An Appropriate Metaphor

Thursday, September 13, 2012

If I were more awake and lucid, I could write volumes, or at least a short poem, about this precariously tenacious plant and its apparent circumstances. But I am just awake enough to keep from falling asleep face down on the keyboard; my lucidity is highly questionable at the moment. So, I will let this photo stand alone as an apt metaphor:

UPDATE:  Saturday, September 15, 2012,  2:27 PM

Metaphors are never 100% perfect. I need to add, at no time during this past week, did I ever feel as alone, helpless and left to the whim of the elements as this plant appears to be. As a matter of fact, with the overwhelming love, support and assistance of numerous family members and friends, I accomplished far more in the past week than I would have ever dared dream possible as I was laying on the hospital gurney in ER in the wee hours of Monday morning. I am still a bit bewildered by it all.

A Great Way to Spend a Sunny Day

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Guadalupe spiny softshell turtles are very common in the San Antonio River. When I passed this one on my walk Wednesday, September 5, it seemed to be taking great pleasure basking in the sun on a rock all to itself while contemplating whatever it is turtles contemplate:

Along the Top of the Ridge

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

This is the second set of photos from my walk on the Main Loop Trail at Friedrich Wilderness Park on Friday, September 7. As I mentioned in the post on the 7th, the photos from the climb up to the ridgeline have a distinctly different visual feel from the ones taken along the top of the ridgeline:

A Major Detuor

Monday, September 10, 2012

Sometimes things happen in life that send us on a major detour from our planned route. Last night, one of those things happened to me. I fell and broke the humerus in my right arm just below the shoulder.

As bone fractures go, this one isn't particularly serious. I'm ambidextrous, but what I have suddenly discovered is the long list of tasks that require the use of two hands, regardless of which hand is dominant. The two things that frustrate me the most that I can't do are drive and I can't use my camera.

It will likely be six weeks or so before I will be able to resume taking new photos to publish in While on a Walk. I do have a plethora of photos from previous walks that I have yet to publish, so for now, I will continue to publish posts using those photos as often as I am able.

What better way to begin a detour than with the yellow-crowned night heron on the San Antonio River. These photos are from my walk on Friday, june 8:

Purple Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), A Sunday Special Edition

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Purple Passionflower
(Passiflora incarnata)

It seems particularly appropriate that these purple passionflowers (Passiflora incarnata) are growing and blooming in abundance along the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River, especially along the greenway opposite the confluence with Concepcíon Creek. The flower grows on a vine, the purple passion vine, that can grow to a length of 25 feet.

The passionflower was named for the Christian crucifixion symbolism that was once given to the flower's various components. For example, the five stamens were said to represent the five wounds Jesus received and the three knob-shaped stigma represent the nails.

These photos were taken on my walk along the river this past Wednesday, September 5.