Scorching Sacramento Sunflowers

/ Bulldog Travels / 19 Comments

It is so hot and dry in Northern California right now (Around 100-110F/ or 38-43C) it’s intolerable at times.  What can possibly thrive in this heat?

Sunflowers friends, sunflowers can!  It’s sunflower season in the country so I took a quick drive to the Davis area and took some shots in a flower field before it got too hot and before the bees ran me off.  The sky is slightly hazy with smoke from surrounding fires which only got progressively worse after I took these photos.  So enjoy my cheerful sunflowers and stay cool friends!

Johnny Cash Trail-Folsom, California

/ Bulldog Travels / 9 Comments

A stretch of the American River bike trail has been dedicated to the man in Black – The Johnny Cash Trail. I had driven my multiple times seeing a piece of large art in the shape of a guitar with no clue as to why a random giant guitar was on the side of the road. I later learned the city dedicated the area to Johnny Cash.

The stretch of the beautiful bike trail runs parallel to the Folsom Prison tying it all together to his famous song “Folsom Prison Blues.”  The trail is very pleasant and very easy. My only criticism would be several signs with plans for public art related to Cash which are planned for the future but not yet complete. The portion of trail I walked on had no direct connection to Cash other than the Robber’s Ravine Bridge with a marker noting some Cash trivia.  Well, actually come to think of it I do have one other criticism, the portion of the trail which overlooks Folsom Lake does not have parking and was too far to walk with a baby in a stroller so I never made it to the end where the overlook and Cash guitar Pick art would have greeted me.

Regardless, the trail is worth a visit in cool weather. But, other stretches of the bike trail are frankly far more beautiful and parallel the water while one is walking. I’m glad I went because now my curiosity is sated. But, until the public art is complete I likely won’t be back.

Robber’s Ravine Bridge

This would have been even prettier a month or so ago when everything was still green

I couldn’t help but think that this little wild flower was trying to break out of prison

For you parents out there my son learned how to “moo” on this walk!

Fairytale Town- Sacramento, California

/ Bulldog Travels / 11 Comments

Fairytale town, located in Land Park, is a staple for all young Sacramentans. I came here as a kid and recently took my young son for the first time. Memories came flooding back. The park has been gussied up thank goodness with fresh paint and new additions everywhere.  This is great since it was a little tired in the 70’s when I was a kid.  (Doing the math though, it makes sense, because most of the park was built in the 50’s so it was already old when I was running around climbing on fantastic representations of our favorite fairytales.)

The crooked mile is as crooked as I remember, the old lady is still living in her shoe, the three little pigs are probably on their 20th generation by now, and kids can still have a safe place to run around and be free even on a life size piece of Swiss cheese if they so desire.

I’ve never heard of a place like this anywhere else short of Disneyland and the other large, busy, and expensive amusement parks.  Does anyone have anything like this on their end of the world?

Mind you head!

We were treated to a violin concert by a group of little ones.

The crooked mile may not be an actual mile but it still charms the kids the same way it did when I was young.

De Young Museum- Cult of the Machine

/ Bulldog Travels / 10 Comments

San Francisco’s premier art museum De Young , located in the glorious Golden Gate Park, is showing a “Cult of the Machine” exhibit which is simple, small, and enjoyable. The exhibit focuses on what appears to be period Industrial Art Deco style meets San Francisco Tech Industry.  A few pieces even focused on the Golden Gate Bridge, our beloved swaying icon of the area.  I found the exhibit to be very modern despite much of it being 100 years old.  The museum is a perfect respite from the heat and only feat away from my favorite San Francisco attractions; the Japanese Tea Gardens and the Botanical Gardens.  One could easily spend the entire day at the De Young even while the nature just steps outside beckon.

img_8954

Clarence Holbrook Carter – War Bride, 1940

img_8952

Joseph Stella – Bridge, 1936

img_8946

Charles Sheeler – Golden Gate, 1955

img_8942

Joseph Stella Factories, 1918

Maple Rock Calla Lillies

/ Bulldog Travels / 36 Comments

I have always had a fondness for Calla Lilies since my Grandmother had a yard full of them.  I found the color and shape of these from the Maple Rock Garden Bloomtastic event interesting and unusual.  They look park leaf, part flower, park lili pad to me.

This concludes my Maple Rock Gardens series.  I hope you have enjoyed your macro garden tour!  Thank you for joining me.  Be sure to tip your driver!

D80_2653

D80_2657

 

 

Finding beauty in the mundane at Maple Rock Gardens

/ Bulldog Travels / 23 Comments

My macro lens is attracted to random details trying to make something on the moderately mundane level beautiful by bringing it up close.  Welcome to  Maple Rock Gardens Bamboo garden from up close!  I hope you enjoy your tour.  If you close your eyes and listen to the leaves rustle you might imagine we are in the rain forest together somewhere tropical and warm.  I can hear the ocean, can you?

D80_2730D80_2729D80_2725D80_2705D80_2706D80_2708D80_2718

The Leaves of Maple Rock Gardens

/ Bulldog Travels / 4 Comments

The angles and lines of these leaves are so beautiful to me.  The colors are striking in a way only Mother Nature can perfect.  I could have spent hours at Maple Rock Gardens bending and squatting and trying different perspectives on these leaf models.  Even standing in the same spot for a few minutes at a time allowed for the lighting to change enough to modify the mood and look of the leaves.  If you haven’t noticed yet I find the details of mundane things interesting and artistic from the macro perspective.  Thank you for giving me an outlet to share!  I hope you enjoy them too!