Orchids as Art at the Exquisite Creatures Revealed exhibition at OMSI, Portland, Oregon in 2024
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I saw this taxidermy mount of a bighorn sheep at the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center in California. It was nice to get such a close view of this ram.
Bighorn sheep, Ovis canadensis, live in parts of western North America. There are three subspecies. Males of the Rocky Mountain subspecies can weigh more than 500 pounds.
After the population declined dramatically between 1870 to 1950, bighorns were reintroduced in several places. Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in Oregon was one of those locations. Here’s a herd I saw while living there.
If you’re lucky, you can also spot bighorn in Yellowstone National Park. I took this photo of two lambs and a ewe from hundreds of yards away through my spotting scope.
Bighorn sheep are doing well throughout most of their range. However, in some locations, including Hart Mountain, there have been significant declines. Research is underway to help preserve these impressive animals.
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Northern River Otters at High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon
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Two Triceratops in black and white at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana.
Monochrome Monday (MM)
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As luck would have it, sometimes I see skies painted with bold strokes of orange
Or blue skies full of popcorn clouds
Sometimes, I’m in a distant place at the right time and see tiny perennials in bloom
Or winged beauties alighting on blossoms in my own garden
As luck would have it, sometimes I pause along a road and a small predator looks back at me
Or I discover a snowshoe-footed creature by the trail that other hikers did not notice
And if I’m very lucky, sometimes I unknowingly photograph something I hadn’t intended to
Can you find two purple pickerel bloom stalks, a pink waterlily, two spiders, and a frog?
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Lucky Shot
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Last spring, I saw this ear-full of waxwings in my yard. A group of Cedar Waxwings, Bombycilla cedrorum, is referred to as an ‘ear-full’ or a ‘museum’. Yes, there are some very strange names for groups of animals.
Why are they called ear-fulls? It may be because of their constant high-pitched calls and trills. I often hear them way before I see them.
Here’s a recording of their calls.
These sociable birds frequently travel in groups. Sometimes these ear-fulls include hundreds of waxwings.
In my yard, they like to perch atop western juniper trees.
They also like to drink and bathe in our water feature.
It’s kinda like a spa for birds. 😉
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A well-designed garden considers hardscapes and softscapes
in the foreground, middle ground, and background
Hardscape waterfalls and pergolas anchor scenes in the background
In the fall, softscapes of colorful foliage add visual interest
In winter, the structure of leafless trees and shrubs is prominent
Sand gardens serve as a neutral middle ground
In the fall, color is a main character in large gardens
In winter, string sculptures add an element of artistry
Rock-lined pathways curve ahead in the foreground
In the fall, in a well-designed garden, the colors pull you forward
In winter, structures are revealed beneath twisted, leafless trees near bamboo-bordered trails
These photographs were taken in the fall and winter at the Portland Japanese Garden in Oregon.
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Here’s the High Desert Voices April 2026 newsletter for your reading pleasure. Lots of nice photos as well! This newsletter is published by and for volunteers at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon. I’ve been working there as a volunteer since 2013.
Articles this month include one about the Hollow and Still: Photographs Following Fire exhibition and a talk on the long-term effects of wildfire, one on the Prohibition Party event, and one on the Under Pressure: A Volcanic Exploration exhibition. A calendar of upcoming events and exhibitions is on the last page.
Please enjoy the High Desert Voices April 2026 issue!
To view previous issues, visit the HDV newsletter tag.
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In moments of darkness, I reach for the tool of enlightenment tucked inside my pocket.
Click! Click! Click! Click! I enlighten exhibitions.
4th Floor to Mildness by Pipilotti Rist, Portland Art Museum in 2026, Oregon
Fulfillment of Emptiness by Jang Jin-ik, Portland Art Museum in 2026, Oregon
Forest at Night by High Desert Museum staff in 2026, Oregon
Infinite Moment: Burning Man on the Horizon by High Desert Museum staff in 2020, Oregon
In moments of darkness, I reach for the tool of enlightenment tucked inside my pocket.
Click! Click! Click! Click! I enlighten landscapes.
