woodquarter

the machu picchu of waldviertel

happy new year 2012

happy new year 2012

I wish you all a happy New Year 2012 - with some flowers typical for the season (that is, mid-winter) (one of them, alas, not flowering though):

kaltes klares wasser

autumnal colours

an insect from outer space

not so very rare but ...

Well actually Lilium martagon is relatively rare (but so so rare as many would think), but it is extraordinarily rare in Waldviertel region. Which is why this shot really is something very special.

halloween

I'd have uploaded creepers today, so that it's creepy enough for you on this Halloween evening, but then I found that those non-creepers are even crepier.

And yes, I'm indeed trying to ridicule Halloween. Actually I have nothing against going out on the 31st to party the night away, but to try and make the American Halloween traditions 'native' here in Austria is something I strongly oppose.
Especially since kids now have even begun to knock on doors and shout "trick or treat"; they haven't tried this at my door (not yet) but I fear the day when they might, and when I'll find smashed eggs on my door steps the day after as I wouldn't open the door for them. Really, on days like this I could even  convert to a straight anti-American. And this all because of Halloween - isn't this ridiculous? Really, the world would be a better place if the United Nations would pass a resolution prohibiting the spread of Halloween traditions throughout the world!

wet feet ...

... is what I got when shooting this.

But I'd say it was worth it.

(Oh, and yes of course, those aren't supposed to flower in autumn. Caltha palustris, that is. And if they flower in autumn - which they do on occasion, pigheaded as they are - it's still quite unusual to see them so late in the year, almost in winter really.)