Friday, May 8, 2009

Serendipity



Serendipity
noun -
"Happy finding of an unexpected object or solution while searching for something else."


My serendipity occurred the other day when I went down to check out our creek after a heavy rainstorm. Whilst tromping along the banks of the stream, observing the flow and level of the water, I noticed Jack-in-the-pulpit growing all along one bank. "What the.....?! We have Jack-in-the-pulpit growing on our property? How cool is that?!" I thought to myself.

All these years and I never knew. I've seen the leaves before, and I've seen the berries before, but I wouldn't have been able to identify the plant from those keys alone. It was seeing the unique flower that brought it home for me.

Every year I discover something "new" on our property that I've never noticed before. I love that sense of discovery.




False Solomon's Seal, also growing near the creek




Our creek and waterfall, running strong after a hard rain. The creek bed will be dry as a bone come summer.

I've been away from my computer, and away from blogging, for most of the week. It's been a nice little break, actually. I'll get caught up with you all soon!

13 comments:

Monika said...

I love it! I've been going through the same thing will all the plants on my street (can't be in my yard because I live on a houseboat....)

Kim said...

Heather, I so love the photos you take of various plants and flowers. You have such a creative way of angling and portraying them that it looks like art. Very well done.

Shelley said...

All beautiful! Especially that creek - I would love to go exploring there!

Kelly said...

Beautiful waterfall...did you lower the shutter speed to get the softness? Love the wildflowers...you're helping me learn the name of all of our natives. Serendipity!

Ginnymo said...

That is a strange looking plant. Looks like a periscope. Nice photos. I love your waterfall!

Jenny Clark said...

A good looking waterfall. Can't wait to see it (and you guys) next weekend!

Kathie Brown said...

I love jack-in-the-pulpit! I used to find it in the woods of CT where I grew up. It was one of the first plant names I ever learned. Nice photos!

FAB said...

A nice find Heather & well captured. Love the stream.

Lona said...

LOL! I had to laugh because I did the same thing this morning. I could not believe it when I was looking at the woodland garden that there stood a Jack in the Pulpit. It was the first one I had seen near our home.Of course I had to run and get the camera. Wonderful shots!

James said...

The discovery of things that aren't on the list of things to see is the best part of hiking.

I love the pictures of the creek with the water flowing like smoke. Nice use of the slow shutter.

Heather said...

Monika - I haven't actually walked down our road in a while, so I'm sure I'll find even more stuff when I do that! Didn't know you lived on a houseboat - very cool!

Kallen - Thank you for the comments. I think nature is an artful thing, so I try to capture it that way.

Shelley - Thank you. It is a very cool place to explore!

Kelly - The slow shutter speed was mostly by accident. I was shooting manually, and it was getting dark, so the camera slowed the shutter just enough to slow that raging water down in these photos.

Ginnymo - It is an odd-looking plant, which is one of the reasons I like it so much - stands out in a crowd, so to speak.

Jenny - Can't make any promises about that waterfall for when you guys come down, although it does sound like we're due to get some rain Saturday night, so maybe it will be running when you guys get here!

Kathie - I'm glad jack-in-the-pulpit is a good memory for you. Now it's one for me, as well!

Frank - More like a lucky find, but thank you!

Lona - That's funny that we had such a similar experience! I guess we were in the right place at the right time!

James - I couldn't agree more.

NW Nature Nut said...

Love those Jack in the Pulpit. What a treat to find them in your own backyard!

Heather said...

Michele - You can't imagine how excited I was to see them!