Category: landscape
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The Abbey

Indiana is known for growing corn. We are surrounded by acres of corn and soybean fields.  Sitting in the middle of what used to be a cornfield sits an entrance to the Abbey at Hamstra Gardens. One family has transformed over six acres of land in Wheatfield, Indiana into the beautiful Hamstra Gardens. With several different areas…
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On the Horizon

A calm Lake Michigan touches the blue sky on the horizon at West Beach – Indiana Dunes National Park. Two other Lake Michigan landscapes were featured on “Snowy Mornings“. Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Blue
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Enchanting Light

Sunrises are magical and fill the horizon with enchanting light. On some mornings, the light is soft and muted. On other days, the sunrise bursts brightly without any hesitation at all. Lens-Artists Challenge #279 – Magical
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Autumn Blends Into Winter

As autumn blends into winter, there’s a sense of nature curling up and falling asleep. Trees are mostly bare and before long, the Great Marsh at the Indiana Dunes National Park will be frozen solid with Lake Michigan not far behind. For now, I plan to enjoy as many days with blue skies as possible.…
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Second Favorite Place

Anyone who has read my blog for long, knows that Maui is at the top of the list of places to visit. Since I’ve writen several posts on Maui, I’ve decided to show you a few pics of my second favorite place that I’ve visited – Palm Springs, California. The landscapes of Palm Springs are…
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Under an Arch

Following a curvy brick path and under an arch to who knows where. With cornfields all around, the almost seven acres of Hamstra Gardens stand out in Wheatfield, Indiana. Every part of the garden is beautiful and well thought out. My favorite spot is by the pond, where I could sit for hours with a…
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Path to Sunrise

On a morning with temperatures right at freezing, I quickly felt a sense of warmth when I came across a curvy path to sunrise. Grateful for the beauty of autumn and sunshine.
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Field of Vision

Silent Sunday – Field of Vision An early morning sunrise at Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve was featured on “First Light.” Cee’s Which Way Challenge – Any Type of Walk
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Path to Sunshine

A great way to start the day is hiking along a tree-lined path to sunshine. This trail happens to be at Meadowbrook Nature Preserve in Valparaiso, Indiana. “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than trees.” – Henry David Thoreau Cee’s Which Way Challenge: Any Type of Walk
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Across a Crooked Bridge

Anyone up for venturing across a crooked bridge? I found this bridge quite by accident while exploring the Ritchie Nature Preserve in Chesterton, Indiana. It looks unstable, doesn’t it? I am always up for taking a chance and this time was no different. Yes, I made it across and back. Other than being rather narrow…
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Beauty in Nature

As I hike, I often wonder how many times I have missed beauty in nature when a trail becomes familiar.
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Tousled vs. Immaculate

Here we have the battle of two sunrises over different vistas, the tousled vs immaculate landscapes. First is a foggy sunrise over the naturally ruffled prairie along the trails at Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve. The second image was taken at dawn at a golf course in Palm Springs, California. Having been in Palm Springs only…
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Ponder

On days when I am overwhelmed with the busyness and troubles of life, the one sure thing that helps me find peace is to ponder on the promises of God. Sitting by the pond at Hamstra Gardens while looking out toward a boat appropriately named “Ponder” seems like an ideal spot for contemplation, don’t you think?…
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One Day, One Hike, One Lens

Three images taken on one day, one hike, and with one lens. So exciting when a new lens is delivered days before expected! In order to put my Nikkor 28mm to the test, I headed out the door to Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve. As much as I was tempted to switch to my macro lens…
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Beyond the Open Gate

Inquisitive person that I am, whenever I see an open door or in this case a gate, I cannot resist walking through it to see what is beyond the open gate. This time, an opening at the fence around the Chellberg farmhouse led to a lovely garden where recent rain showers have led to a…
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Bursting Through the Forest

Sunshine bursting through the forest along the Indiana Dunes State Park Trail #9. Watching the darkness disappear as the sun breaks through the trees makes it worth getting up and out the door super early.
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Morning for Contemplation

Started a beautiful morning for contemplation with a hike at Moraine Nature Preserve in Valparaiso, Indiana. My goal was to hopefully get to the wetlands in time to see and capture some reflections on the water. After hiking about one and a half miles through the woods, the trail opened up to a world turned…
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Joy of Hiking

The joy of hiking includes exercise that never feels like a workout. That is unquestionably my definition of hiking. Otherwise, why would I keep putting one foot in front of the other while walking uphill and down, through snow in the the winter, and mosquitoes biting in the summer? On top of all that, put…


