Time Not A Healer: A set of Haiku

Gently flows the creek

Time flies like arrow forward

Lonely lover waits

*****

Meandering trail

Rushing creek sings lullabies

Jilted lover cried

******

Summer heat rises

Languorous mid-day slumbers

Wounded heart drips slow

******

Creek just a trickle

Time marches on relentless

Bleeding heart searches

******

Dry creek lost it’s way

Cruel time not a healer

Lover’s broken heart

Deer Encounter- Local Flora (and fauna) – Stay at home stroll – 13

This is a series about the neighborhood flowers and flowering trees that I saw and enjoyed on my walk in the neighborhood during the stay at home months.  Many of the flowers I don’t know much about and depend on Google lens to get a name.  If there are mistakes, apologize for my ignorance.

The title should have have been local fauna but my after lunch stroll was not in search of them.  The day started out cloudy and gloomy, not at all like a normal mid May weather at all.  After a relatively late lunch, I decided to take a long walk in the neighborhood.  Normally during these long walk in the neighborhood I try to complete a loop of about four to five miles.  As I had already done a mile in  the morning with my dog Skooby and would go out again with him in the evening, I decided to cut a leg short and return home.  I was fortunate that I did that.

No one must have told this deer family about the stay at home order.  Either the cloudy weather may have misled them about the time of the day or they may have heard about the new relaxations being planned and decided to try out. Either way, it was my good fortune.  We do see deers from time to time in our neighborhood but mainly during early morning before the sun is high up in the sky. As I took a turn on the road towards my home, this family of deers crossed the road and started walking by the creekside fence.  I decided to follow them along on the other side of the road, forgetting to take the turn to my house.  For nearly a quarter of a mile they kept me company, sometimes hiding by the bushes as they ran daintily along the fence.  I was more worried that they may get tempted to cross the road to taste the green grass on the front yards of  my neighbors and get hit by cars that won’t be expecting deers on the road at this time of the day.  As I reached the end of the road after about half a mile, I decided to turn back by the same road hoping to see them again.  Alas, they have vanished by that time.

  

how graceful art thou

nature’s beautiful creation

the unexpected visit 

a poetry in motionaa

And as this series is about local flowers that I see during my stay at home stroll in the neighborhood, I shall finish my post with a photo of flowers that I am sure will not need any introduction.  I am sure the deers will appreciate.

dandelions, they don’t ask for much

to take their place in the sun

hardy warriors are they

here for the long run 

---

A Rose is a rose

 

 

 

Crimson bottlebrush- Local Flora – Stay at home stroll – 9

This is a series about the neighborhood flowers and flowering trees that I saw and enjoyed on my walk in the neighborhood during the stay at home months.  Many of the flowers I don’t know much about and depend on Google lens to get a name.  If there are mistakes, apologize for my ignorance.

Near our house there is a small creek that runs nearly dry during the summer months.  The creek is bordered on one side by a road and the other side a gravel road cum trail maintained by the water district.  The creek is fenced in on both sides by chain link fences.  Between the road and the fence are many trees and wildflowers that start blooming during spring.  I am not sure if some of these flowering plants are really wild or originally planted by the developers when the subdivision was  planned some fifty years back. To me it looks wild now, hiding the creek from the road.  There are quite a few bottlebrush plants by the roadside.  For once I can say that the name is quite appropriate as any one can see the similarity with a bottlebrush.  I am happy that the color is not white. Crimson really brings up the contrast.

Did the inventor 

In a rush

Took the idea from nature 

And named you bottlebrush

---

A Rose is a rose

 

 

 

Spring Blossom- Local Flora – Stay at home stroll – 4

This is a series about the neighborhood flowers and flowering trees that I saw and enjoyed on my walk in the neighborhood during the stay at home months.  Many of the flowers I don’t know much about and depend on Google lens to get a name.  If there are mistakes, apologize for my ignorance.

The photo below was taken during the very early part of WFH (work from home) advisory as a precaution to avoid contracting COVID-19. Stay at home was still a few days ahead.  Since eighteen sixty four, this was the first rainless February in our area and spring came early.  Just to give some space to my better half who was still getting accustomed to the routine of WFH, I used to take long walks in the morning.  The weather was gorgeous, sunny, dry and cool and outdoor was much more inviting than being confronted by an unhappy spouse forced to be confined in an unoptimized workspace.  During one of those walks, mile and a half from my home, I was suddenly blinded by the sight of these beautiful trees in full bloom. I  had walked by this same street a few days back and I was sure that the trees were barren. I took out my cell phone and took few photos.  Sunlight was blinding and I could barely see my cellphone screen due to the glare.  As I was going through my cell phone gallery today, I saw a couple that I could resurrect with a little bit of post processing.  I am still not happy with the end result because the flowers are not distinct enough.  Google lens show this as Eugenia dysenterica but to me it looked more like Cherry blossom.  Ah well, what’s in a name.  Who am I to question what Keats said; ” A thing of beauty is a joy for ever”.   

