Articles by Bo Mackison

Off We Go…

...On a Wild Blue Wander

Valium 10Mg Buy Online ...Off on a Wild Blue Wander © 2011 Bo Mackison

https://rmscherubimhealthcare.com/services/annual-wellness-service/ It’s that time again. I miss those deep blue skies I seem to see only in the western part of the United States, and I feel a need for a bit of an adventure.

https://thelonelycreative.com/softcover-notebooks/ Time to escape the north for a few weeks, and hope that when we return, spring will be resplendent in its full regalia. We’re packing our trailer for two–a cute little teardrop about the size of a decent closet–and we’re heading south until we reach Texas. Then we’ll turn west and drive until we find Arizona. I’ve just gotten an update from the Phoenix area–the temps  hit 90˚F yesterday and the thermometer in the pool now reads 72.1˚. Considering that a few days ago, when I dressed to go outside for a couple of hours, I wore a turtleneck, a sweater, jeans, and a parka and boots, those temps sound idyllic. Swimwear is near the top of my packing list!

https://hymnsandhome.com/about/ The house-sitters (doubling as cat-sitters for Jazz) have even agreed to do a bit of home maintenance while we’re gone, so we will return to a house with a no-longer-dripping kitchen faucet and a freshly turned garden. How perfect is that!

follow We’ll be winding our way through the Missouri Ozarks, across Oklahoma, into the canyons of the panhandle of Texas and up the peaks in the Guadalupe Mountains. There’s also plans for a stop at Carlsbad Caverns, then across New Mexico and finally into Arizona with visits in Sedona, Phoenix, and Tucson (and the nearby National Parks) before turning around and heading back to our starting point.

source Except for the week we are in Arizona, I think our Internet access is going to be tentative, to say the least. I’ll post a travel photo when I can, but I won’t be hanging around the computer too much.

https://drbatayneh.com/pediatric-ophthalmology/ I cleaned my camera and lenses, and everything will soon be neatly packed.  My itchy shutter finger will finally get plenty of photo opportunities that do NOT include snow and mud.  (I’m crossing my fingers on that one!)

The View from Turkey Road

https://bettierose.co.uk/146_bakercaralaurenceella/ I went for a drive in the country. An easy thing to do since Madison turns into farmland about two minutes from my home. I saw a sign for Turkey Road and decided I should see if there were real turkeys living near by. No, nothing fowl about this country lane.

source Most of the fields haven’t been plowed yet, but I noticed the two trees standing at the crest of this hill. With the setting sun, the fields are glowing gold. Soon they’ll all be waving lots of green.

BTW, my iPhone, a much used birthday gift, has proven invaluable in my off road photo shoots. Since I can use its built-in GPS, I never worry about finding the main road any longer. Makes photography a little less frantic. I never thought the iPhone would make me enjoy photography more, but it certainly does.

Pussy Willows

Fantail Pussy Willows

Fantail Pussy Willow

More catkins.

It’s easy to understand how the Fantail Pussy Willow (salix sachalinensis  or salix udensis ‘Sekka’) got its name, with the lovely, curving sweep of its branches. It is also known as the Dragon Willow. It is a highly ornamental shrub, with a beauty that extends to all four seasons. In the summer, the leaves are a deep green and glossy, and its branches sprawl horizontally and it resembles a huge tropical shrub. The leaves turn a rich yellow in autumn. In winter, its shape is low and distinctive from all the other willows, and its lines are accented by a snow covering.

Black Pussy Willow

Black Pussy Willow

The Black Pussy Willow (salix melanostachys) has catkins that emerge black, then turn red and finally show a hint of white. This is a willow that often pops its catkins while snow is still on the ground. The orange-red branches make a nice display against the black pussy willows.

Both of these willows are frequently used in floral arrangements.

A Framed Birch Tree

trees

birch trees

When I walked in the Arboretum earlier this week–before the snowstorm hit this morning–I took note of the hundreds of different trees that are on display.

I love how the trees in this part of the park frame the tree standing farther away. I love to see the striking white bark of these birches.

Catkins

Goat Willow

Goat Willow

I went for a walk at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum looking for a hint of spring. And I found all the willows covered with catkins.

The goat willow (Salix Caprea), frequently referred to as the pussy willow, is a common tree species. It is a wetlands plant in the wild, and if not pruned, it will grow up to 20 feet tall. Catkins are a true harbinger of spring, and it is tradition at my home to bring a few branches of pussy willows into the house as spring’s first bouquet.

Dappled Willow

Dappled Willow

The Dappled Willow (Salix Integra) is also known as The Japanese Willow or ‘Hakuro-nishiki’  and is one of the smaller willows, often grown as a shrub or small tree. The catkins appear in early spring just before the leaves unfurl.  Willows are one of the earliest trees to leaf out, often as much as 4 weeks before other trees.