Freedom By The Morning Light ...

"This land will remain
the land of the free
Only so long as it is
the home of the brave."
                          ~ Elmer Davis
                                        ~ 1890-1958

May is the month we celebrate Armed Forces Day & Memorial Day, the perfect time to express deep gratitude to our nation's veterans. By your bravery and courage we remain the land of the free!

Here Old Glory waves proudly on a bright and breezy April morning at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Blossoming In The City ...

"Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit."
                                                       ~ Khalil Gibran
                                                                       ~ 1883-1931

Kwanzan Cherry Trees line the city with beauty in May
on North Ott Street near Cedar Creek Parkway,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.

There are 46 Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees in the vicinity.
The original trees date to the late 1950s or early 1960s.

Sittin' On Top Of The World ...

"Such a feelin's comin' over me
There is wonder in most everything I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream...

I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world."

                                         ~ "Top Of The World"
                                                ~ recorded by The Carpenters
                                                                          ~ 1972

Take a seat on top of the world
and soak in the autumn vista
on a beautiful October day at
Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. 

                                   
 

Moon Over Tiffany's ...

"Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're going, I'm going your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waiting, round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me."
                                                                  ~ "Moon River"
                                                         ~composed by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer
                                                                     ~ "Breakfast At Tiffany's"
                                                                                                     ~ 1961

In this artistic, stardust moment, the full moon of May 3, 2015
rises over "Breakfast At Tiffany's" on the marquee of
The Nineteenth Street Theatre, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 
The Nineteenth Street/Civic Theatre is an historic community center that hosts
theatre, arts education and film. It is the oldest cinema in Allentown, opening
September 17, 1928. In July 1957, the property was purchased by Allentown's
Civic Little Theatre. It is located in the heart of the quaint 
West End Theatre District.

Magnolia By Morning ...

"Despite the forecast, live like it's spring."
                                        ~ Lilly Pulitzer
                                                  ~ 1931-2013

The sunlight of an April morning whispers softly as a dream around the magnolia tree at my favorite spot at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

In The Fire Of Spring ...

"May this tenderness cling
When the fire of spring
Is a memory
May you still be my own
When a hundred years have flown ...
Love me tonight."
                                    ~ "Love Me Tonight"
       ~words & music by Don Robertson
         from the film "Fun In Acapulco"
         ~ recorded by the great
                           Elvis Presley, 1963

A beautiful blossom and breaking bud are in tandem in the fire of spring as the April sun sets on my favorite magnolia tree at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Wishes On Wings ...

"Hitch your wagon to a star."
                                      ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
                                                        ~ 1803-1882

Star kissed wishes of this sweet mourning dove
dance in the radiance of sunset on a beautiful
April evening at Cedar Creek Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Mama And Me ...

"A mother's heart is a patchwork of love."
                                            ~ Author Unknown

Beautiful white-tailed deer doe and her button buck
share a sweet moment in the park a few days after
Christmas. 

I've been blessed to photograph this doe and her fawns
for three years, and it's a true joy to me personally and
as a photographer. 

Evening Kiss ...

"April love ...
Every star's a wishing star that shines for you,
April love is all the seven wonders,
One little kiss can tell you this is true."
                                                 
                    ~ "April Love"
~Theme song from the 1957 film "April Love"
              ~ Music by Sammy Fain,
                lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
                    ~ Recorded by Pat Boone

Sunset light kisses this beautiful breaking bud
on my favorite magnolia tree on a beautiful
April evening at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Red-Tail In The Sunset ...

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."                     
                       ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
                                     ~ 1803-1882

Regal red-tailed hawk peers from a high perch, his gaze looming over the landscape in search of prey at an April sunset at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Spring Moon Rising ...

"I wished on the moon
For something I never knew
Wished on the moon
For more than I ever knew
A sweeter rose, a softer sky
On April days that would not dance by ...
It all came true
I wished on the moon for you."
                                   ~ "I Wished On The Moon"
                                           ~ composed by Ralph Raigner, lyrics by Dorothy Parker
                                                                  ~ 1935
                                            ~ Recorded by Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald & other stars

The full moon rises in splendor over Cedar Creek Parkway,
Allentown, Pennsylvania, the evening of April 4, 2015. Early that morning
there was a total lunar eclipse, often called a Blood Moon. 

The Art Of Nostalgia ...

"We do not remember days, we remember moments."
                                                  ~ Cesare Pavese
                                                                 ~ 1908-1950

Afternoon shadows of the early spring dance
tranquilly in the April sunlight at Schlicher Covered Bridge,
an historic wooden covered bridge in North Whitehall Township,
Pennsylvania. Schlicher's is a 108-foot-long, Burr Truss bridge 
that crosses the Jordan Creek and was constructed in 1882.
It has vertical plank siding and a gable roof. It was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It recently reopened
after needed renovations. 

Swan Of A Spring Morn ...

