April Camera Practice

So I bought myself a new camera last year for my birthday, anticipating I would have an entire year to lean how to use it before Alaska.  As with all my plans this last year, that didn't turn out the way I thought it would. I still haven't had a lot of practice with the landscape modes but I did escape to Manito Park one day as a break from thesising and spent some time in macro mode.  If you're interested in the whole album, I have it here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/G4gBkuspdVYzQESZ9

Perennial Garden Bench

This is the most macro of the shots I took. I love this bench. Really, I love all of the stonework throughout Spokane and especially in the parks, but I come and sit here frequently. It is in the perennial garden under some beautiful flowering trees. I was too early to catch any leaves, but all the little bulb flowers around it were so colorful. It is a contrast in the different kinds of permanency in nature: the solid endurance of stone, and the tireless optimism of flowers that bloom year after year.

TulipRiot

This tulip was blooming all alone on a path around the conservatory towards the arbor where I like to sit and update my social media accounts. (What?) It was such a defiant riot of color, and so out of place for all the muted grays and browns around it.  The leaves on the bushes were starting to bloom and I knew in a few days the flower would be hidden and unremarkable for the wealth of forest around it. I admired the timing of the flower- to make a bold and beautiful statement in that sweet spot between winter and full spring. I also like how straight the stem is- no droopy tulip posture here!

Oh, macro, how I love you. These are babies growing on a spider plant in the greenhouse. The spider plant is enormous and the tendrils arch over the walkways almost like a canopy. I had fun trying to capture the shape and movement of the plant while holding the stem still. There was a nice breeze in the conservatory, and the plant kept shaking out of focus.

One of the most striking features of the conservatory is the wall of orchids to the right of the door as you enter.  I'm pretty sure everyone in Spokane has taken a selfie there, prom gown optional. I'm not a huge fan of orchids, honestly, but this wall is always an impressive stop. I always forget how many different kinds of orchids they are. This plant in particular was interesting to me- so many different colors and directions of movement. I played with different filters here for a long time, too- some of them look almost ethereal. I thought the more saturated tones of this one speaks to the jungley habitat the area simulates though. It reminds me of sitting in the Tiki Room and sipping on dole whips.

Disneyland 2015 Countdown: Day 73

This week, I'm counting down to Disneyland 2015 by exploring Adventureland! Today's stop: The Enchanted Tiki Room

In…the…tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, Tiki Room! In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, Tiki Room! All the birds sing words and the flowers croon- in the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, Tiki Room.

Yeah, now that’s an earworm! I don’t know about you, but “The Tiki Room” gets stuck in my head more easily and persistently than “It’s a Small World.” Which is good, because The Enchanted Tiki Room is one of my favorite attractions at Disneyland.  It is a silly little show, but it is indoors, and dark, and cold, and you can enjoy a Dole Whip while you watch the show. This attraction, which opened in 1963, marked the first time that Disneyland used Audio-Animatronics Technology. Though the attraction was heavily upgraded and refurbished in the 1990s, and is a lot shorter (about 12 minutes instead of nearly 18 minutes,) I have to think the same sense of awe and wonder that entranced the early visitors to the show remain today. I’m particularly fond of the Hawaiian War Chant sequence at the end, and the lovely nod to Snow White as guests leave.  Also, the Tiki Room, along with the Jungle Cruise, are the inspiration for my favorite dining experience at Disneyland…but more on that later! (Look for tag, Trader Sams.)

You'd think an Audio-Animatronic show of singing flowers and vaguely racist birds would get old. You would be wrong. We watched the show three times in Disney World. Okay, maybe that had something to do with being an air conditioned space, but it was also because the show is genuinely entertaining! I’ve enjoyed the Tiki Room on every visit to Disneyland, and I’m looking forward to relaxing and enjoying a sing-along with Jose, Pierre, Michael, and Fritz.

Disneyland 2015 Countdown: Day 75

Wow, only 75 days to go until Disneyland 2015! That means only 11 weeks to go! Once you hit the point that counting in days is easier than weeks you know it is time to get excited!

Today, I'm dreaming of Adventureland. 

Let’s face it: Adventureland packs the biggest ride punch for its size compared to the rest of the park. The footprint available to guests for walking is pretty small- about 400 feet long- but packed along this sidewalk are three of the best attractions in Disneyland, two signature dinining locations, and a bazaar filled with all of the Indy-themed merchandise a fangirl could want.  Adventureland is one of the original lands present during the grand opening of Disneyland in 1955, and features one of the original park attractions: The Jungle Cruise, in addition to the beloved Tiki Room, Tarzan’s Treehouse, and the King of Rides: Indiana Jones. Happy Sigh…I love Adventureland. I thought I'd spend this week reminiscing about the awesomeness of Adventureland rides.