The Burning Sun.

Looking toward the sun with the smoke from the current fires is amazing to say the least. I wanted to put these images here as well to document the power and amazement of nature.



Looking towards Disney Land.

Collecting Life.

While researching more about the interesting world of Botany and Plant Science I learned of a few new words that I had not heard or read before. The first being herbarium and the second related to it, plant collecting.


Now I want to know more. My interest has been sparked to go out and start to identify and map, document, draw and collect (here) the flora and fauna around our home and around town. I get excited to just thinking about it, of going out and exploring and making notes and documentation of the plant life that is all around me.(Taxonomy) Of being able to identify and name various plants sound so fun. I think my weekends are going to start involving plant life and it's study.


More collecting ref. Here. Here. a PDF file for collecting Fungi here
(all images from NYBG.org ,The C. V. Starr Virtual Herbarium and represent Herbarium collecting)

Fungi World.

here is some more fungi growth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puDkLFcCZyI

Illustrations.

Recently have been inspired by old Natural History illustrations that were done by Beatrix Potter. (the author/Illustrator of the Peter Rabbit story) So I jumped on the 'ol net and searched for more of that style and found a site in England called Triptych. It is a great research site.
Here are a few illustrations I found and they have heaps and heaps of them.

I also will post latter my findings of the natural history work of Mrs. Potter.

To Create

“There is a great work for the Saints to do. Progress, and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations. In the mean time continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the Spirit of Christ.” Brigham Young, (Deseret News, Aug. 8, 1860, 177)

I believe in living prophets who speak to us what the Lord would have us do. When he speaks it is our Heavenly Father speaking, guiding, warning, and teaching. This quote is so inspirational to me and a testament to continue to seek out, study and learn all I can about the natural world around me. To do my part to beautify, build, protect, and inspire others to do the same. Lets push on.

Cheers,
'Mr.Ray'

Our Patio.

As we have taken a new position of employment that will keep us here in the Southern California area for a few more seasons I felt that it was time to delve back into the up keep of our front patio area. In so doing I think it is the best it has been in years, or at least since we have dwelt in this abode. Being dirty and surrounded by living, growing things and the study of the life of Beatrix Potter has sparked a real interest in the natural world around me and want to surround myself with more of the beauty of gods creations and curiosities.
I have started experiments and planted 'hi-jacked' findings from around our complex to see how they grow and what they are to become.


I hope to make this my spot of continued intrest but do not plan to post regularly for this is only for the purpose of my own entertainment and recording only to document for my own enjoyment, history, and research.

'Mr.Ray'