Subway Cave, Lassen National Forest, California
Sunrise over Bend, Oregon
Steam over hot springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Playa at Summer Lake, Oregon
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Phone Photography
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Watching backyard TV in Bend, Oregon
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Color in photos highlights
a balance of form and function
medleys of wholesome tasty treats
and lanterns of luck and happiness
Color in photos highlights
rainbow rows of vegetables
bright graphic designs on balloons
and the personality of each ornate orchid
Yesterday’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge was to show colorful images in monotone. My post Scenes without color shows six black and white photographs of various scenes. In today’s post, I shared how the same images looked before I edited them by restoring the color. Both versions are beautiful in their own sort of way.
Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Restore
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Scenes without color highlight
design elements of feathered finery
Artistic arrangements of snacks
and fantastical architectural forms
Scenes without color highlight
perfection in imperfect patterns
bold and buoyant formations
and the delicacy of floral details
To see these same images in color see my Color in photos post.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Color in Black and White
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When I visited Ireland with my daughter, one of our favorite things was a falconry experience in Dingle, County Kerry. The guides at the Dingle Falconry Experience tell you a bit about each bird they fly. You also get a chance to have the birds perch on your gloved hand.
One of the most impressive birds we saw was an Eurasian Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo.
I mentioned it in one of my previous posts. It is so heavy, the guide helps support your arm when it perches on you.
Our guide flew it from one post to another. See it in action in this video.
The bird with the most beautiful plumage was a Western Barn Owl, Tyto alba.
I took this photo of its back to get the details of its feathers. Note, I wasn’t really paying attention to the alignment of the background. 😀
The birds fly from person to person as you stand in a large circle. Here’s the Barn Owl flying around our group.
The Harris’s Hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus, had a powerful presence. Here it is up close.
Here’s the bird perching before it flies to the next participant.
When we were there, the guide used a lure with a piece of prey attached to exercise a falcon. Here’s a video of the bird in flight.
The Peregrine Falcon, Falco pergrinus, was gorgeous in flight and on the ground.
Here’s the bird eating a snack with the guide.
If you’re looking for an up-close and personal encounter with birds of prey, check out the Dingle Falconry Experience. It was educational and fun!
Hope you all have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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If you’re looking for a relaxing oasis in the middle of a desert, check out Crane Hot Springs near Burns, Oregon.
Hot springs in this area were first developed for commercial use in the 1920s. A dance hall and restaurant were built near Crane Hot Springs, but they burned down around 1930.
Over the years, this business has passed through several owners and is currently managed by Dan and Denise Kryger. They have been busy renovating and upgrading the property. They dug out the pond, built bathhouses, added RV facilities, and renovated the motel and cabins. Previously known as Crystal Crane Hot Springs (CCHS), the current owners shortened the name to Crane Hot Springs.
The restrooms and changing rooms are clean and comfortable. Here are a couple photos of them. I visited this hot spring decades ago and there have been huge improvements since then.
The large outdoor pond is the big attraction at this site. It measures 9,728 square feet in size and holds 323,143 gallons of water. Water in the pond reaches depths of almost seven feet. Water temperatures range from 99 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Private soaking tubs are also available.
One of the wonderful things about this place is that you can sit in the hot springs and view spectacular sunrises, sunsets, and dark skies bursting with stars.
This site has many overnight options available. There are several cabins to stay in, but you might also consider staying in a teepee, covered wagon, or their 5th wheel rental. The smallest cabins, pictured below, have no restrooms but they are nearby. If you want to camp, there are dry camping or RV camping sites with full hookups available. We’ve stayed in our campervan here, in one of the rooms with its own spring-fed hot tub, and at a for rent by owner house nearby.
If you don’t want to spend the night, you can pay for day use at the hot springs. Prices for the large pond range from $5 to $15 for up to four hours. If you want to rent the smaller, private soaking tubs, it costs $15 per hour per person or $50 for two people for two hours.
The ponds on the property are great places to see some of the local wildlife. There’s one right next to the hot pool and another one a short walk away.
In past years, while participating in the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival, my tour group stopped here to look for birds.
You’ll see plenty of waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds in and around the ponds. Raptors can be seen feeding on the ground or drifting by on thermals overhead.
There are some interesting things to do nearby. You can visit a unique round barn, drive around Steens Mountain, see the vast landscape of the Alvord Desert, and volcanic features at Diamond Craters. You may even glimpse wild horses, some of which are direct descendants of those brought here by the Spaniards in the seventeenth century. Gas stations in this rural area are few and far between, so plan your trips accordingly.
Crane Hot Springs is at 59315 OR-78, Burns, Oregon. The hot springs are open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. If you plan to stay there, make your reservations here.
Pets are allowed in your RV and in 15 of the rooms. Dogs must be on leash on the grounds.
If you are here for day use, be aware that pets are not allowed near the outdoor pond. You are also not supposed to leave them in your vehicle. Since many travelers like to travel with their dogs, I hope they can add the doggie daycare a staff person mentioned SOON.
Our local TV station, Central Oregon Daily, did a great story on Crane Hot Springs on April 2, 2026. Watch it here. It includes some wonderful aerial views.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Time to Relax
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On my backyard byway,
I paddle past active volcanoes
South Sister from Hosmer Lake
Reflected in alpine lakes
Mt. Bachelor from Little Lava Lake
I stomp along trails with my snowshoes
Swampy Lakes Sno-Park
and watch skiers carve their signatures across hillsides
Mt. Bachelor
I drive past ridges reaching for roads
Todd Ridge
and hike to places of reflection
Blow Lake, Oregon
I see water levels fluctuate in reservoirs
Wickiup Reservoir
and the rebirth of forests after fire
Cedar Creek Fire
On my backyard byway,
I watch foliage explode with color
Fall foliage
and wild ones along the byway watching me
Great blue heron
I took the photos on this post on the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway in Central Oregon. This 66-mile long road snakes its way past majestic volcanic peaks and numerous alpine lakes.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Your Journey
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A ghostly cottonwood at Summer Lake, Oregon
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Today I’m sharing a colored pencil penjing drawing I quickly drew this morning. Penjing, or penzai, is the Chinese version of Japanese bonsai. While bonsai often focuses on a single tree, penjing represents a scene in nature in a “three-dimensional painting.”
In China, these plantings have been created since at least the Han dynasty (206 B.C. to 221 A.D.).
My drawing is based on a penjing planting at the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon. In my photo below, the wall of the gift shop made an interesting background.
I’ve always admired the artistry that goes into creating penjings. It requires a lot of patience and foresight.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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Oregon Trunk Railroad Bridge
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Giant Pacific octopus up close vignette
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Shadows play
Within deep glacially carved gorges filled with fall foliage
And shallow grooves in clay created by an artist’s hands
Shadows gather
Around the powerful presence of a goat the color of snow
And along straight and curved ridges in a garden of sand
Shadows play
Among towering sentinels standing guard over thundering waterfalls
And around a grand and forever grounded aircraft
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Shadowed
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I took this photo of Mt Hood from above a couple of weeks ago.
If you look closely, you can see a couple other volcanoes in the background. Mt Adams, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier are all close by.
The skies were beautiful that day, but at this time of the year they should be more cloudy and gray than blue. Snow accumulation on the mountain has been much lower than usual this season. This has affected winter recreation and all the other businesses associated with it. Fortunately, a recent storm system dumped a lot of snow on Mt Hood.
Weekend Sky (WS) & One Word Sunday (OWS) – Blue
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When you trim a photo
you may notice exhalations in the skies
and the embrace of trees
Dark islands may emerge
from shallow seas of dense fog
in the ring of fire
When you crop photos
you may notice red, yellow, and green layers about to fall
or a rainbow of colors about to rise
When you trim a photo
you may notice soft curving lines
on a feline’s fur
Rigid radiating lines may emerge
Brushed with pale whispers
of an owl’s wisdom
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Unusual crop
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graceful fragile flocks
cirrus clouds over cities
blown by winter winds
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Cat on a golden rug
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in turbulent times
barriers bring together
remnants of autumn
The Weekend in Black and White
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Last April, we had an unexpected Speed Racer show up in our yard.
We could see that the pigeon had a yellow band on one leg and a blue one on the other.
We also noticed how tame the bird was. It walked right up to us without any fear.
I called the local animal rescue organization, and they said they don’t deal with pigeons, aka Rock Pigeons, Columba livia. They referred me to the local Central Oregon Racing Pigeon Club. When I sent them photos, they determined it belonged to one of their members.
They instructed me to keep it in a safe place until they could drive to our house to pick it up. The guy asked, more than once, if it was able to escape since they’d had other calls where the bird got away before they arrived. I reassured him that the bird could not escape.
