Week 8: The Grass is Always Greener...

texture

I headed to the greenhouse this afternoon planning to photograph "pattern."  I have frequently found patterns in the ferns, leaves and flowers that I have thought were interesting but today it was the textures that were calling to me.  I wandered through the warm, humid room and enjoyed this quiet oasis while waiting for photos to jump out at me.  It was just me and the sound of the waterfall...quite a peaceful hour.

That was following a very warm ski this morning.  By the end of the lesson, most of the kids had their jackets undone and mitts off, faces were red and heads were sweaty.  What a weird winter we have had.  The last two lessons were cancelled - the first because it was way too cold and the second because of rain.  We have only two left; one is the Jackrabbit Olympics and the other is the family fun day so today was the last official lesson.  As I hauled out my tracking sheet to make sure all the kids have all the skills necessary to pass the level, I noticed a new skill had been added (it must have been added at night in my closet where the coaching backback is kept because I didn't notice this skill at the beginning of the season).  Oooops!  This kids are supposed to be able to do snowplow braking and we had not practiced that at all.  I told them we had to ski as quickly as possible back to where the practice hill is and they actually did!  We made it back in record time and had the chance to practice on the hill.  Whew.  Note to self:  read list of required skills more carefully next year.

Well, to the photos.  First we have something budding.

This pineapple was only about six inches tall altogether.

This is two overlapping ferns.  Do you remember making placemats by weaving construction paper like this?

This was the coolest tree.  The leaves were shaped like maple leaves but the pattern on them was so different.  Initially I thought it was disease but every leaf had it so I figure it is supposed to be there.

I have photographed this particular cactus many times and usually with this framing.

I'm not sure what this leafy plant is but it is certainly colourful.

I didn't capture the detailed texture of the leaves on this succulent.  There was a tiny fuzz there.

Patterns did still catch my eye but the little dots on this fern were what drew me to it.

The velvety texture is on some past-their-prime poinsettia leaves.

Happy leap day on Monday.