"The swan, like the soul of a poet,
By the dull world is ill understood."
                   ~ Heinrich Heine
                     ~ 1797-1856
                   ~ "Early Poems - Evening Songs"

Droplets of chilly spring waters cascade across a beautiful mute swan as it glides in the morning sunlight like poetry in motion on Lake Muhlenberg, Cedar Creek Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Dreams Come To Light ...

 

"Like the seeds dreaming beneath the snow
your heart dreams of spring."
                                       ~ Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet"
                                                             ~ 1883-1931

The afternoon sun dances lightly over the snowy
creek after a fresh March snowfall, painting a dreamlike late winter
scene at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The Winter's Day ...

  "Land really is the best art."
                     ~ Andy Warhol
                            ~ 1928-1987

The day all winters dream to be paints itself around the Springhouse at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Icicles fringe the roof of the log cabin surrounded by a fresh March snowfall, blazing blue skies and bright sunshine.

It's one of my very favorite places to be and to photograph. 

The log  cabin was part of Springhouse, the summer home of General Harry C. Trexler (1854-1933), an American industrialist who  built a business empire in Allentown. The park is his namesake.



 

Harbinger Of Hope ...

"The day the Lord
created hope was probably
the same day he created spring."
                            
                                    ~ Sir Bernard Williams
                                                               1929-2003

Though perched in the early March snow,
sweet Robin Redbreast is full of hope because
spring is near at Trexler Memorial Park,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Path To Remembrance...

"When it hurts to look back,
And you are afraid to look forward,
Look beside you ...
I will be there."
                             ~ Anonymous

Sentimental thoughts swirl amidst
a fresh March snowfall on my favorite path
at Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

The Frosting ...

"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art."
              ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
                          ~ 1803-1882

In the shadow of the northern Blue Mountain Ridge, a frosted, frozen
and snow covered Leaser Lake glistens with winter's artistry. 
I really enjoyed being able to actually walk on the lake and take photos!

The lake in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania is named for Frederick Leaser, who in September 1777 with his farm team hauled The Liberty Bell from 
Philadelphia to Allentown where it was concealed in Zion Reformed Church.

His homestead is located one mile north of the lake. 

The Sign Red No Skating ...

"That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet."
             ~ Emily Dickinson
                    ~1830-1886

Waxing nostalgic on a quiet winter's day
by the pond at Trexler Memorial Park,
Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Chasing The Turtle Drum ...

"Dance along the silver sands and beat the turtle drum,
that youth may last forever, and sorrow never come." 

                                                             ~ "Beat The Turtle Drum"
                                                                       ~ Constance C. Greene
                                                                                            ~ 1994

Simple childhood joy paints the faces of children
anticipating a vehicle fording the Jordan Creek
at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania
on a summer's day.

For more than 50 years kids and kids at heart have enjoyed
driving through the creek - and watching too! 

                                        

Sugar Dusted ...

Snow seems like sugar dusted on the nose of this sweet white-tailed deer doe as she eats an apple on a winter's day in the park.

I've been blessed to photograph this doe and her fawns for the past three years and it's a true joy to me personally and as a photographer.

Sweet Taste of Summer Video ...

Tony Bennett's "Candy Kisses" sets the tone for this celebration of summer showcased in my original nature photos. My greatest joy as a photographer is harmonizing my favorite original photos to music to create a lingering snapshot of the season.

Maybe It's Maybellene ...

"Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
...The Cadillac lookin' like it's sittin' still
And I caught Maybellene at the top of the hill."
                      
                                           ~ "Maybellene"
                                                              ~ 1955

Maybe it's Maybellene casting a flirty glance
as a summer day reflects in the eye of this
Volkswagen Beetle near a trail in 
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania!

The Chuck Berry song "Maybellene" was adapted from the 
traditional fiddle tune "Ida Red" that tells the story of a 
hot rod race and a broken romance.  It is considered one of
the pioneering rock and roll singles.

The great Elvis Presley sang it live on "Louisiana Hayride" on 
August 20, 1955. 
                             

True Love ...

"For you and I have a guardian angel
On high with nothing to do
But to give to you and to give to me
Love forever true."
                                     ~ "True Love"
                                               ~ Cole Porter, 1956

North American male and female cardinal find true love
together a few weeks before Valentine's Day at
Trexler Memorial Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Bridge Over Frosted Water ...

 

"How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose,
if there were no winter in our year!"
                                                            ~ Thomas Wentworth Higginson
                                                                                          ~ 1823-1911
                                                                        from "April Days"
                                                                                             ~ 1861

The historic Geiger's Covered Bridge crosses the frosted waters

of the Jordan Creek, painting a scene of quiet beauty 
just before a winter sunset.

Geiger’s Covered Bridge is an historic wooden covered bridge in North Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. It is a 112-foot-long Burr Truss bridge, constructed in 1860. It has vertical plank siding and an entry portal of stepped square planks. It crosses the Jordan Creek and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It can be accessed from The Covered Bridge Trail of the Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.