Stairway to Heaven

Kurt Diederich's Climb, Acadia National Park

There's a lady who's sure
All that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven
...
Oooh, it makes me wonder
...
Your head is humming and it won't go
In case you don't know
The piper's calling you to join him
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow
...
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll
...
LED ZEPPELIN, Stairway to Heaven


Opened for Walking

Fresh Pond Golf Course, Cambridge, Massachusetts

The golf course is closed for the season, opened for walking... and a visit to this large Sycamore... spaciously branching in multi-colored patches... spiky balls of seeds swinging on the wind... with birds enjoying the ride... and the food...

I stand below the crown and watch... each branch, each spiky ball, and each bird...
... makes me think: How would it be up-there?... in this colorful world, with these lovely birds... enchanting...

Against the Flow

Charles River, Mass Audubon Broadmoor, Natick, Massachusetts

... stepping on the bank of Charles.. a swan appears, swimming upstream... What a Coincidence!... she peddles with strength against the flow... and we follow... on foot... Charles is really flowing here...
   ... Why doesn't she just fly over?...

Amidst the Rustles

Fells Reservation, Massachusetts

Somewhere amidst the rustles of times gone by are this year's leaves waiting to be born. Just look for tiny buds on branches. Inside, protected from tough winter freeze, is latent energy of creation... which is going to burst into action with the first sign of spring...

I stand and look at these tiny buds... in admiration of their momentous regenerative mastery...

Leaves Everywhere

Fells Reservation, Massachusetts

... on the ground... up in the air... curling, coloring, vibrating... damming streams... at the bottom of ponds...
   ... rustling under my boots...

Living Ponds

Fresh Pond, Cambridge, Massachusetts

... Canada goose relaxing on the edge of frozen and fluid... having both worlds only a jump away... ring-necked ducks on their daily routine... paddling, diving, cleaning feathers...
... a heron has just landed on the frozen Black's Nook... a bit slippery landing... the one she knows all about... continues inspecting the surface...
   ... on this cold winter day...

Mushrooming

Lusitania Woods, Fresh Pond, Cambridge, Massachusetts

... this tree has been dead for a few years... does not get to be seen until one steps closer... and a community of mushrooms shows up in full view... thriving on these cold winter days, while all others are sleeping...
   ... I can almost hear them: Hey, you Sleepers, what a marvelous time to be awake...
   ... and the tree comes alive...