Pic Today 5/31/17

 

 

 

 

 

 PISTILS,  STAMENS

  WHICH IS WHICH?

 Thanks to our Spring rains,

lilies are magnificent this year.

Did you ever wonder

how lilies reproduce?

It's all about that show

in the center of the flower.

Every lily (asiatic, oriental, trumpet)

has 6 stamens surrounding 1 pistil.

It's the stamen's job (the male)

to pollinate the pistil (the female.)

And the colorful petals

do their best

to attract the birds and bees.

It's quite a show.

Pic Today 5/30/17

 

HOW'S THIS

FOR A BEDROOM VIEW? 

Yes, I take a camera to bed.

And yes,

this was the view from my bed

Memorial Day Weekend, 6:30am

at the river cabin.

(Heaven.) 

Pic Today 5/29/17

 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

Where ever you are,

whatever you're doing today,

here's hoping you have a relaxing

wonderful Memorial Day.

Pic Today 5/28/17

 

CRAWDADS ARE BACK

It's a good sign

to see crawdads in our rivers.

Although quite small right now,

they need clean free-flowing water

to prosper in Missouri's streams.

Like little lobsters,

crawdads (aka crawfish) grow much larger

and can be harvested in early July

for tasty local stews and soups.

 

Pic Today 5/27/17

 

HEADED DOWN

TO THE RIVER

Never mind the 

severe thunderstorm 

weather forecast

this weekend.

Headed down to the Meramec

for Memorial Day weekend.

Enjoy the weekend,

where ever you are.

Pic Today 5/26/17

 

CAMPING IN THE TREES

Like giant pine cones

hanging from the trees,

these tree tents

sleep four,

on a circular mattress,

keep the critters out,

and are a fun way to play house.

(Studio Dré Wapenaar, Netherlands)

Pic Today 5/25/17

 

 

ICE CREAM DAYS

With Memorial Day just

around the corner,

it's no wonder

kids will be craving ice cream

or fancy swirl frozen custard.

Summer must be 'round the corner.

(Just don't forget the napkins!)

Pic Today 5/24/17

 

 

 

 

SCENES FROM

OLD LEMP BREWERY

America's first lager beer,

Lemp was built in 1840

and brewed important brands

of bottled beer in St. Louis,

including Lemp, Greisedieck,

and Falstaff,

but lies inactive today!

The all brick headquarters is

still standing and includes

magnificent towering brick silos. 

Pic Today 5/23/17

 

MORNING GREETING

Maya saying hi to Porter.

Or is it

Porter saying hi to Maya?

(Looks like reciprocal love.) 

Pic Today 5/22/17

 

 

 

BIRTH OF

A TEA POT

With just 2 days of school left,

I am so relieved John's ceramic piece

made it through the kiln in time.

Such a creative force, and natural artist,

my autistic student worked a piece of clay,

shaped and formed it into

an original design, a shape and color

for his very first tea pot.

I love the color glaze he chose 

for the final firing.

A tea pot is born!

Pic Today 5/21/17

 

PINK PERFECTION

The pink lotus (nelumbo nucifera),

the most sacred of all lotus species,

is getting ready to bloom.

Each part of the pink lotus

(roots, stem, petals, leaves, seeds)

has medicinal and metaphysical properties,

with effects that are narcotic and euphoric.

My favorite part is the visual beauty

of this magnificent plant.

Pic Today 5/20/17

 

DANGEROUS BEAUTY

This Bishop's Cap cactus

(astrophytum ornatum)

is a real beauty, especially up close

o  Very sharp golden spines

o  With white flecks on its

     symmetrical spines 

Native to Mexico, this cactus

  has a reputation for injuring 

hikers who don't see it underfoot.

 (Ouch.) 

Pic Today 5/19/17

 

LOVERS GRAFFITI

Once a popular place

to record their love.

(I wonder if Yolonda & Tim

are still in love . . .) 

Pic Today 5/18/17

 

LOUIE IX 

ADMIRING THE VIEW

Although this jogger

picked her resting spot

at the top of Art Hill,

little did she know she gave

King Louis IX of France

(aka St. Louis)

a view of his own.

(Beautiful day in front of

the St. Louis Art Museum.) 

Pic Today 5/17/17

 

 

SACRED PERFECTION

The sacred lotus flower

is sending its blooms now

up through its leafy canopy.

Every part of this aquatic flower

is absolute perfection. 

(And a joy to photograph.)

 

Pic Today 5/16/17

 

 

ENJOY THESE SPEARS

WHILE YOU CAN

Fresh asparagus is here.

If you don't have it in your garden,

visit your local farmers market soon.

Extremely high in Vitamin K,

try grilling some fresh spears

on your barbecue grill.

(Rub them generously with 

extra virgin olive oil,

and grill until charred.)

Serve with fresh squeezed lemon juice

and grated parmesan cheese.

Yum!

 

Pic Today 5/15/17

 

 

 

DAWN'S BEAUTY

AT THE CABIN

and great relief

our record floods

have left the cabin intact,

although the entrance road

has been drastically impaired.

And for the time being,

it's hike in and hike out.

Which makes the mornings

even more peaceful and quiet.

Living on the Meramec River

is a fortunate adventure.

(And breakfast more delicious!)

 

 

Pic Today 5/14/17

 

MOTHER OF THE FOREST

The mighty oak

nurtures us all.

Thank you

all Earth's mothers.

Pic Today 5/13/17

 

RESTORING ACCESS

TO THE CABIN

Gone this weekend

to hike in to the river cabin.

Since the massive flooding,

roads and gravel bars

have been wiped out.

Assessing the damage

and working on a plan

to restore vehicle access.

In the meantime,

hike in & hike out.

Be back in a few days!

Pic Today 5/12/17

 

 

 

GRANT'S CABIN

Following Ulysses S. Grant's victorious

command of the Union troops and

the end of the Civil War,

he decided to settle down, get married

and build a cabin and farm

on the outskirts of St. Louis, Missouri.

You can visit his original cabin, White Haven,

on the estate of Grant's Farm in St. Louis.

Although more a "vision of green,"

White Haven is open for tours daily. 

Grant chose to own many parcels of land

throughout the state of Missouri.

Pic Today 5/11/17

 

 

A PERFECT COMBINATION

They're both in season.

Home grown strawberries

and fresh rhubarb.

Visit your local farmers market, 

and stock up on both.

Time for a pie!

Yummmm.

  Oh my.

Pic Today 5/10/17

 

 

 

THERE'S A NEW MACHINE

IN TOWN

Just in time for summer.

A new soft-serve ice cream machine

that swirls your choice

of 8 flavors in your cone

(or cup.)

Available at LION'S CHOICE restaurants.

Summer yum!

Pic Today 5/9/17

 

GREENING UP

THE CITY

Volunteers planting flowers

in downtown St. Louis.

Making the city skyline

even more beautiful.

Pic Today 5/8/17

 

 

 

 

IRIS PETALS

like butterfly wings.

Such perfect beauty.

Now's a good time to visit

  Missouri Botanical Garden. 

The show has begun.

Pic Today 5/7/17

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

ELI

Hot dawg.

What fun!

(And in case you're wondering,

I gave him a Fidget Spinner.

He loved it.)