Bristlecone Snag

This bristlecone snag was captured just west of Cold Creek on 03/24/2011. I was hoping to capture pictures of some mature bristlecone pines, but our hike into the mountains was cut short due to a heavy snowfall the night before. I just love the swirling, twisting texture of these ancient trees. Usually found in elevations above 8,000 feet, these trees display a whitish gray bark and have short stiff needles that crowd against the branches with small cones that are only 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches long. I will have more pictures to add here later; stay tuned. Description: The bristlecone pines are a small group of pine trees (Family Pinaceae, genus Pinus, subsection Balfourianae) that are thought to reach an age far greater than that of any other single living organism known, up to nearly 5,000 years. Bristlecone pines grow in isolated groves at and just below the tree line. Because of cold temperatures, dry soils, high winds, and short growing seasons, the trees grow very slowly. The wood is very dense and resinous, and thus resistant to invasion by insects, fungi, and other potential pests. The oldest living organism known is a bristlecone pine tree nicknamed "Methuselah", is located in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of eastern California, however its precise location is undisclosed by the U.S. Forest Service to protect the tree from vandalism. The age of Methuselah was measured by core samples in 1957 to be 4,789 years old.

Growth Rings

Growth rings on a tree, also referred to as tree rings or annual rings, can be seen in a horizontal cross section cut through the trunk of a tree. Growth rings are the result of new growth in the vascular cambium and are synonymous with secondary growth. Visible rings result from the change in growth speed through the seasons throughout the year, thus one ring usually marks the passage of one year in the life of the tree. For the entire period of a tree's life, a year-by-year record or ring pattern is formed that reflects the climatic conditions in which the tree grew. Adequate moisture and a long growing season result in a wide ring. A drought year may result in a very narrow one. The scientific method of tree-ring dating based on the analysis of patterns of tree-rings is called dendrochronology.  I’m not really sure how old this tree was, but I think I counted nearly 60 rings; which means it was almost as old as me.

Tree Knot

This picture was taken on 03/11/2005 on a trip to Red Rock Canyon with my cousin John Coxon. It was taken at the Willow Springs Picnic Area located about a 1/4 mile past the Willow Springs Falls parking area. The picnic area is located adjacent to a spring with large cottonwood trees in a deep canyon surrounded by red and white sandstone cliffs.  If you stare at it long enough, maybe you will see the same grotesque face that I see – think the Batman Movie, "The Joker".

View at Corn Creek, Nevada

Starting with the photograph shown below, I created the above picture by merely increasing the exposure and color saturation using my PaintShop Photo Pro program. I then added one of the program’s stock frames. Different, but not really sure if I really like it?

I took this picture on 02/03/2011 on a hike through Corn Creek located inside Nevada’s Desert National Wildlife Area. There are some really nice meandering trails which take you through some desert meadows, over and along the creek and by several small ponds. This is a pastoral area in which you can see a variety of birds, rabbits, and other creatures.

Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

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This page last updated on 06/17/2019

When it comes to “out of the box” architecture, there is probably nothing more creative than the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, officially the Cleveland Clinic. A curvy, undulating metal-and-glass trellis, rising 75 feet high screens the institute’s banquet hall, while a series of stacked blocks separated by glass-enclosed spaces form the main entrance. This contrast of forms suggest the dual functions of the brain; simultaneously ordered and chaotic, structured and yet imaginative. It is such a stunning architectural masterpiece that pictures can barely do it justice; it must be seen to be fully experienced. I took these pictures back in May of 2010. Click the thumbnail at the bottom right of this page to view a slide show.

Background Info: The $70 million dollar Center operates as an outpatient treatment and research facility. Designed by renowned architect, Frank Gehry, the center opened on July 13, 2009 in the ‘downtown’ area of Las Vegas. It is approximately 65,000 sq. ft. and includes 13 examination rooms, office for healthcare practitioners and researchers, a “Museum of the Mind”, and a community auditorium. The Center will also serve as the headquarters for Keep Memory Alive, the Las Vegas Alzheimer’s Association and the Las Vegas Parkinson’s Disease Association. Tours of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health are offered by appointment. Please contact 702.263.9797 to arrange a date and time.

Play a Slide Show Clicking the picture-link below will open OneDrive in a new window and a folder containing 10 pictures taken of trip to the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. To view the show, click on the first picture in the folder and you will get the following menu bar: Clicking the "Play slide show" will play a fullscreen window of the slide show. Note: Every attempt is made to provide accurate information, but occasionally depictions are inaccurate by error of mapping, navigation or cataloging. The information on this site is provided without any warranty, express or implied, and is for informational and historical purposes only.