spirals, spheres, and turtle ears

A lovely Fourth of July here, and the highlight was a trip to the Botanical Gardens.  It's not exactly a "hike," but it's nicely shaded, has lots of walking trails, and exposes me to plants I most likely wouldn't see on a typical trail hike:

As a Midwesterner, I haven't had much contact with these big tropical plants and their giant leaves, but I've definitely developed an appreciation for them.  I especially love the juxtaposition of deep purple and chartreuse.

I love their big, bold patterns.

And, of course, I love how they gather water in their basins.

I always talk about repeating patterns in nature, but once you start noticing them, they're hard to ignore.  Spirals are everywhere.

Spheres...

Bowed-out curves...

Spikes...

Echoes.

I love the unexpected, like the bright blue of a jay.  This one has recently died, but his feathers have lost none of their luster.

Coming upon a group of water fowl, hungry for handouts...

A warm spread of black-eyed Susans, picturesquely bordering a fence...

A painted turtle, surveying his domain:

Of course, everywhere there was a buzz of insects...

...but I'll have to add most of those pictures to the next entry.  All in all, a very nice stroll.  We've got some exciting coastal trips planned over the next few months, so I'll be glad to stretch out a little and photograph some different subject matters!  Until then...have a great week!