It is extremely hot, humid and rainy-not the best weather to be out in nature with the mosquitoes. This time of year I like to find a pretty plant that can be adopted and let it pose indoors before giving it a home in the garden. I have several varieties of ginger blooming now. The plants tend to be 2 to 3 feet tall. I recently found the little ginger that is the subject of these shots. It is a dwarf variety and the entire plant is only about 8 inches tall. I hope you enjoy these different approaches to the same plant.
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We were on the road before dawn in order to be at Convict Lake for first light. Anticipating temps in the 40's, I wore my Columbia rain jacket, but not my fleece. I was an icicle by the time I got back in the car. Later I saw where the recorded temperature that morning was 28 degrees. (Just a word to the wise, wear fleece. You can always take it off.) After a warming breakfast at Tom's Place, we drove up the Rock Creek Road to the John Muir Wilderness Area. Second lesson learned--never ask a hiker how difficult a trail is! After a rocky, strenuous (for us) hike, we reached the overlook to Mack Lake. Next stop was the Mammoth Lakes area where we went first to Mamie Lake, then crossed the road to photograph the waterfall created by the outflow from Mamie down to/and including Twin Lakes. Heading east, we went to the Hot Creek Geologic Site, then north to scout out Mono Lake for a nice location to return to for a sunrise. June Lake was our home base for the next three nights.

Like many small towns, Steubenville, Ohio has been devastated by the closing of its steel mills, the building of the Fort Steuben Mall (which has itself become a ghost mall) as well as a Walmart. In an effort to bring life back to the downtown business area a local group has instituted "First Friday on Fourth" which is basically a once a month block party on Fourth Street.We attended it for the first time last night - it was wall-to-wall people, food and craft vendors, and a very loud band - just perfect for street photography! I'm really hoping it will help breathe new life into this depressed town - only time will tell.