Enderle Travelblog: April 2017

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Change is in the Air

In the last two weeks, I've visited Olbrich Gardens three times. After a rainy spell these past several days, a slight break (at least for a few hours) enable me to check the local botanical gardens yet again. Last week's warm weather and blue skies brought out lots of people; today, the overcast skies, brisk wind, and cool temps meant a smaller crowd. A week ago today, the cherry blossoms were singing. Today, few petals remained; Their tune was over. I walked away from the area from the area where I had photographed the cherry blossoms and magnolias last week, searching for new subjects.

The wooden bridge crossing the Starkweather Creek was my spot of choice for today. Here, the redbuds provided a colorful contrast against the overcast sky.

Next to the bridge, three painted turtles vied for a spot on the grassy section of a log.

What changes are you observing in your area?

Olbrich Gardens in Spring #melissaenderle, #olbrichgardens, #spring, #madison

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Olbrich Gardens in Spring #melissaenderle, #olbrichgardens, #spring, #madison

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Wednesday, April 19, 2017

melissaenderle

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Spring Awakens at Olbrich Gardens

Having photographed (at least according to my sister) all the flowers in Korea, it was high time that I began to document those spring beauties in Wisconsin. Spring in Wisconsin is a few weeks behind that of Korea, so I had to be a bit more patient. Finally (as my eyes and sinuses also revealed), the warmer temperatures have awakened spring in the area. After completing my online teaching, I took advantage of the pleasant temperatures and non-rainy late morning to walk to the Olbrich Gardens. It was the first time that I had visited Olbrich in spring, so I was eager to see what it would look like.

Other people, young and old, seemed to have had the same idea, strolling around the grounds (free admission) to see what firstfruits of spring were present. While many areas still looked rather dormant, sections were sprinkled with color. Blue Stars carpeted the ground, interspersed with daffodils. Magnolias and cherry blossoms added to the color palette, offering variation in size and color. I crouched low to the ground to get some shots, immediately getting dirt on my freshly laundered jeans. Oh, the price that a photographer must pay!

Needless to say, it wasn't difficult to quickly rack up quite a few shots. I'll have to return in a week or less to see what further changes there will be. The folks (including many volunteers) were busy with spring cleaning and preparing many areas. I can't wait to see the fruits of their labors!

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Saturday, April 15, 2017

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona

On our way to Antelope Canyon, we stopped for a short visit to Horseshoe Bend. Although it is located only five miles from the beginning of the Grand Canyon National Park, the weather was remarkably different from our visit to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon just a day earlier.

To reach the famed spot, we walked about 3/4 a mile off of Highway 89. The soil here was very sandy, its red-orange color contrasting sharply with the blue skies above. Not a tree in sight.

In a few places, people had created sculptures with the rocks.

The sandstone rocks were quite weathered, sculpted by wind and rain.

A boat makes its way around the bend

Once at the lookout point, we were afforded a breathtaking view of the Colorado River 1,000 feet (305 meters) below, curving its way around the Navajo sandstone. In addition to taking the classic shot of the bend, I took some alternative views.

A bridal couple posed for some photos. A drone (even though signs explicitly stated that drones were forbidden) buzzed overhead, taking additional shots.

If you are visiting the Grand Canyon or Antelope Canyon, this stop is worth your time!

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