Ahh...The Joys of Picking!

Last week, we again made a trip to the woods to check for cantarell mushrooms. We searched through the vast forest but found only a few. Apparently, it was too early to go there, because normally, there are clusters of chanterelles scattered throughout the forest, especially after the rains. Maybe two weeks more and they would all pop out. 

wooden pathway to the forest

searching for chantarelles

chanterelle mushrooms

chanterelle's underside designs

After prowling some parts of the woods and picking just enough for our dinner that night, we dropped by some wild raspberry fields and picked their ripe fruits. Not so much also, but enough to pick until we got tired.

wild raspberries

Well, the good thing about these activities is that of being out there in nature. It's not about how much we can pick but how much we enjoy picking, roving about, treading on the mosses and broken twigs, walking among the trees, smelling the fresh scent of the forests, photographing some interesting flora, etc. 

The act of picking itself brings much joy. But being close to nature redoubles such joy. And our joy was heightened that night when we had a tasty mushroom dinner and ice cream topped with fresh raspberries for dessert.

August Sky

Like what I was told, the month of August in this corner of the earth has a characteristic that makes it distinct from the other months. The sun shines radiantly, its brightness glaring and its warmth hits the skin like a gentle warm shower. 

More often, the cloudless sky is so blue. At times, different cloud formations sporadically float under the blue sky, their designs endlessly changing as the winds up there play and chase one another.

I always find myself looking up and check on some alterations in the cloud formations. Sometimes, the designs are so stunning that I can't resist taking several shots at different angles.

In this image, I pointed the camera directly at the sun without looking at the LCD as the glare is blinding, and this effect came out.

This photo here shows the sky over some parts of the neighborhood, taken from our back porch.

Rosebay Willowherbs Flourish

They stand elegantly amidst the grasses and other vegetation, their pink color standing out in contrast with the green surrounding. They predominate over the whole field and adorn both sides of the streets with their exuberant flowers. They wave gently as the breeze dances over them. 

These are the rosebay willowherbs, one of the last wildflowers that flourish in summer. Their gradual withering is a harbinger of the impending arrival of autumn. They have blanketed stretches of fields some weeks ago in this part of the world. Now, they are saying goodbye for this year. They are slowly fading away. But their tender beauty has been forever preserved both in my mind and through my camera. 

Here is one quote I found about wildflowers which aptly describes them. 

"You belong among the wildflowers,        
You belong somewhere close to me.
Far away from your trouble and worries
You belong somewhere you feel free."
- Tom Petty, Wildflowers

The Beauty of Trees

Trees are what make a captivating landscape for me. They are the first things that draw my eyes wherever I go. Their varied forms and designs are pleasant to behold, even awe-inspiring. Even  a lone tree standing in a wide stretch of green fields turns the otherwise monotonous view into poetry. It evokes inspiration; it sings in my heart. 

Sometimes, I wish I were a tree.

This best-loved tree poem here tells of the simple yet figuratively worth-imitating life of a tree. It's one of my favorite poems.

TREES  

  

by: Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)                                           

I  think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

 

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

 

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

 

A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

 

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

 

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.          

       






    

A Whiff of Fragrance

I was walking around the neighborhood one day when a sweet fragrance wafted into my nostrils. Hmm...I wondered which of the many different flowers from some private gardens gave off such soothing smell. It reminded me of the potpourri scent that permeated the whole room of some  gift shops, which often intoxicated my senses.

I kept strolling until I came close to this richly blomming rose bush.

I stuck out my nose to smell the flowers, and yes, this is it! I lingered there, trying to drink in its sweetness until I had my fill.

Even the bumble bees hopped from one flower to another, sipping their sweet nectar.

It was a perfectly warm day, and a gentle breeze roamed about, carrying with it this soul-invigorating scent from this beauty of creation. It's one of the many simple but pleasurable blessings that we receive everyday from our Creator.