BRITISH COLUMBIA - FOREST FOR THE TREES

Can you tell I'm really, really looking forward to Halloween this year? For me it isn't the evening itself, though that can be a lot of fun. It's the run-up to the night. I love watching the scary films, the marathons of shows like Buffy, The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits.

For me this is a season, not just one night. In the next few days my wife and I will have the annual screening of SLEEPY HOLLOW, which the is official start to our Halloween Season. Yeah, there are already decorations up in the yard, but the movie just seems to be the right jumping-off place for all things that go bump in the night.

Or the forest. Have you ever noticed how many scary things lurk in the forest? There's always something there, just out of view, watching you.

October Country picture of the day: Forest for the Trees.

KA LAE, SOUTHERNMOST POINT, HAWAII - DEFYING GRAVITY

This fabulous tree, seeming to defy gravity itself, can be seen along the road on your journey to Ka Lae, the southernmost point on the Big Island of Hawaii, as well as southernmost point in the United States. (Sorry, Key West.)

The gently rolling pastures allow a constant and brisk wind to blow through the tree's branches, virtually "laying it down" over the ground.

On hot days, THIS is a shade tree!

EL YUNQUE NAT'L PARK, PUERTO RICO -- SMALL WORLD

I am sure my niece or nephew-in-law, both of whom are highly educated biologists, could tell you a little about the particular fungi/moss/whatever it is that is growing on this tree, but as a photographer I can assure you it is a beautiful and vibrant collection of life forms, all living in harmony together in their own little world of interdependence.

We could learn a lot from lichen.

(And if there are any learned biologists out there, please feel free to weigh in with my blessing.)

MOJAVE DESERT, CA - A TREE GROWS IN BAGDAD

Although it was given a modicum of posthumous fame in the movie THE BAGDAD CAFE, the Mojave Desert town of Bagdad is today little more than a smoothed out area on the desert floor and a single tree growing on the northern side of Route 66.

Although it prospered for decades, the opening of Interstate 40's final stretch of roadway bypassed and destroyed Bagdad as it did so many other towns gathered along The Mother Road. The last structure was removed in 1991, but the tree was left and has thrived despite its lonely vigil.

It's still worth a stop, if for nothing more than to see the only shade for fifteen or more miles in any direction.

Pic of the Day: Tree at the Canyon

Sunrise in magical places is always a special moment. This tree was along the southern rim of the Grand Canyon while I was waiting to shoot the sun's light as it cascaded down across the canyon floor. As I was waiting I noted the tree, silhouetted against the blue sky and slightly reddening canyon below.

This is image is available as a beautiful canvas print at the Barbergallery store on Etsy

(Click on the above link to view)