Photo Tours Abroad

Lichen

Bamboo forest, near the village of Dali, Guizhou Province, China.

Guizhou, China.

Sumac.....one of the first harbingers of the fall to come.

Morning light, Lake Superior.

Wispy lenticular clouds in evidence over Lake Superior at the dawning of a new day.

Baptism River detail. Minnesota.

Maple leaves in the spring - the colors of new growth.

Spruce, after an overnight snowfall. Minnesota.

Riffles on the Baptism River, northern Minnesota

Distorted window glass reflection, Suzhou garden, China.

Suzhou garden wall.

These gardens, which reflect a certain order of the natural world, in which human society plays its small role, contain many small gems awaiting discovery. Granted many visitors walk through quite quickly and perfunctorily, simply acknowledging that these gardens reflect an aesthetic of Chinese culture to be valued, but the real reward comes to those who have the time and the inclination to notice and appreciate small moments of indescribable beauty & serenity.

Suzhou is home to a number of classic Chinese gardens, which have existed for hundreds of years. Most of the gardens are large-scale artificially-contrived 'landscapes,' but one of the endearing characteristics of these gardens is that even the smallest details are deliberately designed to enhance a feeling of serenity among people who visit these gardens. This is one such small detail.

Enduring another Alabama summer - though relatively cool by local standards - we think longingly of autumn and the soon-to-follow winter months.

Dutch Elm Disease victim. Minnesota.

Color on the Keweenaw Peninsula - a Lake Superior water feature.