Thursday, November 12, 2015

John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden - October 24, 2015

John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden

Mill Neck, NY 11560


Entrance Gate into the John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden

Roofed Gate (soto-mon)



Cherry Blossoms (Sakura) painting


Roofed Gate (soto-mon)

Stone Lantern (Yukimi-doro)

Bamboo Fence

Japanese Pagoda Lantern (Kasuga)


Stone Lantern (Yukimi-doro)

Stone Water Basin (Tsukubai)


Stone Lantern (Yukimi-doro)

Bamboo Grove


Bamboo Grove


Wisteria Arbor

Garden Pond Waterfall

Garden Pond and Tea House (Cha-shitsu)

Roofed Gate (soto-mon)

Water Basin (Tsukubai)

For Japanese Tea Ceremony (wabi-cha)

Singing Bowl on the Right

Roofed Gate (soto-mon)

Green Threadleaf Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum dissectum 'Virides') and Stone Lantern (Yukimi-doro)


Daniel Nyohaku Soergel playing Shakuhachi

Japanese Tea House (cha-shitsu)

Daniel Nyohaku Soergel playing Shakuhachi with student



Daniel Nyohaku Soergel playing the Shakuhachi







Additional Information on the John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden

Wikipedia: John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden

Locust Valley - John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden

Daniel Nyohaku Soergel - Shakuhachi Player


Sunday, November 8, 2015

Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa)


I stumbled upon the location of a group of Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus plants on Long Island, NY, a few years ago while on a hike. The Prickly Pear is a rare cactus on LI. I returned a number of times to capture the yearly development of the flowers and fruit in photos.

June 26th

The Cactus had many new flower buds growing from the pads.










Some of the plants already had flowers.














July 27th

After the flowers are pollinated they fall off and the fruits mature and ripen.






October 16th

Ripened Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit.











October 29th

Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit still ripening







Found a surprise on one of the Prickly Pear Fruit -- a Spring Peeper!