I’m always amazed at those people that can plan out and execute a beautiful flower garden. My favorite type of gardens are those that have color all year-round and designed in a sense that they don’t feel forced.  As much as I enjoy a nice, formal English garden, I prefer the natural variety that draws you into the relaxed setting, as if it came about by itself. Of course, the more natural it looks, the more work that probably went into it.

With some time and effort, a simple walkway can be transformed into an oasis of greenery in a city full of concrete and brick.

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They say most people dream in black and white when they sleep. Does that mean that we dream in color when we are awake? 

My friends will tell you that I’m too much of a realist to be the kind that day-dreams a lot, but when you gaze upon beautiful cars like these, it would be easy to see yourself driving down the highway in one of these fine automobiles.

With the rumbling exhaust purring along from the V8, you roll your window down as the wind blows through your hair. You turn up the music on the radio, rocking to the tunes of yesteryear. Taking your time cruising down the boulevard, you get a thumbs up from others who appreciate the classics too. I know it sounds like a scene from American Graffiti, but hey, I guy can dream.

These are a few more fine examples from a show in Baytown, Texas.
 

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The Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge is a harbor bridge located in Corpus Christi, Texas which transports about 26 ,000 vehicles per day. It was constructed between 1956 and 1959 to replace a drawbridge. It will most likely be replaced with a taller concrete bridge that would allow larger ships to pass beneath.

This was our view of the bridge as we were leaving the Texas State Aquarium . Crossing this bridge also provides a nice view of the USS Lexington aircraft carrier, docked next to the Aquarium.
 

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The United States of America’s flag has a proud history. As a symbol of our country, it is to be honored and displayed in specific ways. There are many sites that tell you how to display and handle the flag properly. Flag Day is the day to proudly and correctly display our American Flag.

This is the scene you find as you approach the American Cemetery in Normandy by Omaha Beach. The very tall trees have been manicured to focus your attention to the flag pole, while giving the sense of standing at attention. It sets the mood quite well as you approach the site of so many heros. Like all posts, you can click on the image for a larger view.

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Driving south from Refugio to Corpus Christi, we discovered a huge wind farm that spread out for miles. I had seen wind farms at a distance in France, but never up close. I am amazed at how large these turbines are and how many there were. The windmills at a distance were hard to see, as they blended into the horizon, but we easily counted over 100. I found out that this is no big deal though. The Roscoe Wind Farm in Roscoe, Texas was the world’s largest wind farm at completion with 627 wind turbines.

On our return trip, we detoured off the highway and went sightseeing. They look close together, until you get closer and realize how large they really are. It makes getting several in a shot difficult. A telephoto lens might compress those far away for a nice shot, but my telephoto wasn’t in my gear on this trip. I was also surprised at how quiet they were. I’ve heard that they can get loud and even scare away wildlife as the blades spin faster, but on this day, they were slow and steady.

With over 40 different wind farm projects,  Texas produces the most wind power of any U.S. state, with about 9% of its electrical power coming from wind.
 

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I have always wanted to go visit the USS Lexington aircraft carrier, now amuseum in Corpus Christi. It’s not like I haven’t had time. It became a museum in 1992. I came close on year when our family visited the Texas State Aquarium right beside the “Blue Ghost”. But with young babies and a tired wife, it just wasn’t meant to be that year.

This year for my birthday (I turned 39, again), my family treated me to a weekend trip to Corpus to see the ship. It was just the bright, sunny kind of day you would expect for the coast and we spent all afternoon touring the flight deck down to the engine room. There is a lot to see with much of the ship available for viewing. Portions of it is air conditioned, but parts are not, so this is a tour that might be enjoyed more in cooler weather. Summer in south Texas tends to get a bit warm.

Climbing the stairs in the island takes you to the bridge. It looks a bit tired now, but I’m sure it was a hopping place years ago, as planes would come and go as this huge ship roamed  the seas in WWII, then later as a training carrier on our east coast.
 

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I always thought it would be cool to have a car with a big, fancy hood ornament. Though they seem to imply an air of high social status, I just thought it was nice to have this icon riding up front; sort of like flying your team flag on game day. But cars these day cut corners, both on cost and literal corners on wind drag, so the extra cost, weight and drag make them a thing of the past. 

This 1935 Hudson Terraplane boasts a simple, yet graceful hood ornament that seems to imply an elegant, yet sporty image on this beautiful car.
 

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At the heart of Windsor Castle in England is the Middle Ward, a bailey formed around the motte or artificial hill in the center of the ward. The motte is 50 ft high and is made from chalk originally excavated from the surrounding ditch. The keep, called the Round Tower, rests on top and is today used to provide additional space for the Royal Archives.
 

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The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart may not be the newest church (but it’s only five years old) but it is one of the more unique churches in Houston. I remember the news reports when it opened, since it was such a large and beautiful structure. It certainly stands out when you drive past it as you enter downtown Houston.

Large buildings like these are hard to shoot though, since street lights, telephone lines and other obstructions make it difficult to get a clear shot. In this case, trees across the street and a long parking lot wall also added to the challenge. A nice wide-angle lens is a necessity for these types of photos. For a closer look of the dome in the top left, see this photo.
 

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Some of the most interesting things are small and that includes the animal kingdom. Photography speaking, the only problem with small animals is that they are harder to photograph. Throw the low lighting of an indoor setting and the difficulty of photographing them just increased.

These little (I mean tiny) tree frogs were recently seen at the Texas State Aquarium. It’s too crowded to bring a tripod, so a monopod, braced up against the glass is about all you can hope for for support during the longer shutter speed. Pray that the subject doesn’t move and take a few shots, just in case. 
 

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