Brightened the season

And dazzled my heart

Your beauty

Worth the wait

---

A Rose is a rose

 

 

Empress Tree(Paulownia)*- Local Flora – Stay at home stroll – 3

Couple of weeks back, on a weekend, I was taking an after lunch walk with my wife around our neighborhood.  The day was sunny and bright but cool.  Our dog Skooby was with us.  Whenever he goes out with both of us he becomes super excited.  As a result our walks become leisurely because he has to stop everywhere trying to take in all the smells that nature presents.  This particular day I was rewarded for my patience with Skooby.  As we were taking a turn on the road towards our home, my eyes were dazzled with the sight of blooming flowers bathed in sunlight.  It was just one tree among few other non-descript trees near a creek. Behind the creek there was a small meadow with tall grass.  I could hardly see any leaf on the tree.  Whole tree, from top to bottom, was just covered in dazzlingly bright flowers.  Sunlight was quite strong and it was difficult for me to get a photo with enough contrast of the whole tree with my cell phone.  So I had to be satisfied with a zoomed in shot of the flowers.  I had no idea what those flowers were.  My knowledge about flowers are minimal.  So I had to use Google lens to identify what it was called.  Empress tree or one of the members of the paulownia family.  If any of my readers can identify it clearly and update, it will be much appreciated. 

Dazzling jewels

Bathed in sunlight

Fit to adorn a regina

Empress of the wild

---

A Rose is a rose

*  The name Empress Tree or Paulownia was found using Google lens.

 

I remember

I remember

When we sat by the creek

And heard the wind play music 

Rustling through the leaves

Gently rushing waters

Lapping at our feet

As we hold hands

And leaned on each other

We did not talk then

A Walk along Los Alamitos Creek

I did a 8 mile walk along Los Alamitos Creek today.  It had been raining here continuously for last few days. Even as I am writing this post, the house windows are being rattled by gusts of wind. The constant drip drip sound of the rain on the roof is putting me to sleep.

Los Alamitos Creek is about eight miles long, originating in the Santa Cruz Mountains and flowing along the eastern side of Almaden Valley.  The creek joins the Guadalupe River after Almaden Lake. Los Alamitos Creek Trail along the creek is about ten miles long.  The creek becomes a trickle during summer but swells after winter rains.  I wanted to see the creek after the rains and was not disappointed.

As I started from my home, it was cloudy with the sun trying to come out from behind the clouds . The hills including Mount Umunhum in the west were hazy, covered in rain clouds.  The trail itself is well paved for bicycles, hikers and joggers with small detours that lead from the paved trail to the creek banks in many areas.  I entered the trail after walking about a mile from my home.

Winter rains had turned the meadows near the creek bed verdant green. Trees, bare naked in winter, against the green meadows and a darkening sky was a sight to behold.

 

The creek becomes a trickle during summer but swells after winter rains.  I wanted to see the creek after the rains and was not disappointed. It was full with gushing waters and looked like a small river.

As I was about to return, the rains started. It was a slow drizzle at first but became a driving rain by the time I was about a mile from home. Then just as suddenly a huge gust of wind blew the rain away though I could still see the heavy rains on the hills.  I hurried home as fast as I could praying my tired legs would not slip on the wet pavements.  Though I was extremely tired after the long walk, my heart was full and satisfied.

After the Rains

Went out for a walk today morning  with my dog Skooby.  It had been raining off and on last few days.  Not that heavy but somewhat consistent rain to soak the grounds and make the dry creeks flow again.  A heavy mist was covering the nearby hills making the valley look like a surreal work of art.  My old cell phone camera was ineffectual in capturing nature’s art.

Frolicking Guests of Randol Creek

Rain brings the promise
Nature’s bounty in display
Dry creek starts flowing
Invitation to frolic sent away
Guests arrive from far
It’s play time, nature says
Welcoming creek bosom waits
Opening her heart for guests to play

Photo by author, December 16, 2018

The visiting mallards play hide and seek with me.  Whenever I have my camera with me during my walk, they are no where to be seen.  When I have my cell phone they will be out there in force.  Today just happened to be my cell phone only day.  With my dog Skooby in toe, I decided not to go too near.  These birds are skittish and fly really well.  Result is a out of focus photo. Oh well. Hope one day I shall be able to take a BOF photograph.

Cactus Flowers and Shade Trees : Tuesday Photo Challenge – Backyard

This week’s Tuesday Photo Challenge prompt from Frank  is  “Backyard“.

Backyard trees in the morning sun as seen from my breakfast nook.  All the trees are in my backdoor neighbors yard.  Flowers and leaves from the trees make my backyard quite dirty but they provides nice shade in summer afternoon as the sun moves to the western sky.  Therefore I have learnt to tolerate the extra work and coexist.

Photo above is from my extended backyard. Couple of minutes walk from my house is a creek. Nearly a kilometer long portion of  the creek divides the newer and older areas of the subdivision. The creek runs completely dry in summer.  On our side of the creek, the trail by the side of the creek is shaded by trees and on the other side is a wide trail.  In summer the creek bed is choke full of  dry reeds that give shelter and nesting environments to wild birds and animals, mainly quails, ground squirrels, gophers, moles and hares. Saw these beautiful cactus flowers during morning walk with my dog, Skooby. 

Many had commented that it looks like a human foot.

Note: All photos taken by author on September 5, 2018. Please ask or cite source for reproduction.