Wayword Wind

Gazing at Gazanias

Pat Bertram — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:21:11 +0000

Until this spring, I’d never seen this gorgeus orange and yellow striped daisy-like flower, but it has quickly become a favorite of mine. It’s formal name is Gazania, but it is also known as a treasure flower. And what a treasure! It tolerates poor soils, high heat, drought, the floliage stays green year round, and it only needs to be watered twice a month. Even I could care for a plant such as that, but for now I will stick to gazing at my neighbors’s gazanias.

A Once or Future Civilization

Pat Bertram — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 03:35:25 +0000

On a recent walk in the desert, I found a two lane road, which seemed out of place compared to the cart tracks I usually see. The road dead ends in the desert, but at one time someone must have had plans for it. I’ve found several signs of civilization — a water main (perhaps), a sign post, realtors sign, a ruin of a house, a log that was obviously cut by a sophisticated implement, a footprint (okay, the footprint is mine, but who’s to say when exactly I placed my foot on the road — perhaps it’s a relic of the future. Or perhaps not.) Come follow the yellow sand road with me.

A Peek at Peaks

Pat Bertram — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 03:30:56 +0000

There is no lack of peaks around here — roof peaks, mountain peaks, hill peaks — so today I hunted for perfect shots of peaks echoed against peaks. I hope you enjoy this peek at the treasures I found.

Treasure Hunt — Distant Scenes

Pat Bertram — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 03:24:42 +0000

The last time I posted photos of the treasures I found on my walks, I focused on color — specifically close-ups of flowers. Today’s treasures are distant scenes. (What is the opposite of close-up — far-downs?) Thank you for accompanying me on my virtual walk.

Treasure Hunt — 7/15/10

Pat Bertram — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:56:37 +0000

So many treasures! And the biggest treasure is color. Just so you don’t think my whole world is painted in desert colors, I took these photos of garden flowers I passed on my walk today.

Treasure Hunt — 7/12/10

Pat Bertram — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:54:27 +0000

My work in progress has a scene where the hero is escaping across a desert with a group of acquaintances, so as I take my daily walk I try to see what he would see, such as a ghost moon and a ghost sun. Unless he has sharp eyes, he might miss much of the color — the flowers are so tiny it’s hard to see them at a casual glance. There are few creatures, but he would see jackrabbits and ants, scorpions and snakes (though I have yet to see either — whew!), and lots of lizards. The lizards move so fast that only when one stops to pose can I capture an image of it. Lucky for me, one did stop to pose.

Treasure Hunt — 7/11/10

Pat Bertram — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:51:33 +0000

The past couple of treasure hunts consisted of mostly desert photos, so today I decided to post pictures of non-living things I saw in gardens on my way to the desert. Some of the photos were taken at a distance — I have not yet become foolhardy enough to enter people’s yards and photograph their artifacts. I’m surprised they haven’t sicced the neighborhood watch on me. But so far, no one seems to object. Good thing. I would miss out on capturing such treasures as these:

Treasure Hunt — 7/09/10

Pat Bertram — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:49:27 +0000

Just because a person goes on a treasure hunt does not mean said person will find treasures. Today I took a different turn and ended up in an unseemly part of the desert with quarries, decapitated mountains, roads that ended in no trespassing signs (I took the huge rock pile at the end of some trails as signs of no trespassing), heavy machinery (faith might move mountains, but heavy machinery does it for sure), and various other non-treasures. Still, the pictures are a change from those I normally post, so perhaps there is treasure in that.

The ghost of a future subdivision.

Lots of peaks

Treasure Hunt 7/7/10

Pat Bertram — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:52:32 +0000

Yesterday I posted photos of the desert trails I traverse, so I thought I’d continue posting on a theme. On today’s treasure hunt I searched for interesting cairns and outcroppings. I found many of those, of course — this is a very rocky desert, but I also found a wonderful bullfrog rock. I’ll never find it again because it was a gift of perspective, but at least I have the photo. And now so do you.

Treasure Hunt — 7/6/10

Pat Bertram — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:45:14 +0000

Today I’m showing you some of the roads and trails, paths and tracks I follow as I wander through the desert. Not only do these pathways keep me from inadvertantly stumbling into rattlesnake pits, they keep me from getting lost. And my walks bring me peace and comfort. Treasures, indeed.

The tiny flyspeck in the middle of the bottom trail are two bicyclists, which gives you an idea of the scale.