After he picked up the Speed Racer pigeon, I did a little research on racing pigeons. According to the America Racing Pigeon Union, there are more than 700 affiliated clubs around the country. They recommend this hobby to people who enjoy working with animals and appreciate their athleticism. The races their members participate in range from 100 to 600 miles in distance.
Pigeon racing is popular throughout the world. These birds were domesticated thousands of years ago, and the sport of pigeon racing began in the 19th century. Participants in this sport take it very seriously and are willing to pay high prices for the birds. The highest price paid was 1.9 million dollars. The higher priced birds often originate from Belgium.
Because of their high value, racing pigeons are often stolen. One well-known breeder in Belgium, Frans Bungeneers, had 60 birds stolen from his property in 2017. Some of these heists read like a fictional thriller. Today’s breeders rely on cameras, sensors, and alarms to protect their Speed Racer birds.
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A new year has begun, so it’s time to post my 2025 photo bloopers. This is where I share pictures from the past year that didn’t quite fit into any category, were blurry, or had poor composition. I try to add a little humor to them with captions and comments. Hope they entertain you!
What happens when the photographer hasn’t had her morning coffee yet.
“Hamburger? What hamburger?”
The eyes have it!
Mole two ways
“Don’t let them get you down, Herb. You just gotta stick with it.”
The picture I shared and the rest of the story showing what was in the foreground. Use the slider to view each image.
My dog took a selfie. Pretty good, right?
“It was a dark and gloomy night… “
Hope you enjoyed my 2025 photo bloopers. See more of my funny photos on my photo bloopers tag.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Rejected
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On a winter walk
down my block
A dusting of snow
shows which way to go
Fences of wood, wire, and stone
divide us, and leave us all alone
Daggers and spikes form
along edges once warm
An ancient one awakens
speaking of directions not taken
On a winter walk
down my block
A warm sunrise glow
shows which way to go
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – What’s around the corner
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Ray of hope over Tumalo Falls, Oregon
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When you look at the first picture below, you may not notice the seals by the shore. It just looks like a scenic California beach.
But if you zoom in a little more, you can see Northern Elephant Seals, Mirounga angustirostris, scattered all along the shore.
I took these pictures at the Elephant Seal Vista Point near San Simeon, California. Visitors can view the seals at this rookery from elevated platforms and boardwalks. Volunteers from Friends of the Elephant Seal are there to answer your questions.
You’ll get great views of these large sea mammals. Females weigh up to 2,000 pounds, while males can reach weights of 7,000 pounds. That’s HUGE! The southern species, Mirounga leonina, gets even bigger. Males can weigh up to 9,000 pounds.
Once again, I’m sharing this picture of two content-looking sleeping seals.
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Pot of gold ahead? Trail in Pine Nursery Park, Bend, Oregon
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This striking bird is a Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Its scientific name means “yellow head.”
I saw this male bird at Summer Lake Wildlife Area in Oregon.
These large blackbirds are easy to identify. The males have a bright yellow head and a white patch on their wings.
The Yellow-headed Blackbird has a unique song that also makes it easy to identify. All About Birds describes it as sounding like “a rusty farm gate opening.”
Here’s a link to a recording made in Colorado from the Birds of the World site.
Fun Fact: Since Yellow-headed Blackbirds nest over water, young birds often fall out of the nests and swim short distances to rescue themselves.
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Today, I’m sharing some of my 2025 favorite photos I posted on my blog. I’ve divided them into four categories: Countryside, Cuisine, Critters, and Cultural Attractions. Enjoy!
I’ll begin with a picture of a sunset I took with my drone from my backyard in Bend, Oregon. Stunning, right?
The next picture, also taken with my drone, is on the east side of Steens Mountain, Oregon.
This picture shows Burney Falls in action in California.
The next is of the Red Canyon Overlook in Wyoming. I loved the layers of earth and sky.
This picture shows the aptly named Reflection Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California.
Though I have featured food photos from many locations in past favorite posts, this year all of them happen to be in Bend, Oregon.
This picture shows one the many dishes served during the Foodie Crawl in Bend. It was a Crispy Chicken Bite & Biscuit paired with a mojito at The Drake.
I love salads. This is the house salad served at Oblivion Pour House.
This photo shows the Original Bowl at Café Yumm! There is rice hiding underneath all the veggies. Delicious!
