Lotus flowers and exotic water lilies

We visited Kenilworth Aquatic gardens on August 2nd early in the morning, before the heat of the day.  The lotus flowers were up to 5-6 feet high, mostly  white and pink.  There were lots of bugs around including bees, dragonflies and crawly insects.  Behind the Visitor's Center, there was also a small exhibit of exotic water lilies in lovely colors.

     Lotus

      Water lily

      The pond

     Water lily pads

     Hiding

     Painting the lotus

     Lotus leaf hat

     Beautiful Samoyed and pet friend

Exotic Butterflies

We visited a butterfly exhibit early in the morning last week when the temperatures were in the high 80's by 10 am.  

I got several photos of Blue Morpho's, one of my favorites.  Blue morphos rarely stay still long enough to obtain a good photo.  They are irridescent blue, but when they close their wings, they are spotted brown, hiding their glorious color.

FYI-moths are more nocturnal than butterflies and rest with their wings open  

     Blue Morpho

     Blue Morpho B

     Blue Morpho C

     Blue Clipper

     Costa Rica Clearwing butterfly (also called Greta Oto). Kind of unique.

     Spicebush Swallowtail

      Doris Longwing butterfly?

     Common Lacewing butterfly

Lovely Woodlawn Farm Concert on the lawn, July 25th

The Chesapeake Orchestra Fellows featured a number of small groups on Saturday night led by Jeffrey Silberschlag.  David Froom, usually known as a composer, played the keyboard for the concert, an unusual treat.  The weather was pleasant and the music was too.  

     

     Jeffrey Silberschlag, music director

     He was also a proud father as he played a bit of his son Nathaniel's live performance from the Kennedy Center on his phone during the concert.  Both sons are exceptional musicians.

     David Froom

     Zachary Silberschlag, Jeffrey's oldest son

     Alan Morris

     Olenka Dolak and Milad Daniari

     Victoria Wolf Lewis, Zachary Silberschlag and Milad Daniari

     Champagne anyone?

     Reflection

     Tri-color view

Natii Wright Featured in last River Concert of the Summer

On July 24th, Jeffrey Silberschlag wished us his usual early Winter Holiday wish with "Sleigh Ride" and jazz by Natii Wright.  I noted that she sang "Summertime", one of my all time favorites and "My Funny Valentine".  The Chesapeake Orchestra also played some beautiful Tchaikovsky Ballets among others

This was the last River Concert Series Concert at St. Mary's College of MD this summer. 

      The crowd

     Jeffrey Silberschlag

      River Concert Series programs- including my pictures

      Suzanne Orban

      Natii Wright

      

Woodlawn Concert July 18th, 2015: And The Boat Went By

The Chesapeake Orchestra Fellows, a talented group of young people directed by Jeffrey Silberschlag, performed outside on the Woodlawn Farm lawn last Saturday by the creek.  

Sometimes outdoor concerts contend with unusual local events, noise, children, weather, etc.  During this concert, a neighbor was running little tours of the creek, right past the location of the concert.  Many Times!!!  Jeffrey Silberschlag just took the interruptions in stride with a little bit of humor.   At least that's what we saw on his face!

Several of the young performers had solos;

Joey Lavarias on bassoon

Zachary Silberschlag on Trumpet

And the boat went by....

Alan Morris? On oboe

Milad Daniara on Bass

And the boat went by...

Others in the Chesapeake Orchestra Fellows included Olenka Dolak on cello

Mike Eby and Victoria Wolf Lewis on violin

And the boat went by...

And the boat went by....

River Concert Premier's "Kid's" and Plays Works by Strauss

The River Concert at St.Mary's College of MD on Friday, July 17th featured Richard Strauss's "Don Juan" & "The Rosenkavalier Suite", both very dramatic pieces.  The concert also premiered William Thomas Mckinley's work "Kids", symphonic variations created for the Chesapeake Orchestra and the Maryland Youth Symphony.  Some of the variations included musical descriptions of  toys, cookies, sand, and video games.

   Chesapeake Orchestra 

     Tuajuanda Jordan, Pres. Of St. Mary's College of MD, greeted the audience

      Jeffrey Silberschlag, maestro and violinists

     Conducting

     Harpist, Rebecca Smith

     Violinists

     The Sound guy and the stage

     Jeffrey Silberschlag directing