Winter in the Garden - Pink Camellia

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First Camellia of 2009

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Rana Aurora - Red-Legged Frog

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This great critter hopped across my foot as I was walking between the house and my office the other day. They are so cool. The Red-Legged Frog is on the California Endangered Species Watch List in other parts of the state, but seem to be holding their own up here. Still, we don't see them very often so I was glad to cross paths with this one.

Please don't get excited - the frog wasn't harmed in any way and I wanted to show how very, very long and big this one is. The biggest one I've encountered. He/she was released just after getting his/her photo taken and quickly hopped into the ground cover. Me, I've never been able to resist lizards, snakes, frogs, knewts and salamanders.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Contrail at Sunset

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Un-edited photo. Shot just after the sunset-full moon rising,

January 11, 2009.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Silvery Artemesia

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Lacy like snowflakes. A good photo for this cold snap we're having.

This is one of a number of artemesia from the family asteraceae, also known as wormwood, absinthe and Roman wormwood. It's also spelled artemisia. Absinthe is made from it and it sports some health properties as well.

And here you thought it was just another pretty face.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Shadow Shot Sunday - Red

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I've decided to leave my entry for Shadow Shot Sunday a mystery for others to solve. Have fun and don't forget to head on over to Hey Harriet's to see all the clever shadow shots.

(Ed. note - My goodness, I never thought this photo would create so many great comments. Thank you, all of you for visiting and guessing. So many of you guessed it perfectly! Scroll down to see what's behind the red curtain.)

Porch trellis built by son Josh.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Winter In The Garden - Japanese Anemone Seed Head

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It may be cold, gray and rainy, truly the depths of winter, but I can still find so much to photograph. Right now the Japanese Anemone seed heads are standing out starkly white against bare branches and yellow-green shrubbery. I leave them standing until March then prune them down to the ground to make way for the new green shoots that will follow. Click here, here and here for some early fall blooming specimens.

Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved

Happy, Happy 2009!

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In the blink of an eye, a clink of glasses and heartfelt embraces, 2008 was laid to rest and 2009 began.

I have never hung my political laundry out for all to see on my blogs but this month, this year and the years ahead hold a promise, too long absent, of hope, renewal, pride, redemption, peace and global respect. This month a wise and intelligent inspiration of a man, his family and take-my-breath-away cabinet will be installed in the White House. And I am overjoyed.

So in the link below I'd like to share with you a beautiful video clip that for me personifies the hope, joy and global fellowship that so many are now envisioning as we begin 2009. Happy New Year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM



Copyright © 2006-2009, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved