GPICTURAMA WEB SITE: Picture Collection

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DATE ADDED: APRIL 10, 2008.

INTO THE WILD [OUT BACK]!
Over the past few months, I've been collecting a series of shots both from my bedroom window and directly at the source of my backyard. I never knew just how active a place it was, filled with wildlife. Though plants are far easier to photograph than animals, I did my best to capture both realms. Only a hint of it all, however, made its way here.

	And so we enter the backyard. This part used to be covered with a Doughboy swimming pool. Ah, the days of childhood...
	This isn't quite wildlife, but it certainly seems wild.
	Back to the former pool area. It's now swarming with poppies!
	More poppies... Not a single one was planted!
	Right by those are our bamboo shoots. They were planted, but damn, do they grow fast! A mini jungle on its own.
	Damn squirrels! Wild for sure.
	These odd plants are seen from the side of the yard, and grow in the neighbor's yard. They sure seem alionic.
	We have some berry plants of our own. Not for eating, though.
	A hummingbird! These amazing creatures like to spend time in the bamboo and the persimmon tree. I'm astounded I captured it on film because they move so quickly.
	The leftmost shot was taken by the garden bench, which partially surrounds this enclosed area, canopied by the tops of the persimmon tree. It's quite nice, actually. The bench happened to come with the house, too.
	What an amazing shape this tree has, gnotting every which way. Rough, defined bark encompasses the trunk.
	Its leaves were barely 2 weeks old in this pic; spring has sprung.
	More life exists than just the tree; here, a bluebird sits on a branch! These birds are actually quite mean to the others, acting like little bullies when out and around. Perhaps their violent approach is due to their lack of camouflage?
	Traveling backwards in time a few months, before the leaves sprouted and the remaining fruits were picked over, this hawk continually landed in the tree! It was so much bigger than any of the other birds, and looked so much more mature and symbolic and timeless than any of the other creatures that came by. Truly fascinating, and I was glad I could capture it from my window.
	This may or may not be the same hawk, but it was not taken the same day. On occasion, vultures even fly by, but I am not so much believing this was that kind of bird.
	Still back before spring on this rainy day was a flock of sparrows that kept congregating on the tree. These birds do not sit still! I was glad that at least that they stayed in bunches so that I'd be sure to photograph a few birds in each picture. Once they're in the air, it's nearly impossible!
	Speaking of rain, there was a week at the end of January where there were at least 4 days of rainbows! This is a crapshoot shot, but they always became full rainbows. Leprechauns were out that week, I'm certain!
	This moss-covered set of bricks is under that Samoan tiki statue shown at the top of this page. There were many insects upon these bricks, but not big enough for my camera to see in focus (this time around).
	Returning to spring... :-)
	Can't have spring without more flowers!
	Green, green, green! Maybe there's a blarney stone... (Speaking of leprechauns? Oh, give over!)
	Green needs agua. Can't rely just on rain!
	This wysteria came all the way from LA! You can see hints of a planter box as well, another reason for the hose just shown.
	Life is everywhere, even next to the shed! This flower seemed to glow!
	Had to see under the patio, which that flower above grew beside. If life can grow there, then there really must be no limits!

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