The hot and humid south has been living up to the description this summer. I can almost see steam rising from everything. I've never been on good terms with the sun. Most of the time I stay inside like a vampire. The only things I can say I am enjoying about this interminably hot weather are the clouds. I know that sounds odd, but since the humidity has been ever present, the clouds are really beautiful. Huge billowing puffs of cotton, showing many variations of white (yes, there are different types of white). Okay, now I'm going to say something favorable about the Sun...when the Sun shows me some consideration and tucks itself behind the clouds, the results are gorgeous. From glowing cloud edges, to visible rays of light piercing their way through in shafts. As I was leaving work the other day I looked up at the sky and saw the Sun lighting up the edges of a high bank of clouds while three birds (Crows, I think) were flying towards them. That taught me an important lesson...always have your camera handy...
Aside from the misty heat, we have had an equal amount of rain. That was something I missed living on the west coast. Thunder storms. We really get them here on the Georgia coast. In spades. Per my usual habit, I try to get outside for a walk around the marsh and some picture taking. Rain or shine. The images in this post were taken over a period of a few days, so they act as an example of how quickly the weather changes around here.
While out on one of my walks, I wandered down by the dock remains and saw the above. They cut down one of the gentle giants I have photographed on many occasions over the last few years. I don't know the reasons for chopping it down, but I expect it posed a danger of falling. It was close to the end of a building. I saw the stump and felt a twinge of sadness...I love trees. The birds loved that tree, too. Herons, Egrets, Hawks ( I see them riding thermals just about every day), even Black Vultures (really creepy looking). That's one of the things that is plentiful on the marsh, birds. I need to get a field guide as I always seem to see a new one whenever I go out. Many a time I've heard a great rustling overhead, to look up and see the widespread wings of a Blue Heron pumping the air as it flies away over the marsh grasses. I don't know whether they nest in the trees, or they just use them as sentinel towers. Well, one of those towers has fallen...bye, tree...
Wild flowers abound here, as well. Another guide I need to pick up...
The Strawberry Moon of June 2nd was beautiful...the day after. Unfortunately, one of our stormy days was happening at its peak. The Buck Moon is coming up on July 2nd. As much as I dig rain I hope I get to see it at 100% of its fullness.
These next few pictures were taken on the same day. A stormy one, as you can see. This particular storm was rolling in pretty quickly. My distaste for using a flash can make picture taking difficult at times, but then there are some photos that aren't perfect, but still fall under the heading of 'happy accident'. That's how I see this close-up of the base of a tree. I like the green of it.
Then the storm rolled in. I never tire of watching a storm front pull itself across the marsh. Like a blanket. We also get a lot of lightning with our thunder storms. Our local weather chick always warns people to stay inside and away from windows during lightning. I have yet to heed her warning. I figure there are other things taller than me to occupy the lightnings time.
