Dear ,

Wild irises became the focus for my camera and me this past week. I woke last Friday remembering that this must be wild iris time at Wakodahatchee Wetlands. They bloom from the last week or two in February through mid-March.

Last year I totally missed them, even though I must have walked right past them several times. I thus set the time to go Wakodahatchee walking at the end of the day with the specific intention of looking for the irises. (See below today's Queries for links to prior year iris posts and photos.)

Today's Photos
As promised in my mailing earlier this week, the original photo from which the "bird" was taken is shown below. I'm including other wild iris photos with which I've also had fun.

I had a lot of fun with this last image. As you can see it is a cropped segment from the photo above. I enjoyed posting it on my Facebook Fan Page, inviting responses to: "Do you see 'her'? Is she sitting in a surrey or ???" Several interesting, creative "stories" were shared. See Imaginative Iris.

Today's Story -
As I mentioned above, I almost missed experiencing the Wakodahatchee Wetlands Wild Irises that I love so much. If I had, it would have been the second year of an oversight.

The irony of it is that, though I'm not walking as frequently in Wakodahatchee, I do, and did this year also, pass their spot, in the wetlands below the boardwalk. What I found is that if I'm not intentionally looking, I will miss them.

Of course, the first year I saw them, they were a happy surprise. I suspect that year I was more open to seeing newly, looking all around me, continuosly as I walked. Seemingly, I've since become somewhat jaded.

The second part of this "story" is that I was "sure" that a few days past the time I saw them this year, their blooms would have been completely finished. In fact, I let my assumptions go and went back to check it out. Happily I was wrong.

In addition to the pleasure I experienced in simply seeing the irises and photographing them, this year I enjoyed "playing" with images that I saw in the photographs after I downloaded them onto my computer. I then had the added fun of sharing here, on Facebook and on Flickr.

Now, I look forward to what blooms next year brings. And, yes, I have already made note in my calendar for 2012 to start looking for the wild irises in February!

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Based on my experience of unfocused vision, I invite you to spend some time in your world looking for things to which you might not ordinarily pay attention.

Might there be people whose individuality you do not see because you're viewing them as part of a group or crowd? What about in your interior environments? Outside and/or routine paths that you travel?

Are there experiences you've had and enjoyed that you might be experiencing once again, on perhaps a richer level, if you were open to them? If so, what is it that paying attention to would make a difference?

And, lastly, for today, in the way I had fun with focusing in on segments in the larger photographs, I invite you to find some views within a broader picture that provide a sense of play.

As always, have fun, and please share on the blog what comes up for you.

Other Wild Iris Photos, Stories and Queries - Links

In 2009 - PTP and Blog Post Wild Irises - Comparisons and Connections
and more Wild Iris Photos plus photo/drawings of New Jersey Irises

In 2010 - Not Paying Attention - Missing Out on Purple Tulips, Wild Irises and Life.

Upcoming F*R*E*E Creativity Teleclass -

My friend, Marney Makridakis, has another exciting-looking program scheduled for next week. The depth and expanse of her own creativity continues to amaze me. About this class, she states on her site:

"Join me and some very special guests for "Discover Wonder Woman's Greatest Superpower: Lasso Love to FINALLY Get Things Done!" , a playful and practical free teleworkshop in which you'll learn how to use art, creativity, and LOVE as powerful new tools to GET more things done!

This fun workshop is based on ARTbundance^(TM) philosophy, which is all about tapping into the universal wellspring of creative wisdom to make powerful changes in our lives as we capture the power of creativity and actually use it as a life-transforming tool with real, practical results." See Creativity Teleworkshop.

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Inspirationally,


Sheila
sheila[a]picturetoponder.com
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