One of the main dishes I sampled during a recent visit to Yokocho Izakaya. This is the don teriyaki.
A yummy brownie with ice cream beautifully presented at The Blacksmith.
Here’s a pronghorn from behind in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
This is a photo of my very comfortable cat resting on my lap.
This photo shows a tiger in a blur of motion at Fota Wildlife Park near Carrigtwohill, County Cork, Ireland.
The side-blotched lizard was soaking up the sun in Arches National Park, Utah.
I got a nice close up of this Cattleya orchid in Volunteer Park Conservatory, Washington.
One of my favorite cultural attractions I saw this year was the Exquisite Creatures Revealed exhibition at OMSI in Portland, Oregon. Be sure to check out the other pictures I took of this unique exhibit.
This polo player sculpture is at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, Washington. I liked the horse’s expression in this small sculpture.
This photo shows a variety of sea anemones at the Seattle Aquarium, Washington.
This whimsical VW van firepit was featured at Winterfest in Bend, Oregon.
I decided to show this portable cattle squeeze in black and white. This dramatic photo was taken in Crane, Oregon, near the hot springs.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Favorite Images of 2025
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Today I’m sharing a deer drawing and video. I used black and gray pens to create this drawing of a mule deer buck.
I see mule deer regularly near my High Desert home. They often trigger our security cameras. I’m sharing a couple of videos of a healthy buck checking out our cameras in the middle of the night.
A week ago, while out walking in the Old Mill District of Bend, I had a close encounter with a deer. A doe charged at me, stopping within three feet of me. There were two fawns and a young buck nearby. The trails were icy so no one else was out there walking. There weren’t any trees nearby to hide behind, so I stood my ground, waved my arms, and yelled at her to go away. She listened to me eventually and left.
Protective doe and her fawn
Earlier this year, we had a fawn “trapped” on our fenced property. Though he was big enough to jump our 4-foot tall wire fence, he didn’t have the confidence to try it. His mother was very protective of him and charged at us and our dogs several times. After ten days of putting up with that behavior, I chased the reluctant fawn out of our yard by running towards him with a walking stick. He jumped the fence easily.
Deer may look tame, but they are wild creatures who will not hesitate to protect their young. My advice is to admire them from a safe distance. 🙂
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Two whoo whoos in a barn at Summer Lake, Oregon
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a wandering soul
trudges between boulders and blooms
on a quest for spring
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Milkweed seedpods are beautiful and unique. Milkweed, Asclepias spp., is well-known for attracting monarch butterflies. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are attracted to this plant’s flowers. They produce abundant nectar.
In the fall, milkweed seedpods mature and split open. The seeds inside are attached to white floss called coma. This floss allows them to be carried long distances by the wind.
Fun fact: During World War II, when the supply of kapok was cut off by Japan, milkweed floss was used as a substitute to fill life jackets.
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Here’s the High Desert Voices December 2025 newsletter for your reading pleasure. Lots of nice photos as well! This newsletter is published by and for volunteers at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon. I’ve been working there as a volunteer since 2013.
Articles this month include one about the Soil Alive! exhibition, one on the Joe Fedderson: Earth, Water, Sky exhibition, one on the Winter Nights! event, and one on wildfire smoke. A calendar of upcoming events and exhibitions is on the last page.
Please enjoy the High Desert Voices December 2025 issue!
To view previous issues, visit my HDV newsletter tag.
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I saw this purple Cattleya orchid up close at the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle recently.
This plant is part of a collection started by a donation from Anna Clise in 1921. Her donation inspired others to donate their plant collections as well.
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On my blog site, I have organized my pictures that are waiting for a prompt. These include regular prompts I use, like Wordless Wednesday and Monochrome Monday. There are also folders where I store things like plant, animal, waterfall, and old building photos. Today I’m sharing some of these pictures.
Landscapes can be full of color,
or dark and brooding.
A wild creature close by can shine in a neutral background,
while one farther away can still show a powerful presence.
Artwork can be lighter than air,
or anchored to a concrete wall.
Some photos waiting for a prompt don’t seem to fit into any category. Though I can control the vertical and horizontal, what is the best way to present them?
When you look at them from one angle, they may hold beautiful flower arrangements.
When you look at them from another, they may be the perfect serving dish for chips and dip.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Last chance
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