My happy place — a warm conservatory full of thriving #plants, in the middle of a cold winter.

The Belle Isle #Conservatory, #Detroit, Michigan.

This is the closest you will probably get to the forbidden #Hawaiian island of Ni'ihau.

Privately owned by the Robinson family since its purchase in 1864, only the family and natives who are born there are permitted access.

#landscape #photography

Japanese Lantern (Hibiscus schizopetalus) is a beautifully fringed, coral-red hibiscus native to Africa.

#flower #photography

An expert shows Cotopaxi, oil #painting, Frederic Edwin Church, 1862. #Naturalist style emphasized nature's grandeur. Where the sun is usually prominently depicted, here the volcanic ash is dominant. Yet the sun's glow forms a subtle cross shape.

Onlookers and statues stand rapt. #Detroit 2025.

#Mural in Detroit by #artist Conrad Egyir.

Through his West #African lens, he explores identity and humanity in 'monumental' and 'trumphant' imagery. I appreciate the masculinity.

Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu is a Zulu phrase: "a person is a person through other people", an interconnected community.

Tiny Bird's Nest #Fungi in my #garden.

These diminutive cups are found in dark and damp decaying wood chips. The "eggs" are launched into the air by raindrops. They connect to the "nest" via a strand called a funiculus (a la Funiculi Funicula) which enables their spread.

#nature

A spectacular #Indigenous piece #tattooed on buffalo hide, called Family Hunt or Agiiwi'asewaad E'nigodaweyaanigizojig in Anishinaabe language. By David Martin (1973-), Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.

At first I thought it was painted, because the detail is superb.

#Detroit Institute of #Art, 2025.

My #cat contemplating all the ways he can destroy the #Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas!

A nebula X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: T.A. Rector (NRAO/AUI/NSF and NOIRLab/NSF/AURA) and B.A. Wolpa (NOIRLab/NSF/AURA); Infrared: NASA/NSF/IPAC/CalTech/Univ. of Massachusetts; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare & J.Major

This is NGC 2264, also called the "Christmas Tree Cluster." It's a cluster of young stars about 2,500 light years away.

They were 'born' during the Pliocene Epoch (2-5 MYA), about the same time as early hominids like Ardipithecus or Homo habilis, so they're barely older than humanity.
🎄💫🔭

Sunbeams break through the clouds over Haena Bay, #Kauai, #Hawaii. Just a profoundly serene place to be.

#landscape #photography

Panorama of Crater Lake #NationalPark, #Oregon.

The bluest blue lake I've ever seen.

#landscape #photography

The holidays at Somerset Collection, Troy, #Michigan, 2024.

"As the shoppers rush home with their treasures..."

Christmas in Old Town, #SanDiego, 2024.

Sunny and Bright.

Nostalgic because this was one of the first pics I took with my camera.

"Scarlet and Yellow" Starsister Dahlia, stealing the show in a bouquet of #flowers.

#Bloomscrolling

A #chipmunk takes a break to enjoy a snack and a view at Crater Lake, #Oregon.

The view is wonderous. It's hard to take a bad photo.

#photography

Aerial view of downtown #Vancouver, BC. Stanley Park caps the peninsula.

The skyline is impressive, but the surrounding cascades are even more beautiful. Cypress mountain towers in the back, over the waters of the inlet.

#cityscape

A split-nose rockfish shows off its split nose over a thicket of sea pens.

The sea pen has an ancient design; the family is over 500 million years old.

This #fish is native to the west coast of the US. Individuals can live up to 85 years!

#Marine #science at Newport aquarium, #Oregon.

Yaquina Head #Lighthouse, built 1871, #Oregon coast.

Offers beautiful views, tidepools, and history about the early settlement and lighthouses.

Features a Fresnel lens manufactured in France.

Its signature pattern (each lighthouse is unique) is 2s on, 2s off, 2s on, 14s off.

#photography

A juvenile bald #eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) making its way in the world, perched on sea rocks. Look at those talons.

Haliaeetus means "sea eagle". Most of their calories come from hunting fish.

leucocephalus means "white headed" -- the original meaning of 'bald' in English.

#wildlife

"The Three Brothers", as they are known locally, stand vigil over Siletz Bay, #Oregon.

Clams thrive in the shallow bay. You will often see people digging for clams near the beach in the back. Seals rest on the far shore (not pictured here).

#landscape #photography

A Horned #Puffin suns itself on a rock.

These beloved birds are native to the #Oregon coast, but this one was native to the Oregon Coast #Aquarium, Newport, OR.

Japanese #garden in the afternoon sunlight, #Kyoto, Japan.

A deft interweaving of different elements, shapes, textures, and colors.

#landscaping #photography

Harbor #seals rest in a cove, by a #waterfall, on the #Oregon coast.

If you look closely, several are doing the "banana pose". Seals do this to keep cool and dry.

#photography

Red #berries contrast against the floor of the coastal conifer forest.

Canadian Mayflower (or False Lily of the Valley) berries are reportedly edible, akin to cranberries. Eaten by deer and small mammals. However they are easily confused with real Lily of the Valley, which has poisonous berries.

Sea lions dogpile together on a floating dock, Newport, #Oregon.

California #sealions are found along the North American coast. Social, intelligent, vocal creatures, they make a loud bellowing sound between a bark and a honk. Males are darker and larger, up to 700 lbs.

#wildlife #photography

Koi #fish swim among the red mangroves. Garfield Park #Conservatory, #Chicago, 2022. Worth the visit for sure.

A sign next to the pond reads: "YOUR WISHES WILL NOT COME TRUE. Do not throw coins, they make the koi sick."

Monsoon clouds drift over the red rocks of #Sedona as sunset falls.

The formation partially seen at right is Mermaid Rock, on the drive in to Sedona from the south.

#landscape #photography

A #chimera or "ghost shark" glides silently along the demersal seafloor. An ancient species, they actually diverged 400 million yrs ago from their closest living relative, the sharks.

A second video from #EVNautilus, perhaps my favorite live stream. How often do you get to see live #science?

Sea cucumber on a never-before-explored seamount. Video belongs to #EVNautilus -- a remote-operated deep-sea vehicle and science station.

The crew live-stream with commentary, so *you* can join while they discover new species and lost wrecks.

Part of the Ocean Exploration Trust.

#science #biology

Makaha valley, on #Oahu, #Hawaii.

Hawaiian ancestors settled the wetter windward sides of the islands initially. Sophisticated division of labor and trade allowed them to expand to the drier valleys like Makaha on the leeward side.

Now a great beach and shave ice spot.

#landscape #photography