July 7, 2011

Do These Feathers Make My Butt Look Big?

One of Mayfield Park's resident peacocks proudly displaying for the completely disinterested female nearby.  I was as enchanted with the rear view as I was the front...


A friend suggested I visit Mayfield Park and Preserve in central Austin.  I headed out this morning with camera in hand and the visit didn't disappoint.


Isn't it fascinating that the rear view can be so monochromatic while the front is full blown technicolor? 



Mayfield Park offers a diverse garden filled with native and adapted plants as well as a large display of water gardens filled with various water lilies and lotus...

Dragonfly resting on lotus blooms.


Crinum lily bud in dappled morning light.


 Rear view of crinum lily in shade.


And to ease my summer weary mind, American beautyberry shows early signs of what will be a richly colored purple display of fall berries. 

Mayfield Park offered a nice diversion from the heat on a summer's morning.   I hope you all have a wonderful weekend full of pleasant diversions from the ordinary!

25 comments:

  1. The peacock is stunning. And your images likewise. Here is a website on creating lomo images with PS. I did mine slightly different, but this is a good place to learn the technique.
    http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-make-digital-photos-look-like-lomo-photography

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  2. What an amazing creature in God's creation! Such a colorful display -- Wow! And the beautyberry makes me count the days till cooler temps -- about 75 by my count :-)

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  3. I guess he always makes sure he is facing her otherwise she might not be so impressed. Your dragonfly photo is another work of art.

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  4. Before reading I thought you had added a peacock to your garden... maybe as a way to keep up with all of the crazy Austin gardeners.

    I imagine the peacock with an iridescent back-end and drab front side doesn't really do too well with the hens. :-)

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  5. What a lovely subject you have found to photograph. Fall, that is a nice thought.

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  6. Ha Ha love the title. Cute. I have not ever been to Mayfield Park- will have to check it out. I love peacocks. So beautiful. We have two that live down the street here- they are hysterical. They "hang out" with this cat. Funniest thing you have ever seen when they walk down the street together. No joke. I never seem to have my camera ready to go when they are but have captured it with my phone. It is hilarious. They just saunter right down the middle of the street. All three. Sadly I think that couple is moving and will be taking the birds with them. Great shots though!! I love the beautyberries as well- I shot them last week.
    Thanks for the comments re the camera book- I responded on my blog but in case you don't see it- I appreciate it and am going to grab it. Always looking for help!!!!!

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  7. I don't think I've ever looked at a peacock from the back before. Had no idea it was black and white. I wonder if there's a reason for that.

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  8. Peacocks? In parks? In Austin??? MUST GO!!!

    Peacocks must have the reverse mullet - business in the back, party in the front.

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  9. @NSARH, Ha!! LOL - that's funny!

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  10. Thanks Donna!

    Toni, 75 - that's not so bad...although half the time the fronts stall out about Waco and we are still sweltering while y'all are nice and cool...

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  11. Stunning Cat, I have really missed your blog since I have been taking it easier. I think I prefer the rear view of the peacock, so subtle and beautiful. And if you could find it in your heart to add a "subscribe by email" link, I would be able to enjoy your lovely photos even when I am struggling to keep up with the googlereader blogs ;-)

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  12. Your photos are wonderful. Peacocks are gorgeous birds, but I never noted the rear view before. We have peacocks wandering about a local zoo, and years ago an aggressive one grabbed a hotdog out of my young son's hand, just as he was about to take a bite from it!

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  13. No,in fact it looks quite lovely. LOL! Don't the males have the beautifulest feathers. Amazing birds. The textures picture of the Lotus and Dragonfly is such a pretty one. You did a wonderful job with it.

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  14. Love the peacock! Thank so much for showing us the back as well as its beautiful front! Your photographs are amazing. I'm a little saddened to think of fall coming. Every year I feel like I've let my garden down, that I should have done more. It seems the time goes by so quickly, and I hate to think of waiting through winter until another spring.

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  15. I didn't think there was a fall in central texas. just spring and summer.

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  16. LOL your title is so perfect. That is most beautiful "bird" ever.

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  17. From the look of the post title, I imagined that it would be someone's butt... silly me... pretty bird indeed...

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  18. Phenomenal pictures! I will forward this to the woman who saved Mayfield Park. For years, I've helped organize the speakers for the symposium, Trowel & Error, generally the first weekend in March! Next year, I'll make sure you know about it. Meredith from Great Stems and Renee Studebaker gave GREAT talks last year. And I bought a few peacock feathers to decorate my house. I love this place! Thank for sharing it!

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  19. peahens not interested in rear views but imagine the impression he makes when he turns to face her. Fabulous colour captures, Cat

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  20. Lovely flowers and an impressive peacock! I have always felt sorry for them because of that huge and completely unnecessary weight they have to carry...

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  21. Your photography is amazing and just when you think it couldn't get any better it does! Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent!

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  22. I must have forgotten to type in the little code at the end of my last comment since it didn't post. I think the females of most species ignore the displays of the males. At least the first few times...! Your plants look great despite the horrible heat. I'm glad your gomphrena has perked up. I'm guilty of thinking my heat/drought resistant plants don't need any water and then I wonder why they look so unfabulous! Our heat adivsory today is 107. I'm feelin' your pain!! Gorgeous photos, but that's a given!! :o)

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  23. Stunning images Cat! As many peacocks as I've seen in my life, I don't think I've ever really looked at one from the back side. Just as beautiful as the front of him, simply very different. It looks like you had a wonderful walk in the park! Thank you for sharing your visit :)

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  24. Wow! The peacock pc are stunning. Even the pale pink lily. Loved the pic. They are all beautiful. What make camera are you using?

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  25. Hi Cat, You took such lovely shots of the peacock. Our neighbour has a peacock. In the summer, it roams the front yard to the wonderment of passing motorists. The peacock has also stopped traffic in both directions when he has decided to take a leisurely saunter across the road. Once across, he likes to sit on the guardrail overlooking the valley. At night you can here him call out. And he is really loud!

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