August 2021
AN ABUNDANCE OF LIFE IN A TIME OF DROUGHT
This month's photos are of flowers, plants, and trees at five locations within a mile or so of our church. Taken during July, the pictures show the abundance of life in Santa Clara Valley in mid-summer, even though we are now officially in drought conditions.
Unsure why the camera saw the white petals on these Wild Irises in Gladys McFarland’s backyard as pale blue or aqua…but that’s what makes chance more interesting than consistency.
A closer look at a Wild Iris in Gladys’s backyard. This time the photo has a soft look, which brings to mind the delicacy of the petals and pistils. The photo also takes on some of the characteristics of an oil painting.
A bush, a tree, and a single blossom growing adjacent to a hot water boiler building in a condominium complex across from Santa Clara Central Park.
A closer look at a blossom in the tree by the boiler building in a condominium complex across from Santa Clara Central Park. Again, the soft focus of the image looks more like a painting than a photo.
New life that appeared in early spring this year, growing from the surface root of the tree in the background. Located just south of the North Bridge, along the walkway that winds its way to the pond in Santa Clara Central Park.
A closer look at the new life growing from the surface root of the tree in the previous photo. This photo illustrates the unique beauty often overlooked in the imperfections of life.
Unsure what kind of tree this is, but there are many of them growing together along the northwest bank of Saratoga Creek near the playing fields and the tennis court complex. The trees stand about 30 feet tall and are 15 to 20 feet in width near the ground. The round fruit will turn deep purple in the fall and have an exceedingly bitter taste.
A closer look at the budding fruit. A friend says that the Muwekma Ohlone who lived in the valley used the limbs from these trees to make both bows and arrows. And that he had made a bow that he uses at a local archery range and when hunting.
Ivy doing what God ordained ivy to do: Climb. This view is while standing near the Central Park Recreation Center and looking east across Saratoga Creek toward where the International Swim Center is located.
A closer look: Most likely this is English Ivy, which is rarely allowed to grow in residential yards because it will eventually kill any tree it climbs. So we are fortunate to live near a park where nature is, in most cases, allowed to remain natural.
A lonely dandelion and its shadow on Monday the 12th of July at about noon. Taken in Santa Clara Central Park, between the small tennis courts and the west bank of Saratoga Creek.