dense bamboo forest in southern Maui

My friend and master gardener was showing me the sites and we came across her favorite of all trees, the chionanthus virginicus, or fringe tree. In late spring it blooms with drooping clusters of white flowers. I now understand her passion for the tree as is had a very soft friendly appearance with a lovely scent from it's quantity of blooms.

mysterious mounds of rock peaking through the surface of a mineral water pond in JiuZhaiGou

southern China

This beautiful moment was captured on Navajo's land in Arizona. With permission from the Native Americans, I visited their sacred and amazing canyons. It's a bit windy topside so there is a constant shower of sand pouring in. In just a few minutes, piles of this ultra-fine sand begin to build up on our shoulders, pockets, and equipment making the day-long adventure quite memorable. When the sun is at its highest, it illuminates some of these sand showers to appear as magnificent beams of light.

these large birds appear to have infinite patience as they stand motionless for hours waiting for their meal to swim by.

ruffle and stripe details on a giant Bearded Iris

extremely well manicured shrubbery in Japanese garden