“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.” William Cullen Bryant
Dale and Klee’s Cosmic Photo Challenge — oh, how I’ve missed you! Nature is just beginning to anticipate her chance to rest and recuperate from months of riotous revels reaching up to life-giving sun. To help her celebrate, Dale decided this week’s theme is The Trees. You can see Dale’s entries there, K’lee’s entries here, and how to play along on both sites.
Living in southern California, we see little of the deciduous glory so much of the world experiences. But we do have the liquid amber (Liquidambar styraciflua), commonly called the American sweetgum.
Having survived valve repair surgery and an experimental cardiac bypass at age 5, three years before it was an accepted medical procedure, Susan grew into the size of her overworked and enlarged heart. Maybe she thought she had enough to give it away -- twice. Both times, she had to retrieve the shattered pieces and puzzle them back together. She thanks her Dad for the only advice of his she ever followed to the letter: "Never get married. Learn to take care of yourself." So of course she is a writer. Susan has co-written a YA SciFi novel, and has three more novels in various stages of evolution. She's had several short stories published in other people's anthologies, some of which were contest-related.
Let her tell you a story...
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31 thoughts on “Cosmic Photo Challenge”
What a beautiful tree, and what beautiful pictures! Autumn is, by far, my favorite season!
I’m from much further north than you and I’ve never heard of a Liquid Amber or a Sweetgum. The photo of that gumball is really interesting. Does the tree get covered in these balls? To me it looks like a Christmas decoration 🙂
Not covered, but scattered. You’re right, they do look like Christmas decorations. They become quite spiky when they dry out. The Liquid Amber is a lovely tree, usually teardrop shaped. The city often plants them in the grassy islands that divide different directions of traffic on major boulevards. I believe there are hardier varieties that do well in northern California (about 1,000 miles north of here), but ours don’t do well in frosty temperatures.
Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts, Joanne!
Oh how beautiful! Fall is definitely an example of nature’s beauty. I didn’t know how colorful it would be in a place like San Diego where it’s always warm. You guys have the best of EVERYTHING!
Gorgeous! Autumn is the most beautiful season — partly because of the uneasiness that accompanies all the beauty, knowing that winter is not far behind.
Thank you, Hugh. Winter here us mild enough that I’m not sure any of the locals mind until we get a couple days of much-needed rain; then they complain. But Autumn has always been my favorite season.
That’s an interesting question. I don’t know. I’ve never actually seen any of the “gum”. Sap doesn’t seem to run from them when they’re whole and healthy, and I’ve never seen one that’s been cut.
What a beautiful tree, and what beautiful pictures! Autumn is, by far, my favorite season!
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Thank you, Lulu. It’s mine, too. ❤
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I’m from much further north than you and I’ve never heard of a Liquid Amber or a Sweetgum. The photo of that gumball is really interesting. Does the tree get covered in these balls? To me it looks like a Christmas decoration 🙂
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Not covered, but scattered. You’re right, they do look like Christmas decorations. They become quite spiky when they dry out. The Liquid Amber is a lovely tree, usually teardrop shaped. The city often plants them in the grassy islands that divide different directions of traffic on major boulevards. I believe there are hardier varieties that do well in northern California (about 1,000 miles north of here), but ours don’t do well in frosty temperatures.
Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts, Joanne!
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Cool 🙂
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Thanks, Bee!
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Oh how beautiful! Fall is definitely an example of nature’s beauty. I didn’t know how colorful it would be in a place like San Diego where it’s always warm. You guys have the best of EVERYTHING!
Stephanie
http://stephie5741.blogspot.com
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Thank you, Stephanie. Yeah, it seems like all of us in SD feel that way about our home. 😉 Best of luck with your Piper Morgan series!
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Gorgeous! Autumn is the most beautiful season — partly because of the uneasiness that accompanies all the beauty, knowing that winter is not far behind.
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Thank you, Hugh. Winter here us mild enough that I’m not sure any of the locals mind until we get a couple days of much-needed rain; then they complain. But Autumn has always been my favorite season.
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Wow, these are nice.
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Thank you, Ana!
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😃👍✌️✊👊
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Fantastic shots, Sue! The true colors of Autumn revealed.
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Thanks, K’lee! It always makes me happy to see them this way.
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Goodness, Sue! These are all so beautiful!
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Thanks very much, Tre! The TREES are beautiful! lol!
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Yes! They surely are!
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Lovely❤️
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Thank you kindly!
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I love the close up of the leaf and the variations in color. Beautiful photos, Sue.
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Beautiful colours 🙂
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Thanks, Samantha! There’s another variety with deeper red to purple leaves during the Fall, but I like the bright ones best.
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They’re beautiful…does the gum harden like amber, or is it sort of sticky?
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That’s an interesting question. I don’t know. I’ve never actually seen any of the “gum”. Sap doesn’t seem to run from them when they’re whole and healthy, and I’ve never seen one that’s been cut.
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Absolutely stunning, Susan!
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Thank you, Marcia. You should play, too!
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Wow, that is one awesome tree, thanks for sharing that.
Thanks also for your enthusiasm for our little challenge. It is beginning to grow, slowly, and you have always been a very inspired contributor.
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Thanks, Dale. It’s always fun and satisfying. Thanks for all the work you and K’lee put into it, too!
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It’s our labour of love, hahaha
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😀
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