Barn Swallow

 The swallow's flight is distinctive. We can easily recognize them among the birds flying in the sky.

Kayaking at Schuylkill River. Downtown Philadelphia.

 Taking in the Philadelphia skyline from a kayak is just as exciting as exploring this wonderful city on foot.

Challenger K1 Kayak

 I never planned to review any product on my blog. But purchasing an inflatable kayak a few years ago became a pivotal moment in my travels. So this post is a tribute to the item that became my friend. And I offer some advice based on my experience for those considering buying a watercraft.

Yellow Lotus aka American Lotus.

 Lotus. When I hear this name, my imagination immediately conjures up images of something sacred, the sacred mysteries of Buddhist monks, and the meditations of Indian yogis.

What does this flower actually represent, and how mysterious is it?

Winter bird feeder.

 I've long understood that feeding birds from spring to fall is harmful, both for the birds themselves and for the ecosystem as a whole.  Winter is a different story.

But in winter, bird feeders are mostly empty. The lack of natural protection in cities and the large number of predators force birds to seek shelter elsewhere.

The snowfall covered the natural food and forced the birds to remember their trusted feeders. That day, almost all the old familiar birds and new guests stopped by the feeder.

One World, Our Children Mural

During one of my travels around Manhattan in New York, I happened to be walking near Albany Street Plaza and saw drawings painted on what I thought was a temporary fence around a construction site.

 

Bonsai. Longwood Garden Collection.

Bonsai is an ancient art of growing plants in containers to represent mature plants found in nature. With Japanese bonsai translated as "grown in a tray." This photo album is a collection of bonsai Longwood Garden.
  Bonsai originated in China, has been further developed in Japan, and today is popular all over the world.