dagguerotype

Blooms

2007-01-10T22:57:00.000-08:00

The last roses from the last year.Wild roses in blushing pink in a blue glass vase that previosly held my orchid. I managed to kill my third one. Have sworn to not buy another one. I can't keep orchids alive.

Tulip and a frond of fern. Loved the color combo. I wanted to buy some more tulips but then the frond would have felt lonely and had I bought more fronds, they would have looked kinda odd and creepy. Stuck to one of each. My salute to the aesthetics of my host country.

The tulip and the frond kinda started to bend as it got later in the night. Come morning they were a little more straighter. Definitely interesting to see.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave...

2006-10-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

When first we practise to deceive!

Macros

2006-09-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

Patel shots- Rainbow Bridge

2006-09-10T04:55:00.000-07:00

Been meaning to take these shots , ever since I placed the order for my cam, or even before I did it. I tried earlier with my point and shoot and the lights danced all over the place. Thats the rainbow bridge and the tower behind it, is the tokyo TV tower, in the roppongi area. It is quite a landmark and a prominent part of the tokyo skyline.

I took these pics in the odaiba area. In the evening, cruise boats gather in the area and present quite a view. The rainbow bridge and the lights of these boats and their reflection in the water. A boat beginning its approach in the area.

The boat has made its way midway

a rendezvous with a few more boats in the area

And more boats and thats the odaiba skyline in the area

More of the same Yes, patel shots all, but its a nice neighbourhood to be in.

Kyoto botanical garden

2006-07-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

Some more pics from the kyoto botanical gardens. First , hydrangeas from the hydrangea park and then the mandatory residents of a conservatory.

This particular hydrangea , if I am not mistaken , is also called popcorn hydrangea because of the apperance of the bunch. The small blooms look really pretty.

No blooms on this baby yet. just the buds , but a fly definitely finds them attractive.

Some more of those pretty buds.

I liked the serrated edge of the petals on these flowers. They present quite a contrast from the smooth blooms normally observed.

These blushing pink blooms have more petals than the normal 5 observed on each flower. They also have multiple layers, again something different from what is normally observed.

View of the conservatory- I am afraid its only a partial one. The entire structure could not fit into the frame and this was the best one of the lot I took.

A macro shot that could have been better.

A smaller cousin of this particular plant was a resident in my friend's place. It gave me the heebie jeebies when I visited and it did scare me a bit even when I was in the conservatory. It looks like its itching to get its fingers on any passer by. Needless to say, I did not linger long.

A conservatory without a pitcher plant. No can happen.

These bamboo plants or maybe bamboo cousins have something nifty going on , on their stems.

Have a look

And thats a pretty head

Hanging from this palm

Hibiscus may be . Loved its petals. By this point, my camera had fogged up because of first the rain and then the moisture in the conservatory. I had to take of the lens and wipe it properly and I did not dare to even touch the mirror.

And here's the surprise of the day. A chocolate tree. That's theobroma cacao or the food of the gods. I attest to that fact. Chocolate sure is divine.

A flower in the cactus section . A small head on a really thin long stalk. Pretty in red.

An orchid maybe

An orchid definitely

And another one

More orchids, but these were outside the conservatory and in a small section by themselves. I must say I wasn't much impressed by the selection here. I definitely expected more.

I have a lighter cousin of this one at home. Unfortunately I can't get it to rebloom. any tips

And at the end, a rafflesia bloom in a glass case. This baby is huge and is reputed to be pollinated by elephants. Thats just a myth though. It smells of rotten meat and elephants being vegetarian won't venture anywhere near it. This flower is pollinated by flies.

Pics from the wkend

2006-07-18T23:48:00.000-07:00

The setting sun

some vegetation near the river

And the river

Kyomizu shrine

2006-07-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

A passageway while entering the shrine.

And the view from the shrine

Kyomizu means pure water, and this particular shrine is named and famous for its water.

The deity

Another vista of kyoto city from the shrine

By now, visitors to the blog must be aware or my obsession with flowers. A hydrangea in bloom in the shrine grounds

We took a break from all the walking and sat down to enjoy some chilled beer.

With some tofu. It came floating in that wooden bucket.

Thats when another one of my obsession surfaced. Three japanese gals in their yukatas and I could not leave them alone in peace. Thankfully, many others around me had the same idea and some 20 odd cameras were focussed on these lasses.

