Catalpa flowers

Catalpa trees seem like the last ones to get leaves, the last to get flowers and the first to lose their leaves.  The USDA has a write-up for those interested; I knew these as 'bean trees' when I was a boy.  It's late June, and the local catalpas are in bloom.  I was thinking of cropping this, but I sort of like the context.  On the left are sumacs (considered a pest in the city), in the middle are the catalpas and on the right are maple trees.  My guess is that only the maples were intentionally planted.  Something I learnt while researching this tree: catalpa is a mis-transcription of the original First Nation word catawba.

F Number	7.1
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/250
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Mulberries

When we moved into the house, there was a very large, very old maple tree in front.  It was close to the end and soon died.  The power company cut it down before the dead limbs could bring down the power lines.  There was a bare stump there for a few years, and then this tree began to grow.  It's a mulberry tree, probably growing from seeds left by a bird.

Well it's ten years on and that mulberry tree is tall and it has a lot of fruit on it!  Not only do the birds like it, but the neighbours (and their kids) do too!  It's not uncommon to see 4 or 5 kids and a grownup or two picking the berries off the tree.  They aren't overly sweet, but they're pretty nice when fully ripe.  The only thing that's missing are the silk worms!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	40.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 80.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/13
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Stroh violin

I was at the Greenmarket on Sunday and the Penny Jar band were playing.  It was quite warm (over 90F) and the chairs were set up on the lawn of City Hall, under the trees.  So the band were facing opposite of the usual configuration, giving me a look behind the scenes, as it were.  And I saw this!

This is a Stroh violin.  It's an amplified violin, but the amplification is... mechanical rather than electrical.  It was invented by John Matthias Augustus Stroh in 1899, before the microphone.  You can hear a pretty good example at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkO5y-To3H0.  Now that we have microphones, there aren't that many Stroh violins in circulation.  I was very happy to see it.  Alas, the A string broke (normal wear and tear) and the violinist wasn't able to play the full range of notes.  But she did play it for me!  Nice.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	125
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Skywatch Friday

Sunset in the city.  This is facing east, where the sun's last rays illuminate distant clouds.

Many photo bloggers from round the world post a photo of their sky of Friday - visit Skywatch Friday to see them all!

F Number	5.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	26.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 52.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/50
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Tadpoles

My youngest has a fascination for all living creatures.  He was thrilled when he was visiting a friend who had a pond and agreed to send some tadpoles home.  These little frogs are from the same pond, but clearly a few days apart in terms of development.  The one in the corner has almost completely absorbed his tail, while the one in front hasn't quite got his front legs yet.  Once grown, they'll go back to the pond where they began life.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/30
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	On, Fired

Monthly Theme - The Beauty of Decay

On the first of each month,  the City Daily Photo community members choose a theme and then post a photo that represents how they visualise that theme.  This month the theme is The Beauty of Decay.  Please visit the link and see the beautiful photos our members have taken from round the world!

This is a photo from Vale Cemetery.  It's something of a green and natural oasis in the middle of the city.  This section is not quite steep enough to be called a gorge or canyon, but it's a steep climb from the footpath to the top as well as down to Cowhorn Creek below.  So when trees finally fall, they are generally left there unless they cross the path.  The tree on the left broke up above the frame, but nature has reclaimed the stump to the point that we can see straight through it.  Skunk cabbages are growing around it, and a tiny sapling has taken root in the middle.  It's hard to imagine that all this is quietly happening a few hundred yards from the main city street.

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	35.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 70.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/200
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire