Southern Belles

Although I miss the crisp fall football weather of my midwestern youth, the long heat wave of this southern summer brings with it an abundance of kaleidoscopic beauty.  Perhaps these beauties stand out all the more because of their contrast with the impression given by some of the vacant lots and homes around here of a losing battle with degeneracy. The rat-tail grass, anthills, and a number of creeping vines have been infringing on front yards with gusto after the tropical weather of recent weeks.

But here are some images of the prettier side of life:

The moon on a recent nightA green heron

Live Oaks at the New Orleans sculpture garden

Spanish moss sunsetOleander

Sunset over the gulf

Shrimp boats in portPelicans

Great blue heron  

Little girl on a boat