Red leaf forms lie still
Cold stream flows with clarity
What will Winter bring?


My humble, sad attempt at haiku-izing a recent stunning, enlightening Autumnal visit to
Kubota Japanese Garden in Washington. I think it would be difficult to verbally convince those of you that live with the "commonplace" Fall annual event, of the impact it had on me. After 8 years of living in the Hot, Humid, always green Tropics, for these few hours I felt as if transported to a magical, Spiritual place.

The timing was perfect, it was a cool 60 degree morning and the plants were still wearing flashy diamond-droplets from a brief cleansing rain the day before. It was stimulating, in a serene-consciousness way, to witness that amazing diverse yet harmonious visual Beauty of natural living form, color, texture, sound and even smell (fir/pine scent). The meandering pathway through these awesome bio-lifeforms led through quiet, mirror-like reflecting ponds, bubbly flowing streams and softly rushing waterfalls. All that was accented with many large, eternal-appearing granite stones, each with a unique powerful Form and personality. The scale of the inhabitant's Forms was breathtaking; from the smallest algae on large granite stones, to the flaming intricately carved brilliant red maples, to the towering sentinel fir towers. I could feel and appreciate that people of great talent and vision had planned and labored over many years to achieve this wondrous place.

At one turn in the pathway, back far in the trees, I noticed a balcony of a house that overlooked the gardens and I thought about what a magnificent home that must be... with a seasonally changing view of this great show... thoughts of buying that house and living here forever brought a smile...

Tags:   fall autumn red maple japanese garden stream water rocks

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Lilies and their wondrous raindrop companions after summer afternoon storms, our garden.

Tags:   LILY PADS RAINDROPS STORM FLOWER PLANTS

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a study of Reflections in my Koi pond... the "rings" are from the waterfall...


learning more about TOPAZ software programs ADJUST & SIMPLIFY & CLEAN, there's at least a billion possible outcomes!

Tags:   koi fih pond reflections

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my Koi family doing they're morning breakfast rounds in the pond...
(its difficult to "pose" these guys... this is one usable of MANY frames!)

I always think of Escher's THREE WORLDS piece when I do a fish & reflection & water work... the Master!

this "painting" technique brought out the reflections nicely,
and the Dark vs Bright gives it some depth...

Tags:   KOI FISH POND PAINTNG

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The illumination of that morning Sun can make any old scene magic! The Greens catch that Light and transform to a near-neon glow.
Wanted a soft quieter feel so worked it into a photo-painting; used Topaz Simplify.
(so you SEE... my Brain is not totally warped...)

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