!

 

Wishing you Good Cheer!

I saw this little tree on the prairie yesterday and it reminded me of a Charlie Brown Christmas. I couldn’t resist adding some decorations to it on my computer.

christmastreedoodles

Wishing everyone good cheer at this time of year!

Overcast Winter Morning On Konza

I realized recently that I haven’t been doing much photography lately. So I decided that I was just going to have to make a point to rectify that situation. An early riser, I decided to head out to the prairie to catch the sunrise this morning. (I hadn’t thought to consider the weather conditions first.) I got there just as the black of night was starting to lift. It was freezing cold and quiet, except for the sound of gravel crunching beneath my feet. As I headed uphill toward some of my favorite views, I was startled by a pair of does. It was exciting to be so close.

As the sky started to lighten, I could hear, but not see what I believe to have been a flock of turkeys, their calls so loud in the stillness.

 

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The morning decided not to treat me to the colorful sunrise I had hoped for, yet the gray sky and low clouds made what color there was seem all the more vibrant.

It was a challenge trying to get good photographs this morning. I don’t do much low light photography.

riverfog

lowcloudsoverkonza

 

 

This tree always strikes me when I pass it on the trail.  It reminds me of a rhinoceros.

rhinotree

 

A little bit of unexpected color … .

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A few more hills to climb … .

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… and a bit of woods to pass.

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Crossing the creek … and  then heading home to warm up before the rain.

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Wishing you a lovely weekend and hoping that you get a chance to do something that you’ve been wanting to do too!

 

Airplane Clouds

Flying to Kansas last evening, I was treated to some spectacular views of clouds outlined against the day’s last rays of sunlight.

CloudsFromAirplane1

CloudsFromAirplane2

CloudsFromAirplane3

It was good to get away and good to be back.

Wishing you a lovely day!

Grapes in the Garden

A few years ago, a friend gave me a few grape vines from his vineyard. I had just put an arbor in the front garden as a backdrop for wedding ceremonies that we host. I was undecided about what to plant on it, but Joe gave me a Malbec vine and a Cabernet Franc vine. The Malbec vine made it through the first summer but not the winter. Apparently, larger-leaved varietals can struggle in Kansas. The Cabernet Franc vine, however, has been growing strong; and this year, for the first time, it has produced grapes. I don’t have any plans to try wine-making, but it is awfully fun to see the fruit coming along. A good addition to the garden!

GrapesOnArbor

Wishing you a lovely first day of summer!

A Little Bit of Kansas

Field outside of Wamego, Kansas … covered with sky.

Sky&Field

Wishing you a lovely day, from the lovely state of Kansas!