Bonsai, A Garden in the Palm of My Hand

Marilyn's Photo of the Day  Bonsai, A Garden in My Palm

Bonsai Today's image is a tree trunk close-up of a bonsai in the Marie Selby Garden in Florida.  I am always on the look-out for bonsai. They are such works of art.  With the small size, one can see details that aren't apparent in the full-size specimen, and the details on the bark demonstrate this wonderfully. This bonsai is fulfilling its purpose:  for the viewer it is contemplation and the grower it is the pleasant exercise of effort and ingenuity. The Beauty of Bonsai Gallery, on redbubble, is the second set of images.

Jan 2 Drop Off!

Drop Off

This is the day after all the celebrations that started well before Christmas in November and end on New Year's Day  We might be looking ahead to Twelfth Night (Jan 5) and Epiphany (Jan 6) in some cultures with a strong religious orientation.  Here in North America, it all goes quiet.

It turns out that Costa Rica is full of early January celebrations.  The Palmares Fiestas starts the first week of January and is "two weeks of concerts, bullfighting, folklore dancing and general debauchery".  The first week also has the Coffee Cup:  "a much-anticipated, week-long juniour tennis tournament.  And there's the Alajuelita Fiestas - "an oxcart parade and party to honour the Black Christ of Esquipulas, Alajuela." So there's no end of fun in Costa Rica, no cliff after January 1st.

Perhaps it is time to schedule for next year's after-Christmas holiday in Costa Rica.

Here are two images from St. Augustine, Florida oldest house museum complex.