I focussed my attention on the lass in the middle. The light hit her face beautifully and she had a gamut of expressions for a shutterbug

I was happy with the images captured. Another day well spent :)

Whats in a name

2006-07-12T01:36:00.000-07:00

said shakespeare

And I heartily agree

I took these pics in the Kyoto botanical garden, on a really rainy day

For the first few pics,I took the pic of the flower and the name placard

and after a few of these insane shots, said to myself, " darn it"

"If will din't mind, I don't care either."

And then , I went on my merry way

Clicking

And clicking

when I came across these pearls on the leaves

some more clicking

And while I was as wet as doormouse and had a conference to attend later in the day,

Bilbo was still a very....

.....happy camper. Wet.... but happy

Random shots around the house

2006-06-15T18:29:00.000-07:00

Two sparrows on a wire

2006-06-15T18:25:00.000-07:00

Going bananas

2006-06-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

Fallen angels

2006-06-15T18:14:00.000-07:00

Raindrops are falling on my head

2006-06-15T18:07:00.000-07:00

And some more shots

2006-05-25T01:39:00.000-07:00

Some patel shots

2006-05-21T05:13:00.000-07:00

Summer's here and so are the flowers

2006-05-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hydrangea- Nature's litmus paper

2006-04-26T22:46:00.000-07:00

UPs and UPs- Arisugawa Koen

2006-04-26T22:41:00.000-07:00

Star ship Au naturale

2006-04-26T22:15:00.000-07:00

Had posted these earlier. Mirroring them here

Pioneer clingon

More clingons

Invasion successful

I'd noticed these earlier in the day, on my campus. It had been raining . So , as it happens after a bout of raining, everything looked fresh and clean and the colors were sharp against dull backgrounds. Snuck out of the lab, during the day and took these pics. They are among my favourites.

Samba carnival

2006-04-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

Lady in black

and in yellow plumage

Loved this one . Amazing grace.

And for some chutzpah

What you lookin at, eh?

Read all about it

Yellow roses

2006-04-22T02:58:00.000-07:00

Just bought these. They are still in the paper the florist wrapped them in . Trying to make up my mind, If I want to put them in water or dry them so they can be preserved for the time I am here.

The colors of good cheer

2006-04-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

Wild roses in my room

2006-03-05T06:16:00.000-08:00

Spring in my apt

2006-02-25T18:08:00.000-08:00

A trip to ueno onshii koen

2005-10-08T05:37:00.000-07:00

sunshine cheer

2005-09-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

sunshine cheer
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

sunflowers to cheer me up on a grey day

pine needles on a rainy day

2005-09-06T20:02:00.000-07:00

pine needles on a rainy day
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

Its been raining here in tokyo. I could not really resist the charm of these droplets hanging on to the needles. They are at the absolute edge and resisting the pull of gravity. They will surrender to Newton eventually but meanwhile, they glisten.

A lone bench in the clearing

2005-08-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

A lone bench in the clearing
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

yonder they perched

2005-08-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

yonder they perched
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

the day was cloudy. however it did not look as dark as in this picture. somehow, looks straight out of a horror flick.

new leaves

2005-08-24T06:28:00.001-07:00

new leaves
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

I guess I take better pics of all things flora.

the lane I was on split into two.

2005-08-24T06:28:00.000-07:00

the lane I was on split into two.
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

decisions, decisions!! I took neither and chose another path :)

and these leaves in the mini pond

2005-08-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

and these leaves in the mini pond
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

they could be lily or lotus. Don't remember enough botany to really know.

more new leaves

2005-08-24T06:21:00.001-07:00

more new leaves
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

view from the bottom, of stairs that is :)

2005-08-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

view from the bottom, of stairs that is :)
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

stairway to heaven perhaps

2005-08-24T06:20:00.000-07:00

stairway to heaven perhaps
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

this lane I took .....

2005-08-24T06:19:00.001-07:00

this lane I took .....
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

and came across these wild berries

2005-08-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

and came across these wild berries
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

sunflower and sunshine

2005-08-09T23:11:00.000-07:00

sunflower and sunshine
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

Lil ole me trying to be miss fancy pants with iphoto. some how the b/w version looks nicer than the color. Go figure!!

dinner

2005-08-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

dinner
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

MY idea of a simple dinner- veggie quesadillas and ruby red grapefruit

lotus in bloom

2005-08-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

lotus in bloom
Originally uploaded by bilbobaggins.

Took this at the ueno onshii koen , couple of wkends back. My first view of a lotus in bloom