Sweetgum Project 1.3 - March 7

Continuing the chronicle of this American Sweetgum tree in my condo complex courtyard. This project was explained in this post that started the series.

This is the next in the series of how the tree looked on March 7, a week after the second post. Again, it kicks off with a shot of highest branch (like the previous posts), to show the growth progression (still rather subtle). Below that more shots of it, along with other branches on the tree. (Yes, I shot in the morning, when it was sunny with some clouds, and a bit in the afternoon, after the clouds brought some rain.)

Continued in the next post.
7 Mar 2010

Sweetgum Project 1.2 - February 28

Continuing the chronicle of this American Sweetgum tree in my condo complex courtyard. This project was explained in the previous post.

This is the next in the series of how the tree looked a week later, on February 28, starting with a shot of highest branch (the same subject as the first shot in the previous post, to show the subtle progression), followed by more of that and other branches.

Continued with the following week's shots in the next post.

28 Feb 2010

Sweetgum Project 1.1 - February 21

Back in mid-February I got the idea to chronicle in photographs the growth of the leaves on a tree in the courtyard of the complex where I live. There's a number of trees, but for simple reasons of proximity I chose the American Sweetgum closest to my front door.

I'd captured the tree in the past (as seen in these posts), but that was showing the changing of leaves in the autumn. In February the tree was complete barren, without a single leave or pod on it, so this seemed like a good time to start the project. I figured that I'd make a point of getting detailed shots focusing on a specific branch (the highest one) as the one to track the progress of how the leaves and other blooms developed, along with getting general shots of other branches just as accompaniment.

Given the rate of growth I figured that shooting once a week would be sufficient; that should allow for there to be at least some modestly noticeable differences.

Here's how it looked on February 21, starting with the shot of that highest branch:

Continued with the following week's shots in the next post.
21 Feb 2010

Pink flower after the rain

7 Mar 2010

Hummingbird, part IV (mom and the babies)

Concluding the series of shots of the hummingbird nest in our condo complex. These were taken one day after the previous post.

Here the two babies in the nest cry out for their mother (who my wife dubbed Dolores).

There she is.

8 May 2010

Hummingbird, part III (more with the babies)

More shots of the hummingbird nest in this tree in our condo complex. Here the two newborns await the return of their mother.

There's Dolores!

It's feeding time.

She is not exactly gentle, but it appears they can handle it.

In case you're wondering, those dark spots on the leaves are... what you think they are. According to World of Hummingbirds, the babies are born nest-trained (so to speak); they won't do that in the nest.

If you're wondering how they're safe when mom isn't around, here's a wide shot of the tree. Can you spot the nest?

7 May 2010

Hummingbird, part II

Following up on the previous post, here's the hummingbird's nest a little over two weeks later.

What's this? The nest is unattended but there's only fuzz where the eggs were.

No, wait! That fuzz is the baby hummingbirds. They've hatched!

The babies get fed from their mother (Dolores).Their eyes aren't open yet at this point, so they just open their mouths when they sense she's returned.

She really gets her beak down their throats.

2 May 2010