Thought Some Leaves Might Be Nice.....

With Spring Being In The Process Of Bringing New Growth And New Life For Those Of The Southern Hemisphere,

While Simultaneously In The Northern Hemisphere,

Autumn Is In the Process of Farwelling Summer, By Turning Foliage Into Colours Reminisce of Blazing Sunsets Friend or Visitor,

I Felt A Journey With Leaves Through The Seasons Would Be A Nice Way To Honour Both Hemisphere's Awakening And Hibernation Preparations......

         My photos were all done during 2009 with my once "Viewty" phone. I really like them. It is a pleasure to be now able to share the seeing of them with you. Filing is a wonderful way to discover those moments quietly waiting to be brought out into the open again....

         To begin... Camphor Laurel - Cinnamomum camphora.

A large Evergreen Tree, Native to Taiwan, Southern Japan, South East China and Indochina. Cultivated for it's Timber as well as for the white crystalline substance obtained by processing the Wood.

         The crystalline substance known as Camphor, has been used for many centuries as a Culinary Spice, a Component for Incense and as a Medicine. Also as an excellent Insect Repellent and as a Flea-Killing Substance.....

         Now for my humble Leaves during a mid-morning in mid-February, the month signifying the end of Summer for me in Australia.....

Next....

         a collection from the beginning of Autumn for me in Australia.... March.....

          I enjoyed the results from Viewty's Embossed Setting. The outcome usually intriguing, once I understood that rich colours, textured surfaces and good sunlight would give the most interesting look, as I feel the Leaf above shows.

         I unfortunately have no idea the name of the Tree it belonged to. I did unsuccessfully attempt for it's identification, so alas, that photo and other's the Tree's Leaves gave are simply for the pleasure of seeing. Was given on a mid-afternoon during mid-March. 

        The next two are also Leaves from the same Tree. Achieved during mid-day, two days later than the previous photo. Noon being a time advised is not good Light from the Sun to do photos with, but is a time I find the Sun can give beautiful Lighting when amid Foliage....

         The next photo was done on Viewt'y negative setting.... sometimes we achieved beautiful results with this setting, and I think the following photo is one of those moments....

         Happened a few days after the previous two photos during March, the time, about 8am. The area was receiving bright morning Autumn Sunlight being filtered through the area's quite dense Foliage. Different spot to where the previous three photos were done, but on the same North East side of the Property. No identification for you, just for me, a lovely Autumn photo to share with you.

         Next we move towards the end of March, it is about 7am... now we are on the West side of the Property, near the Camphor Laurel, where there is Scrub... and rubbish... oh well, the ups and downs of rentals prevail... but in amid the debris and Scrub I discover wonderful moments....

         I love Nature's Mulching bits... there is always so much artistry to experience... I love the combinations of Earthy tones... and then I let my imagination see the Image as if it was done as an SLR quality and sigh, at the imagined details the Scene suggests.

        Returning to Camphor Laurel, the following morning brings forth the next two photos, and we will have reached the end of March, and the end of the first stage of Autumn's emergence in my part of Queensland Australia in 2009...

        Now we move on to early May, the last month of Autumn for me. We return to the North East side of the Property, the area I call Fig's Zone, due to the huge Fig Tree living there, who is surrounded by, for me, unknown Trees and Plants, but always provides wonderful photo opportunities.

        The time was about 4.30pm, the Sun has begun thinking about Setting itself soon, but often, those moments when the Sun begins thinking Setting Thoughts, it will radiate rich Light....

        Now we enter the first week of June in 2009, it is about 4pm again, Winter for me has begun, and the Guava's Leaves offer beauty to enjoy....

         Guavas are of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). Genus, Psidium (meaning 'pomegranate' in Latin). There are about 100 species of Tropical Guava Shrubs and small Trees. They are Native to Mexic0, Central America, and North South America.

         The name 'Guava', appears to derive from Arawak guayabo, 'Guava Tree' via the Spanish guayaba.

        The Fruit is relished by many Mammals and Birds, and is used as a food by Caterpillars of mainly Moths from the Lepidoptera* Family.

        Guava Wood is used for Meat Smoking in Hawaii. And I found this rather cute.... Barbecue Competitions!

(Oh well, there's not a surprise at what Folks do for stimulation and entertainment, just a momentary stun!)

         Anyway, it seems Barbecue Competitions across the United States are also now using Guava Wood to provide its smoked flavour and scent to meat.

         Next Journey with Guava is during the first week of July, during mid-Winter's 1pm time frame for me....

        Next we are towards the end of July and mid-Winter to again experience the Sun's Lighting at about 1pm....

        And that just may be the same Guava Leaf after having left it's Tree.

        Next we enter the first week of August, the last month of Winter for me. It is about 2pm. We are near Fig's Zone, and find there are spent Leaves, doing their Journey to become Nature's Mulch....

         To finish, a return to Camphor Laurel. Now we will be where we are. The first month of Spring for me in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first month of Autumn for you of the Northern Hemisphere... September.

        Interestingly, but not planned, is with the following photo being achieved on 18 September 2009.... it almost coincides with this Posting.

        Not even the setting-out preparations was planned to turn out this way. A very beautiful Gift to be given by circumstances in the timing and presentation of this Journey to share with you.

        I appreciate the Gift given to my efforts, and the Gift given to you who have done this Journey. A Special Moment.

         Seems sad to end this repertoire on a dismal note for Camphor Laurel in letting you know it being a problem in Australia. So other than that little bit, I'll write no more at this time on the Subject.

        Camphor Laurel and I have shared many Adventures, so we can tell you the Sad Tale Another Time.

        Though I will mention, because I feel it is important.... Camphor Laurel Leaves have a high carbon content which damages water quality.

        When I read that, I thought straight away, that is why the Horses agisted on the Property don't drink the Water in the Trough once Camphor Laurel's Leaves fall into it.

        I found even daily scooping out any Leaves makes no difference, once Camphor's Leaves have been in. The Water is not drunk unless the Trough is emptied, scrubbed and Fresh Water is supplied.

        Sad actually, as good shade was given by Camphor Laurel's Canopy to keep the Water cool in warm and hot Weather.

        On a final note... Australia has it's own Camphor Laurel Tree.... Cinnamomum oliveri, a Rainforest Tree which grows along the Eastern Coastal Areas of Australia. But that too is for the next Camphor Laurel Journey.

*For those like me who may not have known...

Lepidoptera.... order

        Lepidopterans are Butterflies or Moths. They have four wings covered in tiny overlapping scales, and sucking mouthparts.

(Info from my Microsoft's Dictionary Thesaurus, I have the pleasure to have quick access to, from my

Computer's Task Bar.) 

Introductory Image is from -

   http://www.animated-gifs.eu

Information relating to Camphor Laurel and Guava -

   .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamomum_camphora

   .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamomum_oliveri

   .. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guava

Photos were achieved with my then Lg 5megapixel 'Viewty' phone. 

My appreciation to you,

hope you enjoyed Leaves through Seasons,

Wishing you an enjoyable Spring/Autumn Seasonal Transition

Magda.