Louisiana: Lake Martin: Cypress Twists

Cypress in water, Cypress Island, near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. January 2016.

In January 2016, not long before I moved from Louisiana, I visited the Cypress Island boardwalk over by Lake Martin.

Cypress in water, Cypress Island, near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. January 2016.

Played with some photos of a cypress standing in the algae'd water.

Cypress in water, Cypress Island, near Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. January 2016.

What is it about these and live oaks that is so entrancing?

Lake Martin, Louisiana: Late Spring Visit

Lake Martin, Louisiana. Early June.

As usual, Lake Martin appears modest from the banks, reserving its beauty for when you engage by way of boat.

We took a boat tour yesterday as the day moved toward dusk.

We saw an alligator nest:

Lake Martin, Louisiana. Early June. Alligator nest.

I had no idea an alligator nest was so large! It's that pyramidal mound at center-right above.

Bullfrog, Lake Martin, Louisiana. Early June. Credit: Cat Hodges.

We saw a brilliantly yellow-and-green bullfrog sitting in the water. Just sitting like a buddha.

Lake Martin, Louisiana. Early June.

Below is a slide show with my accumulation of Lake Martin photos:



#30

Lake Martin: Sunsets and Gators

Lake Martin, Louisiana. Sunset, March 2015.

Superficially, Lake Martin is unprepossessing. But as you look closer, with every visit, you see something new and something alluring:

Lake Martin: Thistle

Lake Martin: In Lotus Bloom

Lake Martin: Late Summer, #1

Lake Martin, Late Summer, #2

Lake Martin, Late Summer, #3

Lake Martin, Louisiana. Sunset, March 2015.

On two visits a few weeks ago, at the end of March, it was about sunsets and gators.


Below is a snaggle-toothed gator gliding through a watery sunset:

Can one ever tire of seeing a predator floating by so close .... when you are entirely safe?

Gator, Lake Martin, Louisiana. Sunset, March 2015.

At 1:08 in the video above, you see my camp chair. It reminds me of a magnificent picnic lunch in New Mexico:

Jemez lunch stop, New Mexico. August 2013.

Same chair. Ah, look, my old festival bag is on the chair. Now gone.

Louisiana: Lake Martin, Late Summer, #3

I like the composition and textures of this scene.

Lake Martin, Louisiana. Septmber 2014.

Louisiana: Lake Martin, Late Summer, #2

There's something about the lilypads on Lake Martin that draws me.

Lake Martin, Louisiana. September, 2014.

Lake Martin, Louisiana. September, 2014.

Lake Martin, Louisiana. September, 2014.

Lake Martin, Louisiana. September, 2014.

Louisiana: Lake Martin, Late Summer, #1

On a recent kayak tour on Lake Martin, I saw water droplets on lilypads that were more beautiful than any designer crystals. If I disturbed a leaf, the droplets moved like liquid creatures across the surface. 

Gad, how difficult it was for me and my companion to maneuver the kayak to the right spot and without movement to get a decent pic! Didn't quite succeed, but these are the best I could get:

Lake Martin, Louisiana, September 2014

Lake Martin, Louisiana, September 2014

Lake Martin, Louisiana: In Lotus Bloom

Lotus, Lake Martin, Louisiana

On Father's Day, June 2014, the lotus are in bloom on Lake Martin.

Lotus, Lake Martin, Louisiana

The lotus leaves billow like baby elephant ears when they stand alert from the water.

Lotus, Lake Martin, Louisiana

 When flat on the water surface, birds use the lotus leaves as momentary resting spots.

Lotus, Lake Martin, Louisiana

In the boat, we glide through a field of lotus and dragonflies.

A slide show below, which includes scenes from Lake Martin in June and April 2014 and of January 2012:

#30

Lake Martin, Louisiana: Thistle

Thistle, Lake Martin, Louisiana

I visited Lake Martin this past weekend.

Thistle, Lake Martin, Louisiana

Tall, prickly thistles are in aggressive display.

Thistle, Lake Martin, Louisiana

Big bumble bees and other insects flutter around.

Thistle, Lake Martin, Louisiana

The flower's serrated-edge arms repel, but the overall silhouette pleases.